World Loves Sharon – Because He Caved In
Sharon arrived in New York last night to take part in the United Nations’ World Summit in honor of its 60th birthday. World leaders appear to be waiting in line to meet with him, including U.S. President George Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Bush reportedly made a special request to meet with Sharon to express his admiration for the withdrawal from Gaza.
Other leaders with whom Sharon will meet are those of Jordan, Turkey, Canada, Australia, and others, including possibly the emir of Qatar.
Sharon’s address to the U.N. General Assembly tonight will be in Hebrew, and will apparently be directed mainly to Likud members back in Israel. Sharon faces a critical Likud Central Committee vote in two weeks’ time that will determine whether he will face a major challenge to his party leadership in the very near future, or only several months from now.
Sharon did not respond directly to reporters’ questions on the plane to New York whether there will be further disengagements. He said only, “I intend to carry out the Road Map with all its clauses. The disengagement was a process that was not easy; it was painful, but was implemented properly. As I said, it was the hardest decision I ever made, but I said I would do it – and I did it.”
Many Likud Cabinet ministers and MKs are not impressed with Sharon’s reception in the United States. Binyamin Netanyahu, Sharon’s main competitor for party leader, said, “Sharon has traded ‘shtachim’ (territory) for ‘shtichim’ (red carpets)” [a play on the phrase ‘territories for peace].”
Knesset Speaker Ruby Rivlin said that Sharon is receiving such first-class treatment merely because he left the path of the Likud.
MK David Levy, a former three-time Foreign Minister and past contender for Likud Party leader, said, “The world always loves Israeli leaders when they fold up in the face of international pressures.”
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom is accompanying Sharon on his visit to New York, and will also meet with international leaders. Minister Shalom watered down his original opposition to the disengagement over the past several months.
AFSI (American Friends for a Safe Israel) is planning a demonstration outside the United Nations for between 11 AM and 2 PM Thursday, while Sharon is scheduled to be delivering his speech. “It is vitally important [for people to] attend this demonstration,” writes AFSI Director Helen Freedman. “By his talk at the UN, Sharon expects to bask in both American and International approval! He should not be rewarded for such behavior” following his “betrayal of his people in Gush Katif and Northern Samaria.”
Though PM Sharon has said repeatedly that the PA must disarm terrorists and fight terrorism in order that the diplomatic process may continue, this does not appear to be happening. He told Newsweek a few days ago that the PA’s signing of an election agreement with Hamas terrorists, instead of disarming them, is a “major problem.” He told reporters on the plane that the issue will be discussed with Bush: “This is something that must be dealt with.”
