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Sharon finally takes the plunge |
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by haaretz via gehrig
Email: zemblan (nospam) earthlink.net (verified) |
10 Jun 2004
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Sharon's efforts to distance himself from the most rejectionist right wing of his coalition. |
Analysis / Sharon finally takes the plunge
By Yossi Verter
As of last night, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon took a strategic decision: break off from the extreme right and risk, having not reached a compromise solution within the cabinet, bringing his government to an end, dragging the country into a political crisis of uncertain duration.
The signs of the decision were apparent two days ago when Sharon told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that "by the end of 2005 there will be no Jew in Gaza."
This declaration had two addresses: one was Washington; the other was the chair of the Labor Party, Shimon Peres.
The negotiations between Sharon and his ministers over the past two days proved to be a farce. Benjamin Netanyahu, Limor Livnat and Silvan Shalom attacked Sharon's gradual disengagement plan. Sharon understood he could no longer accept the erosion of his position with regards to the three challengers, and accepting their major demand - of continuing to fund the isolated settlements in the Gaza Strip - would turn him into the butt of jokes not only in Israel, but mostly in the U.S.
There are limits to the amount of abuse a supportive American President like George Bush, who once more stood publicly by Sharon's side two days ago, could take.
The purpose of the negotiations was to keep the National Religious Party in the coalition. The NRP turned into Netanyahu's insurance policy, perhaps even that of Silvan Shalom. So long as they remained in government, Labor would stay out.
Even if the NRP stays in government, Sharon would be left with a government of 61-62 MKs, not all loyal and many simply waiting to pay him back. So, Sharon opted to charge the wall: either the wall would crack, or his head would break.
(c) 2004, Ha'aretz
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