I'm amazed that this has not come up yet... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle ... 586488.stm With the Israeli PM suffering a stroke and being in an induced coma (and possibly about to die) what effect do you reckon this will have, on Israel and on the area? Admittedly elections are due on 28th March anyway, so this may just hasten Sharon's leaving office.
[/quote] As I understand it, Sharon with his new formed party Kadiva would have had best chances to win those elections and remain pm. Personally I am sadened by the situation because I think Ariel Sharon has showed to be a real statesman(not just a politician) and certainly was the best guarantee for an on going peace process on the israeli side. As I understand it(but I admit not being very informed about israeli politics) the main problem with the 2 major israeli parties and the peace process was: -Labour party : Inclined to make concessions to the palestinians and not against a palestinian state, but unable to make acceptable these concessions to large parts of the israeli population -Likud party : Dominated at the base by right wing/orthodox israelis.Sharon always was threatened to loose support of his own party when giving anything substantial to the palestinians. Sharon seemed to be the man that could change the situation, his image as General Sharon gives him a lot of respect in orthodox community and in the army, and he seems honest about the peace process( as showed by the evacuation of Gaza last summer). If he really cannot return into office, that would be a great loss for Israel and the region....
Unfortunately, barring a bona fide miracle Sharon will not be returning to political life. Such a massive stroke results in irreversible brain damage. He most likely won't survive but he certainly won't regain his full faculties. This throws a huge monkey wrench into the peace process, such as it was. It's a tragedy, in more ways than one.
What a tosser Christian evangelical broadcaster Pat Robertson: "He was dividing God's land and I would say woe unto any prime minister of Israel who takes a similar course to appease the EU, the United Nations, or the United States of America. God says 'this land belongs to me. You better leave it alone.' "
Interesting how Pat Robertson always has God quotes handy. In common American English, of course. I can imagine him sitting at breakfast telling his wife/resident nun: "God says: don't stand in the way of those who preach my word, instead pass them the butter"
Sooner or later however one stateman has to hand over to another. Sharon's departure from the playing field is unfortunate but I think we should be glad this didn't happen over the summer when it would probably have thrown a spanner in the works of the settlement withdrawals. On the subject of Pat Robertson I have to wonder what kind of person he catters to. You have to feel that kind of person would drag us back to the middle ages if they got half a chance.
It would appear that not unreasonably the Israeli governement has taken a dim view of this big statement. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle ... 602186.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle ... 610006.stm US TV host sorry for Sharon slur Mr Robertson is a long-time supporter of Israel US TV evangelist Pat Robertson has apologised for saying Israeli leader Ariel Sharon's stroke was divine retribution for leaving the Gaza Strip. Mr Robertson wrote to Mr Sharon's son Omri to say he now realised his remarks were "inappropriate and insensitive". He asked for forgiveness, but there is no suggestion the Israeli authorities will overturn a decision to block a tourism deal with the preacher. Israel said on Wednesday it would no longer sign a $50m contract with him. "My concern for the future safety of your nation led me to make remarks which I can now view in retrospect as inappropriate and insensitive in light of a national grief experienced because of your father's illness," said Mr Robertson's letter. Mr Robertson suggested on his popular TV show the stroke was a punishment for Israel's withdrawal from Gaza. Tourism Ministry official Ram Levi said Israel remained "outraged" by the remarks. For any prime minister of Israel who decides he's going to carve [the land] up and give it away, God says no, this is mine Earlier this week, the ministry's spokesman Ido Hartuv said Israel would no longer be signing a contract with Mr Robertson to build a biblical theme park by the Sea of Galilee. The centre was expected to cover nearly 35 acres (14 hectares) north-east of the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus is believed to have delivered the Sermon on the Mount. It would have had a park, an auditorium, a Holy Land exhibition, outdoor amphitheatres, information centre and a media studio. The Israeli government had tentatively agreed to provide land and infrastructure for the centre in the hope of generating millions of dollars from tourism. But relations soured when Mr Robertson said God wanted Israel to be whole and undivided and had therefore punished Mr Sharon for Israel's pull-out from the Gaza Strip last year. "You read the Bible: This is my land, and for any prime minister of Israel who decides he's going to carve it up and give it away, God says no, this is mine," he said last week. Mr Hartuv insisted Israel had not rejected outright the idea of building the centre. "The contract is still open - just not with Mr Robertson," he said.
On Kadima it still has a chance, although without Sharon it is going to be a much closer three way election. Deputy PM Olmert has exactly the same politics as Sharon did, he just lacks charisma, and is as inspirational as a block of wood. However having some of Israel's leading figures such as Peres, Tzipi Livni, and Mofaz on his side is definately helpful. Israel is going to continue dealing with Pat Robertson, just not while Sharon is still fighting for his life. When Sharon is back up and running (But unfortunately no longer in politics) relations with Pat Robertson is going to go back to normal. God willing the next Prime Minister of Israel is going to be Amir Peretz who strikes down his opposition. Peretz has a plan to unnilaterally withdraw from most of the West Bank, but keep all of Jerusalem, and formally grant the Palestinians independence up to were he withdraws from, and then declare victory in the Israeli Arab Conflict and stop negotiations. Peretz's strengths are his notable immunization to curruption (he is considered the least currupt of any politician), his known stances on workers rights, popular socioeconomic policy, and fire and brimstone like speeches get people to gain confidence in him, which is big in any free election anywere I think. His weaknessess include an inability to speak english (No Israeli PM has yet needed a translator to meet with Americans), no experience at all on the diplomatic front, little experience in the military, a percieved naivety about how security works, no clearly defined plan on how to deal with Iran, and no knowledge about counter-terrorism, and finally he has not made his policies completely clear. The Likkud candidate Netanyahu is a lot more clear, and a lot simpler. His strength is his Palestinian Policy. His policy is full disarmament and dismantling of terror organizations, in return for withdrawal from the West Bank and granting of a Palestinian State. He is unbendable in that policy. His Iran policy is going to be depending on what Intelligence says either send in commando elite, or send in the IAF to destroy the Nuclear Facilities. His other two advantages are he has more energy then Olmert, and he speaks fluently in English which gives him an edge over Peretz. His weaknessess are he is percieved as an extremist both in Israel and abroad, he can not controll the right wing orthodox part of his party (Which they themselves showed Israel a few days ago, apparently forgotting that it weakens him for elections), and he is universally hated for his socioeconomic policies as PM. As I said I support Peretz and Labour, and I would have voted for him regardless of the condition Sharon was in, although I would have had second thoughts had Sharon been running for office.
I don't believe there is any possibility of a compromise acceptable to the majority of isaelis and to the majority of the palestinians at the same time Israel has been lazy into thinking that time was on their side and the settelments issue can be sidestepped with a certain amount of concessions , the palestinians have lost so much , for so long than in a way it's making them immune to ordinary misery , to get anything out of them one would have to recourse to extraordinary means or extraordinary concessions the prediction of whatsisname about israel choking on the occupied land is probably fulfilling itself, if the settlelments are a potion ,Israel has always been doctor jerkill and mr Hyde, now it's mostly Hyde.
