Stargoat's Journal: Sharon and Abbas

Ariel Sharon, hero of the Yom Kippur War, "the Butcher of Beirut", and current Prime Minister of Israel has decided to cut off diplomatic relations with the new Palestinian government and recently elected president Mahmoud Abbas. Six Israelis were recently murdered at a check point in Gaza. As a result, the Sharon government announced that it would halt relations with Abbas' government.

Abbas has minimal control over the terrorist organizations that Arafat may have exercised control over. This seems to be an action more rash that practical. Abbas does not have the ability to end the murders the way Arafat did.

It is also an unfortunate action. Palestinian public opinion will demand that its leader not cave into demands from a hostile Israeli government. This is particularly true as Abbas campaigned under a theme of peace.

Sharon is either behaving like a child, or deliberately attempting to derail the peace process. He is forcing Abbas into a corner that the Abbas government may not be capable of dealing with. The last thing Israel should be doing is attempting to force the peace friendly Abbas government to do anything, particularly in these first transformative months. If Israel loses the friend it has in Abbas, it may be another decade before significant peace in the Middle East could again be achieved.

Re:

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Sharon is not for peace

[illumin8]

It seems blatantly obvious by Israel's actions over the last several years that Sharon does not want peace. He is a Zionist and therefore wants nothing less than the wholesale genocide of the Palestinian people. He refuses to acknowledge the legitimacy of the Palestinian state and uses even the smallest of excuses to derail the peace process.

(prepares for a million "you're an anti-semite" replies).

Re:Sharon is not for peace

[ConsumedByTV]

I won't call you an anti-semite. You're clearly mistaken about a few things however.

The zionists are fucked, no question about it. But you're going over board when you think being a zionist means wholse genocide of the palestinian people.

Sorry dude, even the zionists aren't as crazy as that. They're crazy, don't get me wrong, but they aren't that crazy.

Cripes

[peacefinder]

Let's see, the election took place on January 9. Sharon cut off relations over an incident on January 14. Last I heard, Abbas' inauguration won't happen until the 15th.

Even if one makes the monumental leap of faith that Sharon is actually interested in peaceful cooperation with the Palestinian Authority, this is a foolish gesture on his part. He's punishing Abbas for something over which he has no control.

Not a smooth diplomatic move.