Weekly Commentary: For Democracy's Sake - A Breakaway Sharon Party

Aaron Lerner Date: 17 November 2005

In the coming days Ariel Sharon is expected to decide between running in the
Likud primaries to continue as the head of the Likud and their candidate for
prime minister or at the helm of a breakaway party.

As part of this process he intedent to present what are ostensibly his plans
for the future.

That's "ostensibly" because when he did this before the last elections and
asked for the public's support he then turned around and did virtually the
exact opposite.

No matter how many times his apologists may claim that when Sharon said he
was willing to make "painful concessions for peace" before the last
elections that this phrase also covered the retreat from the Gaza Strip and
Northern Samaria, the fact remains that a key element of that campaign was
Sharon's sharp criticism and rejection of Labor Party candidate Mitzna's
proposal to unilaterally withdraw from Gaza.

That's "ostensibly" because the positions Mr. Sharon has presented since he
revealed his intention to retreat have been in constant flux.

This week's Rafah agreement, that empowers the Palestinians to allow a free
flow of terrorists through the Rafah Crossing as well as via the Gaza
seaport when it opens, is just the latest in a series of Israeli concessions
that are so radical that it was inconceivable that any Israeli government -
be it Likud, Labor or even Meretz led would have accepted them.

The situation has deteriorated to the point that almost any Israeli
concession is conceivable.

Is this really what the Israeli public wants?

If Ariel Sharon opts to run on a separate ticket we will finally know - for
better or worse - if the electorate accepts Sharon's policies (or lack of
policies) as the then rival Likud Party will highlight, rather than attempt
to suppress, this issue in the campaign.

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