Article

2005-11-25 Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Sharon readies plan for total West Bank pullout by '08

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Posted by Steve White 2005-11-25 14:40|| || Front Page|| [4 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 This would seem to be a statement of a three-year party platform for his new party. Unlike in Labor or Likud, it clearly states a position that the Israeli on the street would either be for or against. That is a very good strategy. Voters love that kind of clarity.

By being limited to one issue at the start, it also maximizes the number of people who will be interested. That is, nobody will really know how his new party stands on other issues, whereas the other two parties have lots of baggage.

What is critical now is that he attract as many moderates from the Labor party as from Likud. If none of their leaders jump ship, then he will have to take the harder course to try and sway the rank and file.

Posted by Anonymoose 2005-11-25 15:25|| 2005-11-25 15:25|| Front Page Top

#2 My opinion is that the threat of such a unilateral move (to include the annexation of the areas west of the wall) is in part for negotiating purposes - Sharon says to the Pals, you get your house in order, OR I do this. I think he's not excluding the possibility that this gambit will succeed, and he wont have to do a unilateral withdrawl, but can get a negotiated settlement on good terms (less territory, but a Pal signoff on the end of the conflict that can be used to get recognition and trade from the arab world) instead.

Posted by liberalhawk 2005-11-25 15:49|| 2005-11-25 15:49|| Front Page Top

#3 That Ariel Sharon is one smart man. He is waging Peace like a weapon! ;-)

Posted by trailing wife 2005-11-25 16:06|| 2005-11-25 16:06|| Front Page Top

#4 Can't agree with you, LH. The Pals will never honor any agreement they sign, and nobody knows that better than Ariel Sharon. No, Gaza was part A and the West Bank will be part B of Sharon's legacy: Israel's final and defensible borders.

Posted by Grunter 2005-11-25 16:43|| 2005-11-25 16:43|| Front Page Top

#5 I can't believe he will unilaterally pull out of the Jordan valley, which is Israel's effective border with Jordan. Israel has to retain control of who and what goes into the West Bank until they have a agreement with the Pals that can be monitored.

Posted by Apostate 2005-11-25 16:55|| 2005-11-25 16:55|| Front Page Top

#6 Not only won't any agreement be honored, Israel still has the problem of a million muslims within the country. In addition to a muslim population subverting it from inside, Israelis will have the problem of an out of control external enemy on their long border lobbing rockets and sending terrorist attacks.

Posted by ed 2005-11-25 17:02|| 2005-11-25 17:02|| Front Page Top

#7 Written on the back of the map is part B, "Do anything bad, and we will kick your @ss. This time for good. You had your chance."

Posted by Master of Obvious 2005-11-25 17:12|| 2005-11-25 17:12|| Front Page Top

#8 MoO, judging from Israeli response to rocket attacks post Gaza pullout, I beg to differ.

Posted by ed 2005-11-25 17:29|| 2005-11-25 17:29|| Front Page Top

#9 I dont agree with the stradegy I am more of a increasing punishment untill surrender kind of guy, like everytime thire is a attack more territory was siezed pernamently until the border cities and such were encompased with the Muslim pops being displaced further back. Of course the world would flip but as long as the US didnt get to crazy it would be fine.

However with the plan they got going now I somewhat understand, I see the advantage Jaruselam the jewel of jewels and the solidification of the border and strategic areas even thou a lot of settlements would be lost of course unless you were willing to go with my option they never really were viable anyway thou, but the down side I think the PA will not anytime soon if ever be a able to control thier territory so the Israli's will forever be responsible for "oppressing" the terrorist and thier unfortunate neighbors.

I would suggest if this retreat would be the goal it should be by giving the Gaza back to Egypt, and West Bank to Jordan, both are stable nations that could stabalize the territories if nessecary. In return they get the extra territory the butload of International aid that would pour in as soon as they were turned over. Then let them if they want turn it into a nation.

Posted by C-Low 2005-11-25 21:54|| 2005-11-25 21:54|| Front Page Top

23:33 Zenster
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