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| Middle East |
| Sharon willing to make 'painful concessions' |
| 2003-04-13 |
| Israel must make "painful concessions" to help achieve Mideast peace by giving up some Jewish settlements in Palestinian territory, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said in Sunday's editions of the newspaper Ha'aretz. Asked specifically about Netzarim, an isolated settlement in central Gaza that has been a flash point between Israelis and Palestinians, Sharon said, "I don't want to get into a discussion of any specific place now. This is a delicate subject. But if it turns out that we have someone to talk to, that they understand that peace is neither terrorism nor subversion against Israel, then I would definitely say that we will have to take steps that are painful for every Jew and painful for me personally." Before the Paleos got around to installing Abbas, that statement would have been unthinkable. Before Bush ditched Yasser, Abbas getting in would have been unthinkable... The "someone" Sharon referred to might be the new Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, who accepted leadership of the Palestinian Authority's day-to-day operations last month. In a further reference to the settlements, which have been one of many sticking points in reaching an accord between Israelis and Palestinians, Sharon said, "Look, we are talking about the cradle of the Jewish people. Our whole history is bound up with these places. "Bethlehem, Shiloh, Beit El. And I know that we will have to part with some of these places," he said. "As a Jew, this agonizes me. But I have decided to make every effort to reach a settlement. I feel that the rational necessity to reach a settlement is overcoming my feelings." If he makes an honest effort, and nothing comes of it through bad faith on the Paleo side, then nothing's ever going to come of it. So the Paleos have one, single chance, right now. And we all know Hamas is going to turn itself inside out trying to wreck it. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #4 El Id, Good! I hope to heck that the palis are offered less than they spited in 2000. Why the bleep should the last 2 1/2 years of abominable behavior be rewarded? |
| Posted by: Craig 2003-04-13 14:44:11 |
| #3 This is not the first time Ariel Sharon has talked about making painful concessions to achieve peace.I don't see much that's new here.However,note that Sharon is talking to his supporters here;'painful concessions' means giving up claims to much of the West Bank and Gaza,not giving up half of Jerusalem like Barak suggested;that was seen as betrayal by Sharon and the rest of the Israeli Right. There's no way the Sharon government is going to offer the Palestinians as sweet a deal as the one they turned down in 2000. |
| Posted by: El Id 2003-04-13 13:16:02 |
| #2 Hey, camels are noble beasts. Unlike Arafat, who is just a beast, and a nasty one at that. |
| Posted by: Baba Yaga 2003-04-13 12:55:51 |
| #1 "As a Jew, this agonizes me. But I have decided to make every effort to reach a settlement. I feel that the rational necessity to reach a settlement is overcoming my feelings." Wow, those are some sincere words. Are you sure that it really was Sharon doing the interview. Could have been the clown from spawn. I always thought there was quite a bit of resemblance. And are we sure that it was really Yasser at the Camp David Conference and not just a camel. I always thought there was a resemblance there too. |
| Posted by: rg117 2003-04-13 10:28:38 |
