-Caveat Lector- Arab News SAUDI ARABIA'S FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=21893
Editorial: Sharon’s chances 12 January 2003 Published on 12 January 2003 One of the oddest things about the political mess into which Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon has got himself is that it is illegal under Israel electoral law to accept campaign contributions from abroad. Israel’s entire existence has long depended upon economic and military aid from successive United States governments, along with hefty flows of cash from the world Zionist community, many of whom are also US-based. Yet here is the Likud party’s Ariel Sharon, the most hawkish Zionist leader of Israel since Menachem Begin, under serious attack for taking a $1.5 million loan from a South African friend, which was used to pay back excessive and therefore also illegal campaign contributions from supporters in Israel. Coupled with the recent court overthrow of an electoral ban on the Knesset’s only two Arab legislators, it may seem as if Israel is shifting away from its repressive stance on the Palestinians and that, just over two weeks before the general election, liberal views are gaining an unexpected ascendancy. Such optimism is almost certainly unfounded. Two characteristics about Israel have long been clear. The first is that in matters of domestic politics, the general rule is a free- for-all in which there is little loyalty and even less stability. Israeli politicians tend to dislike each other with an unusual vehemence. There is a constant struggle to reach the top of the greasy poll. Few leaders have been able to count for very long on the support of political allies, whether they are in the same party or part of a coalition. The second characteristic however is the more important. It is that whatever the personal differences, the underlying agenda is never in doubt: to create a stronger and greater Israel. Sure there are “liberals” such as Amram Mitzna, Sharon’s current Labor opponent, and Ehud Barak his predecessor, who talk about land for peace and a just settlement for the Palestinians. But history must judge the sincerity of these people. And history may very well conclude that they are merely the internationally acceptable face of Zionism, part of a long drawn- out good cop, bad cop routine, designed to defuse world impatience before permitting another outspoken hawk to return to power and resume the racist agenda, the conclusion of which will see the Palestinian people being thrown out of the rest of their land. Zionism has clambered up relentlessly from one political ledge to another. The greatest of these perches was undoubtedly the Camp David Agreement, which led to the final recognition by the Arab world of Israel’s right to exist. This has been used as a launch pad to swoop down on the Palestinians still living in the territory which Zionism has always claimed as its own. Just as Hitler set out his own terrible agenda in Mein Kampf in 1924, nine years before the Nazis seized power, so the plan for a greater Israel was written into Theodor Herzl’s “Jewish State” published way back in 1896. The neat trick that Israeli leaders have always managed is to wear the costume of a dove over their hawk’s plumage, whenever it seems necessary to assuage outside opinion. It appears that Ariel Sharon’s little bit of dishonesty has damaged his party’s overwhelming lead in the polls and there now seems an outside chance that Labor could win. Were this the case, the upset would be scarcely credible. Why should Israeli voters, who days ago were rallying around Sharon, their uncompromising strong man, who promised them even greater provocative suppression of the Palestinians, suddenly desert him for a so-called “peace” party, just because he was caught dipping his hand in the traditional cookie jar of international Zionist support? It doesn’t make sense. Copyright © 2003 ArabNews All Rights Reserved. A<:>E<:>R ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Forwarded for your information. The text and intent of the article has to stand on its own merits. Therefore, unless I am a first-hand witness to any event described, I cannot attest to its validity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. 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