Voted Sharon. Got Peres.

[Sonny]

Saw Israeli settlers demonstrating yesterday with signs reading "Voted Sharon. Got Peres."

They were protesting the policy of restraint and cease-fire.

They're right.

If the country wanted "restraint" and more Jewish casualties, they would have elected Barak/Peres. Instead, they elected Sharon who ran on a campaign of security through action against terrorists and the people who send them.

Sharon, keep you promises. Take REAL action so that more Jews need not die.

[EZwriter]

I agree with the protesters.

But that's what Barak had said at elections time, that international and especially US pressure is preventing Israel from doing what is in its best interests (he actually hinted at this).

I guess that Sharon is getting a dose of that pressure now. It's always a lot easier to be more extreme when in the opposition rather than in power as he is now.

[Cindy]

I'm at a loss to why it is that once someone becomes Prime Minister of Israel they suddenly turn into a spinelss Jelly fish. Maybe there's something physically wrong with the office itself.

[SaltyDawg]

No doubt the government is much weaker with Peres as a partner Ze'evi would make a much better partner, even though the Isreali left might not like it.

The need to appease the left is lessening Sharon's effectiveness and ability to fight the PA.

[gregg]

I agree I think peres shoudl be removed from teh government if possible.

[JustPat]

You may denegrate the Arabs for having a dictatorship, but if Isreal was still a kingdom there would be no room to waffle. If the greatest pressure a PM faces is the people, who are the only ones who can pressure all government officials, there would be a mandate for action. In a democracy, "We get the government we deserve." - HL Mencken

[kauffner]

My understanding is that if there was an election, Netanyahu would win. Sharon makes concessions to Peres so that the Labor Party doesn't walk out and bring down the government.

I don't understand what Peres is up to. I was in Israel back in 1982 and I remember Peres on televison detailing the virtues of the Allon Plan to return the West Bank to Jordan. He convinced me. But nowadays he advocates a Palestinian state, something that has made him one of the most unpopular politicians in Israel. It is like he is trying to destroy the Labor Party.

[sharonbn]

People, you keep forgetting that Peres is one of the leaders of the Avoda (labour) party, which is part of Sharon's coalition.

Avoda is the largest party with 26 seats in the Knesset. Its bigger than Sharon's own party, Likud, which have 19 seats.

Without the Avoda, there will be no government at all (especaily after Shas, with its 17 seats got the well-eserved boot.)

Sharon cannot dispense with Peres, or Ben Eliezer at all.