Israel – What now?

Public outpourings of emotion always confuse me. George Best, Princess Diana and many others have been the object of “great sadness” according to the world’s news. I don’t understand it. Sure, they may have been nice people (although in the two cases mentioned I saw no evidence) but the vast majority of commentators and “well-wishers” never met the people they supposedly feel genuine remorse for the passing of (excellent grammar, I know!).

But then Ariel Sharon comes into the news. It appears he will not be able to carry his new party to victory and it appears that peace in the Middle East will become more elusive than at any time since Sharon’s election.

Abbas was supposed to be the saviour of Palestine. He was supposed to do what Arafat could not — make peace with Israel. Unfortunately he has been weak and, except immediately after the election, he fails to be seen on the important medium: TV.

Sharon unilaterally gave a part of the 1967 acquisitions to the people living in those areas and withdrew the Jewish settlements. This is a brave move that only a right-wing Israeli leader could achieve. He also gained consensus and started a new party with that in mind…

And now, to thank the Israelis for their concessions, it appears the Gaza and West Bank residents are going to elect a terrorist organisation to parliament. This would, with Sharon remaining as leader, have shown the Palestinians as the ones unable to find peace in their hearts, but, without Sharon, the stark choice made by the Palestinians in this election will be overshadowed by whatever choice the Israeli electorate makes. This is because the Israelis have few choices:
1) A hard-liner who will be criticised by the West as being unable to negotiate; or
2) A weak socialist who will not be able to convince his people that further concessions are the answer.

Sharon’s future is of fundamental importance and this is why I am feeling genuine concern for his health. I hope he survives and I hope he is fit enough to lead his new party to victory and ensure that Bush’s roadmap is furthered with the help of Sharon’s unilateralism.