Sharansky: No Peace at all costs

Natan Sharansky, minister without portfolio in Sharon's government and the philosophical architect of the democratic revolution in the Arab world, resigned over the Gaza surrender (er, disengagement) plan that Sharon is forcing down Israel's throat:

Sharansky, who became the sixth minister to either quit or be sacked in less than a year over their opposition to the disengagement plan, said it would only serve to strengthen Palestinian militancy and divide Israeli society.

"In my view, the disengagement plan is a tragic mistake that will exacerbate the conflict with the Palestinians, increase terrorism and dim the prospects of forging a genuine peace," Sharansky said in a resignation letter to Sharon.

"Alongside my concerns, about the dangers entailed in a unilateral disengagement from Gaza, I am even more concerned about how the government's approach to disengagement is dividing Israeli society.

"We are heading toward a terrible rift in the nation and to my great chagrin, I feel that the government is making no serious effort to prevent it."

I fail to see why Israel believes "peace" with the Palestinians requires Gaza to be Judenrein. After all, Arabs constitute about 20% of Israel's population with full voting rights, civil rights and the right to worship freely. In other words, Israel is capitulating to the Arab Jew-hating mindset. A sure way to keep the Arab anti-Semite fires burning.

Caroline Glick agrees:

Eighty-thousand Israelis braved the rocket-and-mortar onslaught on the Israeli communities in Gaza on Wednesday to come to Gush Katif and demonstrate against Sharon's planned withdrawal. The prime minister's supporters claim that a majority of Israelis support the plan. But the truth is probably different. A majority of Israelis is probably indifferent today to the plan, but indifference cannot be confused with support.

Given this, and given that from day to day it becomes increasingly apparent just how ill-advised Sharon's plan is from both a strategic and an operational perspective, it is clear why Sharon and his elitist supporters and protectors are so deathly afraid of a referendum. But the issue that Israelis, friends of Israel and supporters of Israeli democracy should be raising now is as follows: The French have recourse to a referendum to voice their views on a project that was undertaken largely without their consent and with which they have become increasingly disenchanted. The Israeli pubic is forced by events to face the dangers that Sharon's plan poses to the country and its citizens.