It is past time for Israel to stop giving in to American political pressure, Mideast expert Professor Moshe Sharon declared Sunday in an interview with Arutz Sheva.
Sharon argued that Israel should have reacted far more strongly than it did to the murder of young IDF soldier Eden Atias last week. Atias was stabbed to death by a 16-year-old terrorist as he slept on a bus.
“A murder like that should have created an outrage,” he insisted. Israel should have taken steps that would have sent a clear message to the Palestinian Authority, he said – but would not take such steps due to international pressure.
“I suggested that for every Jew who is murdered, we should build a new Israeli community in Judea and Samaria, and for each person injured, we should build a new neighborhood,” he suggested. “Even if the Americans react [unfavorably].”
“It’s the only way that the other side will get the message,” he argued.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) has been widely accused of bearing responsibility for recent terrorist attacks due to its open support for terrorism and for terrorist killers. PA leaders have frequently expressed outrage over Israeli construction in Judea and Samaria, which they say reduces the chances that an Arab state will be established in Judea, Samaria and Gaza.
Israel must learn to ignore American pressure, Sharon advised. “The time will come when the Prime Minister will need to say ‘Enough,’” he said. “I just hope it happens before they demand we give back Tel Aviv.”
“There will be no limit to pressure on us from Europe and from the White House,” he warned. “These days it’s easy to pressure the state of Israel.”
“They don’t pressure the Arabs,” he continued, “Only us, because it’s easy to pressure us. It doesn’t matter how many concessions we make.”
“Netanyahu is a perceptive man, but he is under tremendous pressure,” Sharon said. “He should have said ‘Enough’ already.”
Netanyahu has openly admitted to giving in to international pressure regarding Israeli construction in Judea and Samaria. Last week he told Members of Knesset that Israel must avoid confronting the international community over construction due to the importance of persuading the West to avoid a bad deal on Iran’s nuclear program.
Professor Sharon addressed the issue of Israel-PA talks as well, and warned that Israel must not agree to a temporary agreement. “In that situation we would be the main losers,” he warned. “We would give territory in exchange for empty statements.”
“Hamas rules Gaza, and even in Judea and Samaria, we need to remember that we are negotiating with a partner with no authority here,” he cautioned. The PA is headed by Mahmoud Abbas, whose term in office expired several years ago.