Sharon's Disengagement Plan-Pragmatism or Retreat?

Submitted by Lisette Murad (United States), Dec 27, 2003 at 16:28

Montreal, December 27th'03

Dear Sir:

Any schemes or plans to resume negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians will fail, whether initiated by the U.S., or the Prime Minister of Israel himself, if the core of this conflict is not addressed.

Prime Minister Sharon's "Disengagement Plan", sends a clear signal, that Israelis are not only willing to negotiate under fire, but will abandon long held government policies ensuring the survival of the Jewish State. Unilateral concessions, capitulations, and retreat is a message of surrender. It will not be respected in the Arab world nor anywhere else for that matter. Its message, as you noted, is that terrorism works. Moreover, Palestinians perpetrating and supporting such atrocities will be rewarded with a state.

Regarding your skepticism on whether P.M. Sharon actually "means what he says", as the plan "contradicts his views", the problem is, that it HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID. Once something is said, especially from a world leader, who happens to be the Prime Minister of Israel, it will become legitimate bait, and will have far reaching repercussions. In this particular situation, once spoken, wrong words, even if later retracted, can cause great harm and damage to a country and a people fighting for survival.

While it is true that P.M. Sharon is attempting to appeal to different audiences, he in fact, succeeded in pleasing and appealing to, no one. To the Palestinians, he is fearful and desperate, to the U.S. and the world he is weak and grovelling, to many Israelis, he has abandoned their rights and security.

Blind pragmatism is dangerous. Instead of demanding that the Palestinians unequivocally and formally accept Israel as a Jewish state, P.M. Sharon continues to negotiate with himself. Many "settlements" slated for uprooting are in fact strategic, legal communities where Jews have lived for generations, and exist due to government assistance and thus cannot be regarded as "illegal outposts". Basically, the "Disengagement Plan", amounts to the removal and transfer of Jews from their homes in the disputed territories, even if Palestinian terror continues to murder and maim Israeli civilians, in order to make a Palestinian state contiguous, in line with US demands. Negotiating your own strengths away, and negating your own cause, while demanding nothing of and legitimizing your enemies unlawful claims and fabrications is national suicide. It is an appalling stance, especially from a great military strategist, and is a complete nonstarter. I pray, that P.M. Sharon will not allow the fever of his pragmatism to betray his principles, his country and his people.

Sincerely,

Lisette Murad

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