Posted on 05/18/2006 7:37:16 PM PDT by Esther Ruth
Sharansky Says Bush Will Try to Discourage Olmert on Withdrawals 19:58 May 18, '06 / 20 Iyar 5766
(IsraelNN.com) Knesset member Natan Sharansky said on a radio program Thursday night that American President George W. Bush will try to discourage Prime Minister Ehud Olmert from pushing his plan for more destruction of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. The Prime Minister is to fly to Washington next week.
Speaking on the Voice of Israel program "From the Left and From the Right," the former Prisoner of Zion explained that the timing of the Olmert's policy is very unfavorable for the President, whose popularity continues to sink to new lows.
I don't believe Bush would say or do that. I don't believe the allegation.
Of course he would. He's a politician.
I agree with Bush on this. Why have Israel give up anything while Hamas is in charge?
You can't barter or bargain with terrorists. Israel should know this by now.
That's not the reason, though I disagree with Sharansky. Bush will ask Olmert to not withdraw because the Europeans are asking him to, and Bush needs the EU support on Iran. It's politics. Neither Bush nor the EU disagree in principle, it's just that the EU has the chance to "prove its relevency" by asking Bush to discourage Olmert, and Bush wants EU help.
At the end of the day, Israel should do what is best for Israel. Only they can decide. But under no circumstances should the US or Israel trust Europe's judgement. If Europe opposes Israel's unilateral withdrawal, it probably means that Europe fears losing its influence or its money. Has nothing to do with what they think is right or wrong - if they even know how to think in those terms.
Also, Europe sees that the Palestinians are descending into factional warfare. They don't want Israel to leave the Palestinians, they want Israel responsible for the territories, they want someone to blame for the Palestinian failures. They also want someone to fall back on to "take charge" in case the Palestinians need to have a force put over them to stop their self-made carnage.
It's really stupid at the end of the day. If the Palestinians are ungovernable, and they hate Israel, then Israel can't do much about it. They can't negotiate with a government that can't govern, and they shouldn't be asked to risk life and limb to make order out of Palestinian chaos. Israel is in a no-win situation when it comes to dealing with the Palestinians right now, so why should they try? And this is what they should say to those who suggest they do. Let the Palestinians figure out what they want and how they want to get it, and then we can talk. Otherwise, buzz off.
I don't think Bush or anyone has a problem with Israeli retreat. They just want it as part of a "deal". They also don't want Israel setting final borders. Now if Israel wants to retreat and after having given up everything start negotiating with the few things they have left that will probably be fine with Washington.
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