Weekly Commentary: Israel needs more than a photo-op at the Bush ranch

Aaron Lerner Date: 7
April 2005

If even half of the Sharon team's claims regarding the diplomatic benefits
of retreating from the Gaza Strip and northern Samaria were true, Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon's meeting next week would be more than a photo-op at
the ranch wrapped up in another round of vague phrases.

Unfortunately, this is not the case.

And the timing could not be worse.

Developments on the ground have gone from bad to worse, with, in the wake of
the Sharm El-Sheikh photo op, the terror infrastructure growing both in size
and capabilities as Israel cuts back on security operations and
arrangements.

Not only are Mahmoud Abbas' "Palestinian partners" busy developing and
testing longer range rockets for deployment in the Gaza Strip and the West
Bank, his own security men recently were involved in smuggling in
anti-aircraft missiles from "peace partner" Egypt.

And there is no reason to expect that the post-retreat chaos will be any
more encouraging than the pre-retreat chaos.

For Israel's sake - and for the sake of the stability of the region - Sharon
should leave the ranch with something considerably more significant than a
photo op and diplomatic verbiage. Sharon needs a clear understanding from
Mr. Bush that timetables - in particular self-imposed ones - are not holy
and are subject to revision as the situation requires and that the very
nature of "disengagement", as a unilateral program outside of the framework
of the Roadmap, is subject to Israel's discretion.

By the same token, it should be made clear that efforts to prop up the Sharm
El-Sheikh photo op cannot continue to be at the expense of Israel's
security.

In the wake of September 11th President Bush embarked on a global campaign
against terror. It is high time that the Palestinians stop enjoying their
special exemption from Mr. Bush's anti-terror standard.

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(Mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-7255730
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
Website: http://www.imra.org.il