The dispute over how to fight the ongoing war against the murderous Palestinian terrorism continues. Several right-wing ministers are critical of Prime Minister Sharon for \"not responding\" to terrorist attacks that cost a small number of lives, and reacting only moderately to the others. The Prime Minister\'s Office says in response that the war against terrorism is not built on \"reactions\" but rather on ongoing military actions that are taken independently of specific attacks.
MK Effie Oshaya (Labor) and Communications Minister Ruby Rivlin (Likud), speaking with Arutz-7 today, related to the question of the government\'s perceived restraint in its war against PA terrorism. Oshaya opined that Prime Minister Sharon has \"either understood that the \'iron hand\' policy has many limitations - or he is simply weak.\" He noted that Sharon \"was elected by an unprecedented landslide of support, and should be able to carry out any policies he wants.\"
Arutz-7\'s Haggai Segal suggested that the Prime Minister \"may want to take stronger measures, but he fears criticism from the left… He wants to learn from his predecessors\' mistakes and not take strong action without broad national consensus. Why doesn\'t Labor offer its support to stronger military moves?\"
MK Oshaya: \"If this Prime Minister cannot stand up to criticism, then he should resign... The right-wing makes up 2/3 of the government, and if they can\'t take action according to their beliefs, then let them not blame Shimon Peres or the left… If Sharon can\'t do the job, he should resign.\"
When asked if he really thought there was a diplomatic solution, Oshaya responded, \"I would like to believe that there is. Look, if we lose all hope, and if there is no hope on the Palestinian side, then we will enter a dizzying nightmare of suffering for both sides. And therefore I believe that there is hope and that we must do the maximum even if Arafat is not a \'partner\' at this point…\"
Segal then asked Communications Minister Rivlin, \"Is there then no military option?\" Rivlin responded, \"On the contrary, it could very well be that the only option left is a military one. In this situation, where we face an uncompromising war of terrorism against us, which doesn\'t end with the 1967 borders, and not even with 1948 - I\'ve even heard Arafat repudiate [the 1916] Sykes-Picot [Middle East agreement between England and France] - and where we are facing a great wave of fundamentalism, the only solution is to smash it until it is overcome.\"
Segal: \"Could it be that possibly PM Sharon is relying a bit too much on the recent American support, and therefore feels no need to fight the terrorists so strongly?\"
Rivlin: \"We do not live alone in this world, and Sharon is right for encouraging international support for Israel and its stand against Palestinian terrorism… We need not provoke the international community into withdrawing its support by taking measures that are considered too strong. If the Palestinians increase their terrorism, of course, we will have to react in kind, and maybe even disarm them totally…\"
MK Effie Oshaya (Labor) and Communications Minister Ruby Rivlin (Likud), speaking with Arutz-7 today, related to the question of the government\'s perceived restraint in its war against PA terrorism. Oshaya opined that Prime Minister Sharon has \"either understood that the \'iron hand\' policy has many limitations - or he is simply weak.\" He noted that Sharon \"was elected by an unprecedented landslide of support, and should be able to carry out any policies he wants.\"
Arutz-7\'s Haggai Segal suggested that the Prime Minister \"may want to take stronger measures, but he fears criticism from the left… He wants to learn from his predecessors\' mistakes and not take strong action without broad national consensus. Why doesn\'t Labor offer its support to stronger military moves?\"
MK Oshaya: \"If this Prime Minister cannot stand up to criticism, then he should resign... The right-wing makes up 2/3 of the government, and if they can\'t take action according to their beliefs, then let them not blame Shimon Peres or the left… If Sharon can\'t do the job, he should resign.\"
When asked if he really thought there was a diplomatic solution, Oshaya responded, \"I would like to believe that there is. Look, if we lose all hope, and if there is no hope on the Palestinian side, then we will enter a dizzying nightmare of suffering for both sides. And therefore I believe that there is hope and that we must do the maximum even if Arafat is not a \'partner\' at this point…\"
Segal then asked Communications Minister Rivlin, \"Is there then no military option?\" Rivlin responded, \"On the contrary, it could very well be that the only option left is a military one. In this situation, where we face an uncompromising war of terrorism against us, which doesn\'t end with the 1967 borders, and not even with 1948 - I\'ve even heard Arafat repudiate [the 1916] Sykes-Picot [Middle East agreement between England and France] - and where we are facing a great wave of fundamentalism, the only solution is to smash it until it is overcome.\"
Segal: \"Could it be that possibly PM Sharon is relying a bit too much on the recent American support, and therefore feels no need to fight the terrorists so strongly?\"
Rivlin: \"We do not live alone in this world, and Sharon is right for encouraging international support for Israel and its stand against Palestinian terrorism… We need not provoke the international community into withdrawing its support by taking measures that are considered too strong. If the Palestinians increase their terrorism, of course, we will have to react in kind, and maybe even disarm them totally…\"