Sharon Warns Bush: Do Not Attack Israel

Arutz Sheva Israel Broadcasting Network ^ | Friday, 05 October 2001

[Israel]

PM Sharon To Bush: 'Don't Appease The Arabs At Our Expense'

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon held a press conference last night following the downing of the Russian passenger plane over the Black Sea - which took off from Israel's Ben Gurion Int'l airport with mostly Israelis on board - and in the wake of the deadly Arab terrorist attack in Afula which claimed the lives of three Israeli citizens.

Sharon said: "Today a Russian plane en route from Tel Aviv to Novosibirsk, carrying 66 passengers and 12 crewmen, went down. This is a terrible tragedy for both Israel and Russia. I spoke today with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and we agreed on full cooperation between Israel and Russia in investigating this tragic incident. I have also instructed Israel's Minister of Transportation, Dr. Ephraim Sneh, to coordinate activities in this regard."

"Today, Israel suffered another heinous Palestinian terrorist attack [in Afula], which took a heavy toll: Three dead and seven wounded. All our efforts to reach a cease-fire have been torpedoed by the Palestinians. The fire did not cease, not even for one day. The Cabinet has therefore instructed our security forces to take all necessary measures to bring full security to the citizens of Israel. We can rely on ourselves only."

"We are currently in the midst of a complex and difficult political campaign. I call on the Western democracies, and primarily the leader of the free world, the United States: Do not repeat the dreadful mistake of 1938, when enlightened European democracies decided to sacrifice Czechoslovakia for 'a convenient temporary solution.' Do not try to appease the Arabs at our expense - this is unacceptable to us. Israel will not be Czechoslovakia. Israel will fight terrorism."

"There is no 'good terrorism' and 'bad terrorism,' as there is no 'good murder' and 'bad murder.' Terrorism, as we witnessed this week in Elei Sinai, is worse than murder. We have been fighting terrorism for over 100 years. Unfortunately, there is no swift and immediate solution, but if we confront this terrorism united, we will be able to overcome it and bring peace. And we shall overcome."

Since the Prime Minister's speech last night, more details surrounding the downing of the passenger plane have been uncovered. While conflicting reports continue to emanate from the Russian media regarding the recovered cockpit of the plane, Russian authorities released an official statement today saying that the door to the cockpit had holes in it which resemble those of bullets. Further examination is necessary to verify that the holes were caused by bullets.

United States officials say that the plane was apparently downed accidentally by a surface-to-air missile during a large-scale Ukrainian military exercise. But, Ukraine says that the plane was far out of range of any missiles used in the exercise.

Sixteen bodies have been pulled from the water. An Israel Air Force Hercules cargo flight with search and recovery teams on board is still awaiting the necessary permits to enable it to takeoff and join the rescue efforts in the Black Sea. An Israel Navy ship will also join the search early next week.

[Solitar]

You are correct - they shouldn't have "returned" to take another people's land - through terrorism by the way - because they voluntarily gave it up in the first place - when they were allowed back millenia ago.
Tomahawk has a point too, that they should be allowed to keep all they won in 1967.
This area has been fought over and conquered and reconquered many, many times in three thousand years. Who actually are the rightful owners? Here is some history
An Outline of the Jewish Diaspora
The Jewish Diaspora

As to the "rightful owners" - whoever can wield the largest force, fight for it, win it, and KEEP it. Given the history of the area - lotsa luck and blessings (Islamic or Christian or Jewish or whatever) to the victor because they will have it only for a short time - until a larger force takes it from them - again.

I still say that the best way to solve this endless trouble is to give all the parties 30 days to move their people and valuables out and then to dust the entire area with ground up nuclear waste (pellet size so that it doesn't blow too far). It'll give the entire area and its associated warring tribes a thousand years to cool off.

[F.J. Mitchell]

Israel, is what it is because it is surrounded by those who despise it's existance and dreams of it's demise. Strange how so many, so rich and so powerful have failed to prevail against it for so many years-even with Palestenians living among them and attacking from the inside without mercy. I suppose the Arab hate of Israel has been further inflamed by the hurt pride of the Arabs, as little Israel kicks their butt every time they tangle. Bullies are always shamed when those they would abuse, refuse to be the patsies they assume them to be.

I find Arabs, especially those of the Fundamentalist Muslim persuasion, or those who support and enable such monsters, to be repulsive. A country is scraping the bottom of the barrell when it claims such as allies. If we must desert our friends the Israelis in order to appease the Arabs to join us in our battle against terrorists-the majority of whom are Arabs-we are exposing ourselves for the damn fools the terrorists assume us to be.

[ExiledInTaiwan]

What's stopping the "dispossessed" from building their lives where they are today? Their fellow Arabs, that's what.

"Between 1947 and 1949, some 750,000 Palestinians were expelled as Israel declared its independence, and in June 1967 some 300,000 more Palestinians fled or were driven into exile as Israel conquered the West Bank and Gaza. Hundreds of villages were systematically razed and erased from the map. In the course of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza after June 1967, over 1,000 Palestinians - including women and children - were deported without charges or trial. Fully 50 percent of the land and 80 percent of the precious water reserves were confiscated by the Israeli government. And as deported Palestinians languished in exile, some 100,000 Jews settled in the West Bank and Gaza. All these measures - and many more routinely taken by Israel in the occupied territories - were, as one Israeli periodical euphemistically put it, 'very far from the norms of international law'" (Hotam,4 August 1989). (Norman G. Finkelstein, The Rise and Fall of Palestine: A Personal Account of the Intifada Years, University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis and London, 1996, p. 52)

No it sounds like its Israel stopping them from building their lives.

[leilani]

EVERYONE (Buchannonite Right, Neo-Fascist Left & Sharonista Lost): GET A CLUE. For three generations Americans, all Americans, have seen a good chunk of their paychecks carved up to go to this little country in the middle east (Israel).Yet, after the US was attacked, this same little country has the AUDACIOUSLY craven gall to compare us all to the appeasers who sold out Checkoslovakia to the Nazis. Either Sharon has been hitting the Maccabees too hard lately, or Americans are going to have to face a cold hard truth: that, while America has always been a friend to Israel, Israel ain't no friend of America.When push comes to shove, no matter HOW big of a chunk of our paychecks Israel gets every month, they will sell us, and our military, out in a heartbeat. That's their right, I guess. But it's also the right of millions of Americans who are SO OUTRAGED by the recklessly irresponsible position of Sharon & his slimey flunky Alon Pinkus, to say NO MORE! A pox on both your houses. You are no longer entitled to a percentage of my paycheck, folks.Israel wants to be "on it's own", they can do it without our paychecks from now on, thankyou.(PS: I just wonder if this whole anti-american position Sharon & Pinkus are taking is a "Punch & Judy" psy-op campaign for the consumption of the arab world. If it is, does the West think Arabs are IDIOTS? Or what?

[l33t]

Are you just as upset about Israel getting $3 billion a year from the US as about the $2 billion Egypt gets and the $50 billion US spends to protect the Arab Gulf states? Probably not.

[encm(ss)]

Fellow FR's:

I think you all have it wrong. This is just a big show for the local Arab/Muslim consumption. We know that the only state in the middle east that is truely sided with America is Israel. The President's plan is to have everyone in our camp (including the Arab/Muslim nations AND Israel) against the terrorists. The President talks sweet to the Arab/Muslim nations and tough to Israel. Then the Arab/Muslim nations side with the US. We already know that Israel is our friend. So we got 'em all in the camp! Game, set, match. Checkmate, Mr. Bin Laden. The game is over!

[DCPatriot]

"we will use nuclear weapons if you do not support us as we wish"

Who in the hell can prove which country fired the nuclear weapon? This could be the Master Plan.

Israel could care less if they are charged with pressing the launch buttons, if it means the destruction of the Arabs.

Read between the lines here, folks.

The United States SHOULD use nuclear weapons if it means saving the lives of American soldiers, and ultimately hundreds of thousands of innocent lives across the globe.

I have positive proof of my assertion (see Japan). What do the peaceniks have to show me?

[Melinator]

Yes, how dare they threaten to defend themselves! I'm shocked I tell ya, absolutely shocked. I think that Isreal threatening to defend itself should be considered an act of War!! How dare they express concern that they are being sold down the river in America's NEW WAR ON TERROR (CNN TRADEMARK - not be used without permission)!

The U.S. should nuke Isreal and then pour money into the remaining middle east countries as reparation for having to put up with Isreal defending itself everytime the Palestinians et al try to go over and righteously kill Jewish civilians.[/doublespeak]

[leilani]

Are you nuts? Of course I am. Of course we ALL ARE! The US federal gov has been extracting all of this money from its citizens to help Israel (including paying "protection money" to its neighboring states), but now Americans have to face the fact that Israel, at least according to it's current nutcake leader, couldn't give a flying friggin' DAMN about America and the security of ITS citizens. So screw 'em. Like I said, a pox on both their houses.If Sharon wants Americans to FRY in our skyscrapers, he can do it without the benfeit of my paycheck, thanks.

[Inyokern]

Norman G. Finkelstein, The Rise and Fall of Palestine

Why is it that the anti-Israel crowd is constantly quoting left wing sources such as Norman Finkelstein?

And, by the way, how many minutes do you think Taiwan would continue to exist without the billions of dollars the US spends to defend it?

[Justin Thyme]

Hate to say it, but I think you're trolling with your selection of a title for this thread.

Although your content is of interest, your title mistakenly implies that Bush has threatened that the US will directly attack Israel. Not even Sharon is worried about that. Sharon does have the concern that the US will drop it's unconditional support of Israel, and allow them to be overrun by others.

The explanation you provide on the historical comparison is great. You just picked a bad title.

Regards.