\"Israel will emerge victorious from the current war of terror,\" Prime Minister Sharon said last night in a televised speech to the nation. In the four-minute message of hope delivered from his office, Sharon declared that Israel had done everything in its power to bring about a ceasefire and to proceed with diplomatic negotiations. Sharon noted that Israel cooperated with Zinni, Chaney, withdrew its troops, and refrained from retaliating for 7 days of quiet. \"What we got in response,\" Sharon said, \"was terror, terror, and more terror.\"
In his address, the Prime Minister stated that the objective of the current offensive was to strike at the foundations of the terrorist infrastructure. Sharon placed the blame for the current war directly on PLO leader Yasser Arafat. He said that Arafat was an obstacle to the peace in the Middle East and an enemy to the entire civilized world. The Prime Minister said that Israel is at a decisive point in its short history, but said that he is confident that Israel will overcome and peace will reign.
In reaction to Sharon\'s address, Chairman of the National Religious Party (NRP), Rabbi Yitzchak Levy, stated that the Prime Minister\'s speech, \"constitutes the borderline of the awakening that we were expecting.\" Levy said that, \"Today, he [Sharon] aligned himself, at least in a clear and sharp statement, with the NRP position of a year ago.\"
MK Michael Kleiner (Herut Party) said, \"If Arafat is the enemy of the nation, it is unconscionable that he enjoys immunity from attack, that he receives foodstuffs, water, electricity, that he is able to be interviewed on CNN and that he receives courtesy calls from leftist groups.\" Kleiner said that as long as the government of Israel continues delivering a double message regarding Yasser Arafat and the PLO, Israel will not be able to win.
In his address, the Prime Minister stated that the objective of the current offensive was to strike at the foundations of the terrorist infrastructure. Sharon placed the blame for the current war directly on PLO leader Yasser Arafat. He said that Arafat was an obstacle to the peace in the Middle East and an enemy to the entire civilized world. The Prime Minister said that Israel is at a decisive point in its short history, but said that he is confident that Israel will overcome and peace will reign.
In reaction to Sharon\'s address, Chairman of the National Religious Party (NRP), Rabbi Yitzchak Levy, stated that the Prime Minister\'s speech, \"constitutes the borderline of the awakening that we were expecting.\" Levy said that, \"Today, he [Sharon] aligned himself, at least in a clear and sharp statement, with the NRP position of a year ago.\"
MK Michael Kleiner (Herut Party) said, \"If Arafat is the enemy of the nation, it is unconscionable that he enjoys immunity from attack, that he receives foodstuffs, water, electricity, that he is able to be interviewed on CNN and that he receives courtesy calls from leftist groups.\" Kleiner said that as long as the government of Israel continues delivering a double message regarding Yasser Arafat and the PLO, Israel will not be able to win.