unilateral disengagement
Reader comment on item: Reading Sharon's Mind

Submitted by Donald Roth (United States), Dec 28, 2003 at 00:00

With a unilateral withdrawal from large portions of the west bank and gaza and israels hunkering down behind the security fence I give it 48 hours and we'll be seeing kassam rockets landing in netanya, tel avivs suburbs and in jerusalem. Give it 48 days and we'll be seeing kaytyusha rockets being lobbed into major jewish population centers. The question will then become what will Israel's response be. The situation could become similar to what we had and continue to have in lebanon unfortunately. Forget about world opinion, any Israeli air raids in retaliation will still be condemned. The only outcome I can see in this scenario is a complete retaking of the west bank and gaza by force and a return to square one. Mr. Pipes observations ( in his "roadmap" article) that it will require the palestinians absolute recognition and acceptance of israel as a neighbor before any concessions can be made is right on the mark. In order for this recognition to take place a true change of heart must take place within palestinian society either thru peaceful emergence of a new leadership or by violence ie civil war among palestinians themselves in order to allow for the emergence of such a leadership. I pray Sharon understands this.

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