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Arab News Reacts to Sharon’s Policy Speech 18:02 Dec 23, '03 / 28 Kislev 5764 Saudi Arabia’s English-language Arab News called Sharon’s declared policy of unilateral withdrawal a “new Israeli ruse.” Saudi Arabia’s English-language Arab News was among the first in the Arab world to print an editorial in response to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s recent policy speech at the Herzliya Conference. In it, the editors call Sharon’s declared policy of unilateral withdrawal a “new Israeli ruse.” “Ariel Sharon’s unilateral peace plan is simply not the way forward to a just settlement in Palestine, and he knows it. It is...

Dec. 19, 2003 The Herzliya Initiative The gist of the insta-analysis of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's long-anticipated speech was: nothing new. Don't believe it. This was a landmark speech that changes the incentive structure of our virtual peace process and could define events for decades to come. Many are dismissing the speech because Sharon did not announce the immediate dismantling of a single settlement. This was a ludicrous expectation to begin with. Israel, and even more so the United States, remain committed to the road map, which requires – first of all – an end to Palestinian terror, and...

Dec. 18, 2003 Full text of Sharon's speech at Herzliya Conference Good Evening, I congratulate the organizers of this conference for the important and interesting gathering which you have held here. During the past three days, you have been discussing Israel's situation. I, as Prime Minister, am responsible for the planning and implementation of the measures which will shape Israel's character during the next few years. We are all entrusted with the duty of shaping the face of the Jewish and democratic State of Israel – a state where there is an equal distribution of the burden, as well as...

Dec. 19, 2003B> Palestinian reactions to Sharon's speech By JOSEPH NASRSharon's remarks at the Herzlyia Conference were disappointing to optimistic and skeptical observers alike, wrote the Jerusalem-based Palestinian daily al-Quds on Friday. In his long-awaited speech at the Herzlyia Conference, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was expected to specify what are his "unilateral steps" of disengagement, wrote al-Quds. In the build-up to the speech, the circulation of the expression "unilateral" was meant to threaten the Palestinians, in that if they don't rush to the negotiating table – according to Israel's terms – they will not get "painful Israeli concessions", published al-Quds'...

Dec. 19, 2003 White House 'very pleased' with Sharon's speech By ASSOCIATED PRESS President George W. Bush's spokesman reacted warmly Friday to much of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's latest prescription for dealing with the Palestinians. "We were very pleased with the overall speech," spokesman Scott McClellan said in an apparent effort to offset published accounts that focused on his admonition Thursday that Sharon should not try to impose a settlement without negotiations. In an exchange Friday with reporters the White House spokesman offered no criticism of Sharon's speech Thursday in Herzliya in which the prime minister offered to remove...