ibrodsky
03-23-2002, 06:59 PM
It was reported today that Ariel Sharon has expressed interest in attending the Arab Summit.
Predictably, the response from the other side was that Sharon's overture is a "provocation." Obviously, it would upset Arab war plans to have the PM of Israel extend the olive branch at their meeting. These meetings are generally designed as Israel-bashing festivals. The few reasonable words that come from Arab states are strictly reserved for press releases targeted at the West.
This is a good move by Sharon, as it exposes the fact that the Arabs are the ones who are intransigent. Israel made peace with Egypt, and handed back the Sinai. Israel offered the Palestinians their own state, and has already made a number of compromises (most, in retrospect, ill advised).
What have the Arabs ever offered Israel? The only thing they have even pretended to offer was to recognize Israel's right to exist -- though they really can't seem to agree on this among themselves. Really, it's Israel's military power that has given her the "right to exist," so having Arab states pretend they will give what they have failed to take away, and no more, just shows how insincere and hypocritical they are.
If the Arab states were really interested in a just settlement, they would welcome Sharon's overture. Claiming he was responsible for refugee camp massacres in Lebanon disqualifies him is another master stroke of hypocrisy. Anwar Sadat was a member of the Egyptian Nazi Party in his youth, and Palestinians slaughtered far more Lebanese Christians -- even after the notorious Sabra and Shatila operation. Plus, Israel agreed to negotiate with Arafat, the man who inspired Osama bin Laden.
Predictably, the response from the other side was that Sharon's overture is a "provocation." Obviously, it would upset Arab war plans to have the PM of Israel extend the olive branch at their meeting. These meetings are generally designed as Israel-bashing festivals. The few reasonable words that come from Arab states are strictly reserved for press releases targeted at the West.
This is a good move by Sharon, as it exposes the fact that the Arabs are the ones who are intransigent. Israel made peace with Egypt, and handed back the Sinai. Israel offered the Palestinians their own state, and has already made a number of compromises (most, in retrospect, ill advised).
What have the Arabs ever offered Israel? The only thing they have even pretended to offer was to recognize Israel's right to exist -- though they really can't seem to agree on this among themselves. Really, it's Israel's military power that has given her the "right to exist," so having Arab states pretend they will give what they have failed to take away, and no more, just shows how insincere and hypocritical they are.
If the Arab states were really interested in a just settlement, they would welcome Sharon's overture. Claiming he was responsible for refugee camp massacres in Lebanon disqualifies him is another master stroke of hypocrisy. Anwar Sadat was a member of the Egyptian Nazi Party in his youth, and Palestinians slaughtered far more Lebanese Christians -- even after the notorious Sabra and Shatila operation. Plus, Israel agreed to negotiate with Arafat, the man who inspired Osama bin Laden.