Refusing to Take Yes for an Answer

In today's Washington Post, the PLO's chief negotiator writes,

Israel's non-negotiated disengagement from Gaza will cause many Palestinians to conclude that violence, and not negotiations, is the only option for securing their rights.

The President of the European Parliament also criticizes Israel for withdrawing. Now, I can understand why the Palestinians are upset about many things, but what's wrong with Israel pulling out of Gaza? There will be fewer targets for Palestinian terrorists? There will be a civil war between Hamas and the PLO?

Jonathan Cook, a British journalist writing in an Egyptian newspaper, defends the Palestinian position by predicting a civil war in Gaza between Palestinian factions, and continued terrorism aimed at Israel! Really, I swear, Cook means to support Palestinian statehood with these claims. He concludes, "by Sharon's reckoning, if Gaza can be promoted as the image of Palestinian statehood, a state in the West Bank will be stillborn." He may be right about that. 
¶ -the Chef 4/25/2004 10:40:00 PM |