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U.S. officials: Removal of Gaza settlements will boost Hamas: U.S. AGAINST SHARON PLAN?
Ha'aretz ^ | Last Update: 10/02/2004 21:06 | By Gideon Alon, Haaretz Correspondent and agencies

Posted on 02/10/2004 11:27:08 AM PST by Cinnamon Girl

U.S. officials said Tuesday that they are worried that unilateral Israeli moves to relocate settlers from the Gaza Strip will boost the standing of Palestinian extremists amid concerns about a growing "anarchy" on Palestinian streets.

The radical Hamas group could be expected to claim credit for the Israeli withdrawal and may become the "dominant" force in Gaza by undercutting an already weakened Palestinian Authority, the officials said.

"That would be a real big negative for President (George W.) Bush's vision of two states living in peace and security because the Hamas vision is one state with no Jews in it," one senior U.S. official told Reuters on Tuesday.

Other U.S. officials said the initiative could be beneficial if it is carefully thought out and well executed but this is not always Israel's approach to Palestinian issues.

"If they took the settlers out of Gaza that would be a real big deal. That's a huge flash point," one U.S. official said.

But, he added: "Does Hamas get credit and basically become the really dominant authority in Gaza or is the Palestinian Authority able to deliver services in such a way, and is the international community able to support the delivery of services in such a way, that Hamas doesn't become the big guy on the block?"

"Somebody is going to have to help the Palestinian Authority. They don't have the resources" to compete with Hamas," another official said.

Ze'evi: Palestinians will see Gaza plan as victory for terror

The director of Military Intelligence, Major General Aharon Ze'evi (Farkash), on Tuesday warned lawmakers that the Palestinians will interpret Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to "relocate" 17 settlements in the Gaza Strip as a victory for terrorism, and encourage them to step up terrorist attacks.

The IDF Spokesperson's Office subsequently issued a statement late Tuesday afternoon saying "the remarks made by the Military Intelligence director related strictly to the possible Palestinian responses to the disengagement plan presented by the prime minister. The Military Intelligence director said that there are among the Palestinians some who relate to the plan with suspicion and others, including extremists, who are liable to see the plan as strengthening their camp. Ze'evi said the evacuation of Israeli settlements is also liable to hurt the terrorists' motivation."

There were some suggestions the IDF statement was issued because Ze'evi's remarks had angered Sharon.

Speaking at a meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Ze'evi added that Syrian President Bashar Assad was serious in his offer to hold peace talks with Israel.

Sharon's plan to evacuate the settlements has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum, although it was welcomed by Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia.

On the right, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom repeated his opposition to any unilateral withdrawal from the territories.

Further right, Likud MK Yehiel Hazan, who heads the Knesset lobby on behalf of the Yesha Council of Settlements, said: "Sharon preparing evacuation plans from Gaza are very dangerous for Israel. His disengagement plan will end up disengaging Jews from the Land of Israel. We should not sacrifice Israeli security and its citizenry on the altar of American demands."

The former Meretz chairman, MK Yossi Sarid, expressed skepticism that Sharon would carry out his plan.

"The prime minister is simply not credible. We know how Sharon gives instructions and what their real value on the ground is. After every instruction for an evacuation, another outpost pops out of the ground."

His Meretz colleague, Ran Cohen MK, who is seeking the leadership of Yahad, the new Social Democratic Party, said: "The amazing correlation between the progress in the investigations of the Sharon scandals and his readiness to at least declare readiness to evacuate settlements is another reason to accelerate the investigations - as well as the need for clean government."


TOPICS: Breaking News; Israel
KEYWORDS: gaza; hamas
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Even within this article there seems to be a lot of confusion about who is calling the shots. But there is something seriously bizarre about Sharon's recent proposal, and there should be NO DOUBT that Hamas is and will continue to garner support for any moves by Israel to evacuate areas.
1 posted on 02/10/2004 11:27:10 AM PST by Cinnamon Girl
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To: Cinnamon Girl
Well, you never know for sure what the real story is, but this seems to put an end to the theory that Bush or the State Department is pressuring Sharon to knuckle under.

He seems to have gotten the same bug as other crazy politicians: wanting to leave a historic legacy behind him. Good old Realpolitik would be a better guide.
2 posted on 02/10/2004 11:32:55 AM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: SJackson; yonif; Alouette

You have to wonder if Sharon proposed it, knowing that the Americans would oppose it, and put the US into the position of defending the "occupation" to avoid interecine Palestinian fighting, whereas previously the US made statements that the 'settlements have to go.' The US supporting maintaining the settlements obviously eliminates US pressure on Israel to eliminate them. Sharon might have bet that the US doesn't really want the side effects of the policy it hoped to see implemented.

Or, it could have been a happy accident for him.

Your take? Arik is wiley, but is he this wiley?
3 posted on 02/10/2004 11:34:54 AM PST by adam_az (Be vewy vewy qwiet, I'm hunting weftists.)
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To: Cinnamon Girl
IMHO, Bush is getting worried that a nilateral pullout by Israel will cause the Israelis to say the hell with the peace process and bunker down. Which they SHOULD do but those "poor innocent" Palis won't get the state Bush deems them worthy of having. Hence the concern.
4 posted on 02/10/2004 11:36:43 AM PST by KantianBurke (Principles, not blind loyalty)
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To: Cinnamon Girl; SJackson; Yehuda; Nachum; Paved Paradise; Thinkin' Gal; Bobby777; adam_az; ...
It does not matter if its Hamas or the Palestinian Authority in power. They both want the destruction of Israel. The fact the US objects to this is because such a move from Gaza will lead to the end of the roadmap to "peace" which the US does not want, as it supports a "2 state vision" where there is an Israel and a Palestine.

The US government naively thinks its can achieve this aim with the Palestinian Authority, even though its a terrorist regime.

I do not understand why the US keeps fumbling over the roadmap to terrorist statehood for the PLO Arabs....The US objection to leaving Gaza is vaild - but their reasoning behind why Israel should not leave Gaza is not.

Leaving Gaza, and following this "roadmap" to peace rewards terrorism.

Also, I don't think Israel will leave Gaza in the end, with or without US pressure. Internal matters will not allow it.

5 posted on 02/10/2004 11:36:58 AM PST by yonif ("If I Forget Thee, O Jerusalem, Let My Right Hand Wither" - Psalms 137:5)
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To: KantianBurke
IMHO, Bush is getting worried that a nilateral pullout by Israel will cause the Israelis to say the hell with the peace process and bunker down. Which they SHOULD do but those "poor innocent" Palis won't get the state Bush deems them worthy of having. Hence the concern.

See #5. You are correct with your assumption. Israeli media is bringing that viewpoint. The US is more concerned about its roadmap to "peace," concerning the creation of a PLO Arab terrorist state, going down the drain.

6 posted on 02/10/2004 11:39:06 AM PST by yonif ("If I Forget Thee, O Jerusalem, Let My Right Hand Wither" - Psalms 137:5)
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To: Cinnamon Girl
"Somebody is going to have to help the Palestinian Authority. They don't have the resources" to compete with Hamas," another official said.

Hokay, they don't want Israel to withdraw. Plan B then. Israel reclaims Judea, Samaria, and Gaza, expels Hamas and any terrorist supporters, and provides security, peace, and prosperity to the best of its ability for all faiths until the Mashiach sits on the throne of David.

7 posted on 02/10/2004 11:39:08 AM PST by af_vet_1981
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To: af_vet_1981
"Somebody is going to have to help the Palestinian Authority. They don't have the resources" to compete with Hamas," another official said.

The US is too naive. They foolishly belive the Palestinian Authority is peace-loving, and is the good guy, fighting Hamas, the bad guy. The PA does not and will not fight Hamas. They are in the same boat, and support the same cause of destroying Israel.

8 posted on 02/10/2004 11:40:39 AM PST by yonif ("If I Forget Thee, O Jerusalem, Let My Right Hand Wither" - Psalms 137:5)
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To: yonif
One of the reasons the Hebrews were not led on the shortest route from Egypt to Israel was because of the Philistia people were on the coast and in Gaza, and they were known as a vicious and warring people. Gaza has always been a troublesome area.

It is crazy that any Israeli or U.S. official would actually still believe, after all that they have uncovered, that Arafat and the PA/PLO were not terrorists.

9 posted on 02/10/2004 11:49:47 AM PST by Cinnamon Girl
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Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

To: WhiteChristianCons
How is that very telling?
11 posted on 02/10/2004 12:00:44 PM PST by Cinnamon Girl
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To: dennisw; Cachelot; Yehuda; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; ...
If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

U.S. officials said Tuesday that they are worried that unilateral Israeli moves to relocate settlers from the Gaza Strip will boost the standing of Palestinian extremists amid concerns about a growing "anarchy" on Palestinian streets.

"That would be a real big negative for President (George W.) Bush's vision of two states living in peace and security because the Hamas vision is one state with no Jews in it," one senior U.S. official told Reuters on Tuesday.

"Somebody is going to have to help the Palestinian Authority. They don't have the resources" to compete with Hamas," another official said.

How funny, Hello State Dept, anybody home?

12 posted on 02/10/2004 12:12:07 PM PST by SJackson (Visit http://www.JewPoint.blogspot.com)
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To: Cinnamon Girl; af_vet_1981; yonif; KantianBurke; adam_az
The only way evacuating Gaza, and it shouldn’t be all of it, makes any sense is if Sharon is going to complete the eastern wall and force a separation unilaterally, regardless of what the US or the Saudis think. Anything else is a major victory for terror.

That could well be what’s happening. Sharon may well be building his legacy. He’s had a long career but it’s nearing it’s end. I’m sure he’d love to be the one who secured defacto borders, even if not agreeable to everyone, for Israel rather than truce lines.

As to the “Palestinians”, Hamas runs Gaza anyway. They’ll get what they wished for and the world, a “state” free of Jews. They can trade with the Arab world and settle their disputes amongst themselves.

13 posted on 02/10/2004 12:19:21 PM PST by SJackson (Visit http://www.JewPoint.blogspot.com)
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To: adam_az
Very thoughtful analysis. I also wonder whether ultimately it would be better for Israel to have the PA (a disguised terrorist organization) in charge of Palestinian arab areas versus Hamas (an unreconstructed terrorist organization). If Hamas openly controlled the Gaza Strip, in my view that would significantly lessen international pressure on Israel to make further concessions to arab terrorists.
14 posted on 02/10/2004 12:50:36 PM PST by Piranha
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To: Cinnamon Girl
The ancient Philistines have no connection with the current Palestinian arabs living in Gaza.
15 posted on 02/10/2004 12:52:56 PM PST by Piranha
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To: SJackson
[The Palestinian Authority] doesn't have the resources "to compete with Hamas,"

What? Are they falling behind in the number of Israelis murdered?

16 posted on 02/10/2004 1:31:00 PM PST by Blood of Tyrants (Even if the government took all your earnings, you wouldn’t be, in its eyes, a slave.)
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To: Piranha
No, they don't, although, that seems to be their claim, hence adopting the name 'Palestinians' from the Romans, who took it from the Biblical reference to the 'philistines.'
17 posted on 02/10/2004 2:29:42 PM PST by Cinnamon Girl
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To: Cinnamon Girl
But there is something seriously bizarre about Sharon's recent proposal...

Sounds like somebody has something on him. Maybe those bribery allegations are true (or can be made to look extremely convincing) and somebody pro-Hamas has the goods to ruin him politically.

As for the U.S. stance, the Bush administration's varying positions on the PA and Hamas are also bizarre. The Bush administration always whines when Israel knocks off a known terrorist, pouting that "this isn't helping the peace process." I'm glad that Bush has finally decided to get tough on Palestinian terrorism, but why the 180 now?

18 posted on 02/10/2004 3:53:05 PM PST by Excuse_My_Bellicosity (If universities didn't teach worthless subjects, who would?)
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Comment #19 Removed by Moderator

To: 1bigdictator; 1st-P-In-The-Pod; 2sheep; a_witness; adam_az; af_vet_rr; agrace; ...
FRmail me to be added or removed from this pro-Israel ping list.

WARNING: This is a high volume ping list

20 posted on 02/10/2004 4:08:25 PM PST by Alouette (I chose to NOT have an abortion -- 9 times.)
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