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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 16-Sep-04
Israel makes it official: The American-backed "road map to peace" is dead.

Web Log - September, 2004

Israel makes it official: The American-backed "road map to peace" is dead.

In fact, Israel itself is in enormous turmoil today because of Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan. The "road plan to peace" never had a chance anyway, but it's always fascinating when a politician actually tells the truth about something like that.

Israel: Ariel Sharon is proposing to "disengage" from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank

Israel: Ariel Sharon is proposing to "disengage" from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank

The road plan required Israel and the Palestinians to negotiate the details of Palestinian state side by side with Israel by 2005. However, this plan could never have worked because it would be violently opposed by extremists in both sides.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister both understand this, of course. Palestinian militia factions have almost gone to war with each other on several occasions, only to be pulled back from the brink by Arafat himself. History tells us that it will be almost impossible for the Palestinians to avoid civil war after Arafat is gone.

However, the past few months have similarly seen the level of bitterness and conflict in Israel itself increase significantly. The conflict revolves around Sharon's disengagement plan: Build a ten-foot high barrier around Israel, and then remove Israeli settlements outside the barrier from Gaza and the West Bank.

In fact, the Israeli cabinet has approved payment of substantial compensation funds for 8,500 settlers to withdraw from Gaza by September of next year.

The problem is that the settlers and their supporters have no intention of withdrawing under any circumstances. One opposition leader described the removal of settlements as "a crime against humanity," essentially equating it to the Nazi genocide of Jews during World War II. He promised an armed confrontation if the withdrawal plan goes ahead.

An infuriated Sharon responded: "We have witnessed in the past few days a fierce campaign of incitement, including references to civil war. I find these threats on defence force officers and members of the security establishment to be a severe offence."

So we have three separate confrontations going on: Israeli versus Palestinian, Palestinian versus Palestinian, and Israeli versus Israeli.

Meanwhile, the population in the Gaza strip continues to grow at the rate of almost 4% per year,. If a war has been avoided so far, it's only because of massive American foreign aid. That will only work for so long. Each day more babies are born and the pressure cooker atmosphere gets worse and worse. It's only a matter of time before someone declares war on someone. (16-Sep-04) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 16-Sep-04 Israel makes it official: The American-backed "road map to peace" is dead.

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 16-Sep-04
Israel makes it official: The American-backed "road map to peace" is dead.