Israeli press attacks Sharon over violence

Financial Times ^

[RCW2001]

Israeli press attacks Sharon over violence

By Harvey Morris in Jerusalem

Published: August 5 2002 17:52 | Last Updated: August 5 2002 17:52

Ariel Sharon, prime minister, on Monday came under sharp attack in the Israeli press for failing to have a policy to deal with a rising tide of Palestinian violence.

After a day in which 13 people were killed in six separate incidents, a series of hostile commentaries reflected public disquiet that the invasion and reoccupation of the West Bank have failed to stem the attacks.

The mood was apparent in the most recent opinion poll that indicated the prime minister's previously unassailable lead was beginning to slip.

Amnon Dankner, editor-in-chief of the centrist Ma'ariv, wrote: "What country would allow its citizens to be slaughtered this way in every place they go or sit, year after year, month after month, day after day?"

Mr Dankner accused Mr Sharon of deliberately going slow on the construction of a protection fence between Israel and the West Bank against the advice of senior security officials.

Nahum Barnea, chief columnist of the mass-circulation Yedioth Ahronoth, meanwhile contested Mr Sharon's view that the violence was the latest phase of a century-old war and unrelated to Israel's occupation of the West Bank. "Anyone who says that there is no connection between our presence, settlement-wise and militarily, in the territories and the insane dimensions to which Palestinian hatred has grown, is lying to his people," wrote Mr Barnea. "Worse still, he is lying to himself."

An editorial in the leftwing Ha'aretz accused the government for failing to give any indication of its position on a future compromise settlement with the Palestinians. "Ariel Sharon's government is not doing what it must in the fight against terror, as long as it refuses to say what will happen when the terror ceases," the newspaper said.

The government's latest response to the mounting attacks was to announce on Monday that it was imposing a total closure on the five cities of the northern West Bank.

It was not immediately clear how the restrictions would differ from the almost constant curfews that have been in force in the West Bank since June.

Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, defence minister, said: "We will continue with a long list of operations which I am not prepared to discuss at the moment, with the goal of implementing a much larger closure than we are at the present."

• Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president on Monday sought to maintain a dialogue with Israel when he met Shimon Peres, Israeli foreign minister, in Cairo, James Drummond writes. "From our standpoint, the greatest problem we face is the lack of an address on the Palestinian side," the doveish Mr Peres said after meeting Mr Mubarak.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

Learn well the lessons of history before you repeat them.

[SunStar]

Amnon Dankner, editor-in-chief of the centrist Ma'ariv, wrote: "What country would allow its citizens to be slaughtered this way in every place they go or sit, year after year, month after month, day after day?"

That's a good question. Why doesn't Israel just finish the job one way or another?

[X-FID]

* Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president on Monday sought to maintain a dialogue with Israel when he met Shimon Peres, Israeli foreign minister, in Cairo, James Drummond writes. "From our standpoint, the greatest problem we face is the lack of an address on the Palestinian side," the doveish Mr Peres said after meeting Mr Mubarak.

Funny how the left wing never considers what the best interest of their own country is...never.

Peres is a traitor, even more than Barak seemed to be.

[veronica]

Amnon Dankner, editor-in-chief of the centrist Ma'ariv, wrote: "What country would allow its citizens to be slaughtered this way in every place they go or sit, year after year, month after month, day after day.

The Financial Times and Ma'ariv are on the left, Ma'ariv is center-left. Yawn. On the other and, maybe it's time for the even tougher Bibi. :)

[CaptainAwesome]

i recently posted somewhere that what israel was doing was almost criminal. they are not protecting their citizens from these bombers despite the constant threat. israel needs to do whatever is necessary to protect its people, that is every governments job. if it takes clearing every palestinian out of the west bank and gaza then that is what they are required to do. GET TO WORK NOW!!!!!!!! what are they waiting for!??

[scratchgolfer]

Things are going to change radically in the ME when we take out Saddam. Huge changes and then Israel can really kick butt.

[crystalk]

Mr Sharon, Tear Down Mosques From Temple Mount!

[CaptainAwesome]

they better. i dont understand how the israeli people arent outraged that their government isnt using everything at its disposal to protect them.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

Why? What good would that serve?

[MinorityRepublican]

Things are going to change radically in the ME when we take out Saddam. Huge changes and then Israel can really kick butt.

That's right, all the restraint is really for President Bush until our operation Desert Storm II has begun.

[hangin' chad]

I'm shocked...shocked by this article. I've been told many times here on FR that Sharoniac's aggressive and repressive tactics were bringing peace and security to Israel. What happened...could my mentors have been wrong? Are his own people now beginning to see the light? Nah...they'll just try to kill a few more Palis tomorrow and bulldoze a few more houses and wonder why they don't feel more secure.

[Optimist]

Israeli press attacks Sharon over violence
Financial Times

Granted, Israel is not doing enough to protect its people, but, considering the source, I believe the headline is meant to imply that even Israeli newspapers are concerned with SHARON's violence against the Palestinians, rather than his not doing enough to protect his people.

Unless you read the article (and not everyone does) your first impression would be that even the Israeli press is condemning Sharon for his excesses against "innocents".

[flaglady47]

I think the attack against Iraq is imminent. I think Sharon is trying to keep a lid on any responses at the request of Bush. I think Sharon has a pretty good idea of when that attack against Iraq will take place. He is holding the line until then. I think that when the attack on Iraq does come, Israel will not be sitting back on its haunches and doing nothing; I think Israel will be an integral part of the attack. I think it is coming very very soon. We'll know shortly, and then Israel will be unleashed to polish off the terrorists in its neighborhood.

[mmmmmmmm....... donuts]

you know, at first thought maybe that's what is going on, but maybe sharon has just lost the stomach to fight. it's inexplicable the pathetic response, and it's not because the IDF doesn't want to do more. you can blame peres and ben eliezer and all you want, and certianly they don't help matters, but the bottom line is sharon is acting like arafat's little bitch. it's sharon who's the weakling. it's sharon who maybe could use a little yigal amir corrective action.

[1bigdictator]

It must be frustrating and lonely for you to learn no one shares your agenda. You post articles which are provocative... and remain quiet as a mouse... just hoping another freeper will carry your torch. Your agenda gets shredded by logic and those pesky facts which contradict your conclusions (which we rarely learn on any Jewish themed threads because of your cowardice).

[goldstategop]

As long as Sharon leaves the PLO and Hamas top leadership unscathed the war on terrorism will be adjudged a failure.

[hangin' chad]

Calm down dude, and lay off the caffeine for awhile. Don't despair, your Zionazi buddy Sharoniac will surely murder some more "Palis" this week so your blood vengence can be quenced...and then Israel will be "safer" just like before..yeah that's the ticket.