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Peace Process

Opposition to retreat a ?petty quarrel? - PM


By Jerusalem Newswire Editorial Staff
December 08, 2004

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Tuesday suggested opposition to his plan to relinquish the Jews’ millennia-old biblical claim to the Gaza Strip was a “petty quarrel” that threatened to unravel all his government had achieved.

Sharon painted a rosy picture of what lied in store for Israelis during 2005, but warned that a far more bleak future awaited if the nation were forced to endure early elections.

As such, the prime minister announced his intention to unite with the leftist Labor Party in order to shore up his ability to forcibly evacuate the Jewish residents of Gaza, and gain the diplomatic rewards he insists would result from such a move.

Labor’s staunch opposition to Finance Minster Binyamin Netanyahu’s sweeping reforms, however, left in question the future of the economic momentum so praised by Sharon.

Rosy future

“2005 can be a year in which we will reap, or begin to reap the fruits of the immense effort which we all invested over the last few years,” Sharon said during his speech to the Israel Business Conference Tuesday evening.

“It will be a year in which we begin to discuss a life free from the threat of terror with
our Palestinian neighbors,” the prime minister continued, “It will be a year in which Israel will be able to restore its regional and international position.”

Sharon went on to praise the financial opportunities and promising economic future made possible by Netanyahu’s sweeping reforms.

The coming year will be a time “in which not only the economy as a whole, but each individual, will begin to benefit from the results of the economic reforms we implemented,” he said.

Sharon also outlined several infrastructure projects and a long-awaited education reform that are to be implemented in 2005.

“It will be a year of hope for every citizen of Israel,” he told the gathering.

‘Petty quarrels’

Those shining prospects, however, would be swallowed in the economic and security gloom currently engulfing the nation if Sharon’s policies are not implemented, the prime minister insisted.

Sharon made veiled reference to the “petty quarrels and political and sectarian
arguments” surrounding his plan to uproot the Jews of Gaza and northern Samaria and relinquish his people’s claim to those lands.

“It would be a terrible mistake on our part to miss the opportunities before us.”

Saved by Labor

In order to avoid those “mistakes”, Sharon announced his intention to shore up his ability to rid Gaza of its Jews and gain the diplomatic benefits he believes such a move will afford Israel by forging a national unity coalition with the leftist Labor Party.

“I intend to take advantage of the potential opportunities for the Israeli people in 2005. I will make every effort to realize them. Therefore, I will endeavor to broaden the coalition and establish a Government with the Labor Party and the religious parties,” he stated.

“Only a stable government, which will rule until the end of 2006, can implement the Disengagement Plan, continue the economic reforms and extricate Israel from its social problems,” Sharon concluded.

Insurmountable incompatibilities

But Sharon’s decision to ally with Labor left observers curious as to how he would maintain the path of economic reform he so praised only moments earlier.

The socialist-minded Labor Party is vehemently opposed to Netanyahu’s capitalist policies, and has voted against the 2005 national budget in several Knesset votes.

Senior Labor officials are insisting Netanyahu be removed before they will agree to join Sharon’s government, and party leader Shimon Peres is on record referring to the finance minister’s plan as “piggish capitalism.”

The choices before Sharon at present appear to be dropping Labor in order to protect Israel’s economic gains, or dropping Netanyahu in order to appease Labor and ensure his disengagement plan is implemented.

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