A clandestine undertaking on behalf of Israel, the Jets and the Jews.

 
Gaza Evacuation

Prime Minister Sharon's plan to dismantle almost all of the Jewish communities in Gaza does not address the other aspects of his disengagement plan. When he introduced his plan in December, Sharon said that "Israel will greatly accelerate the construction of the security fence" and that "Israel will strengthen its control over those same areas in the Land of Israel which will constitute an inseparable part of the State of Israel in any future agreement."

Unfortunately, while Sharon proceeds with his plan to unilaterally dismantle settlements, indications are that there will be no annexation of even the largest settlements, and that the route of the fence will be changed so that it will be constructed much closer to the Green Line, and won't encompass Gush Etzion and the Ariel bloc.

Under these circumstances, despite Sharon's claims that his plan is adverse to the Palestinians' interest, it is difficult to understand how the Palestinians are paying any price at all. As The Jerusalem Post editorializes in tomorrow's paper:

Why should the Palestinians make peace with Israel if they can get the land without making peace?

To withdraw in the face of terror is to inspire further terror. Whatever peace Israel gains on its southern front it will surely lose elsewhere, as Palestinians intensify their efforts to drive Israel to the Green Line - at least. Nor does it help that the timing of this announced withdrawal seems to coincide with the prime minister's burgeoning legal difficulties. It sends the signal that it is the Palestinians who can afford to wait Israel out, not vice versa.

That's not a signal this government, or any future government, ought to send.
posted on 2/02/2004