New/old diplomatic initiatives were presented in the Labor Party Central Committee meeting today. Party Chairman Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, Israel\'s Defense Minister, went the furthest, saying he would be willing to give up Israeli sovereignty over the Temple Mount - Judaism\'s holiest site. MK Chaim Ramon, who plans to run for the party leadership in the next election, appeared to differ with Ben-Eliezer in strategy, not substance, by saying that there is no point in offering plans at this point \"when there is no one on the other side with whom to negotiate.\" However, Ramon said that we must unilaterally withdraw from Gaza immediately.
Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak said that we must not give a prize to terrorism, and we must therefore not dismantle any settlements at this point, nor offer more - at this point - than was proposed at Camp David. Barak favors, as do the others, a physical separation plan. \"Just as we have a fence surrounding Gaza that prevents suicide terrorists from entering [pre-1967 Israel], we must have a much longer one around [Judea and Samaria], and around the large settlement blocs...\"
Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak said that we must not give a prize to terrorism, and we must therefore not dismantle any settlements at this point, nor offer more - at this point - than was proposed at Camp David. Barak favors, as do the others, a physical separation plan. \"Just as we have a fence surrounding Gaza that prevents suicide terrorists from entering [pre-1967 Israel], we must have a much longer one around [Judea and Samaria], and around the large settlement blocs...\"