It is Friday February 9 and I have just heard this news: Prime Minister Elect Ariel (Arik) Sharon has offered outgoing Prime/Defense Minister Ehud Barak the post of Defense Minister In the new Sharon government.
This offer was made despite the fact that Barak failed miserably at both his Prime Ministry but especially his Defense Ministry. As Defense Minister, Barak followed in the pattern set by Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres: When Israel appeases; Arafat attacks and murders Israelis. To date since the signing of the Oslo Declaration of Principals on September 13, 1993, 546 Israelis have been murdered (including 14 Americans), with thousands more injured - some maimed for life.
I am sure that Arik had a good reason but that may not be enough to reduce the bad feelings already coming from his supporters on the Right. Even the Left who wanted Barak out of office are scratching their heads. Early comments such as "This must be a Purim ?spiel? or a bad joke." Barak, having been overwhelmingly rejected, now announced in one his famous zig-zags that he considers his concessions to Arafat null and void. Presumably, that clears the way for him to accept the Defense portfolio from Sharon.
The nation is confused, having utterly rejected Barak in such an overwhelming vote that Sharon won with a 25% majority. Some people are rightly thinking that this is almost an exact replay of Binyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu?s short term in office after he abandoned his supporters of the Right and moved to Center/Left. It must be remembered that the Right joined with the Left (for different reasons) to vote Netanyahu out of his office.
Sharon may be fulfilling a campaign pledge made directly to Barak but, clearly, after the names Barak called him, Sharon had no such obligations. All of Barak?s campaign slogans referred to Arik as the man who will start war and more - much more and worse demonizations.
Barak had proven himself the supreme closet Dove - even to the point of saying that, if he won, he would appoint Amran Mitzna as Defense Minister. Mitzna is a former General, now Mayor of Haifa and a self-proclaimed Dove. Mitzna would then carry on Barak?s policy of appeasement and pre-announcing attacks thereby putting Israeli soldiers in harm?s way.
Barak?s short history is filled with inconsistencies - called zig-zags. He was, however, consistent when it came to any response to attacks by Arafat and Hezb?Allah (Party of God) terrorists. In a word - he didn?t respond.
When he literally forced the Israeli soldiers to abandon their posts in Lebanon, commanding them to run like scared rabbits, he embarrassed the entire Army. They left tanks, long-range artillery and shells, missiles and, worst of all, Barak betrayed our Lebanese allies of 18 years, leaving them to face the vengeful Hezb?Allah.
By his precipitous retreat, Barak left a huge power vacuum which was quickly filled by Hezb?Allah and now Osama Bin Laden, the super-terrorist leader believed to be responsible for the bombing of the American barracks in Saudi Arabia (twice), the destruction of two American embassies in Africa in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, probably the U.S.S. Cole and, no doubt, other vile attacks on American assets abroad - killing hundreds of Americans as well as local people.
When Israelis were attacked - even butchered - Barak ordered up theatrical helicopter rocket attacks against empty buildings. The buildings were empty because Barak notified Arafat that he was coming to make a show for local Israeli consumption. Barak put the Israeli helicopter crews in great danger from Palestinian sharp-shooters knowing when and where they were coming.
Barak knew Arafat had fired shoulder-held ground-to-air missiles. Barak accepted the risks because he was pursuing pacifistic diplomacy and had accepted "Peace with Violence" for the Israeli people.
Is this the Defense Minister whom Arik Sharon wants to head up Israel?s Army and response team?
This was the Defense Minister who left a soldier bleeding and dying in Joseph?s Tomb as he ordered another retreat and no attempt at rescue!
This was the PM/DM who refused to stop the Wakf (Muslim clerics) from digging up and destroying any signs of Jewish artifacts from Solomon?s Temple, the First Jewish Temple, lest he anger the Arabs!
This was the PM/DM who was willing to divide Jerusalem and accept Arafat historically fake claim that the entire Temple Mount and Western Wall were only Islam?s Holy places!
This was the PM/DM who was ready to give up the Jordan Valley, Israel?s only defensive border across her whole Eastern exposure!
This was the PM/DM who offered Hafez Al Assad the entire Golan Heights down to the waters of the Kinneret, Israel?s major fresh water source!
Arik, we your loyal supporters are confused and depressed. How can you bring into your government, the man people rejected by a 25% margin? Even the Left didn?t want him. Even they recognized his arrogance and his bizarre negotiating tactics which offered everything but received nothing.
As of February 9, 2001, the new Bush administration formally stated that they had abandoned the so-called ?Peace Process? of Clinton and Barak. They especially stated that these proposals belonged to the prior government of Barak and did not apply to the new government of Ariel Sharon. (1)
Saeb Erekat today, February 9, stated that discussions must start with concessions last made by Barak at Taba. This was where Barak?s Peace team was desperately trying to freeze the concessions on a document to be forced on the next Israeli government.
Why in the world would the Sharon government go against what he had pledged, appearing to insult both his supporters and the Bush administration by taking in the discredited Ehud Barak?
All of us who have looked to Arik Sharon to stop at Barak?s insane, suicidal policies are now confused and angry. Does this mean that much of the Clinton-Barak policies will be accepted by the new Israeli government? Will Israel continue with a fully feathered Dove as a Defense Minister? Barak?s craven behavior has only encouraged Arafat?s minions to continue their radical Islamic ?Jihad? (Holy War) of murder, bombing, shooting, stabbing because no matter what they did or whom they killed, Barak just gave them more of Israel?s precious assets of land, water and Holy Sites.
Will Israel?s military (under Barak?s control) continue its policy of nurturing Leftist Dovish officers who are prepared to order their soldiers to run in the face of any Arab mob and to abandon wounded soldiers if their rescue might be difficult?
Arik, old friend, please explain what you have in mind. Peres and the Left have already started to work to make your Prime Ministry the shortest on record. Bringing Barak into the heart of your government will be a repeat of the crippling mistakes made by PM Menachem Begin, z?l and Netanyahu. The Left worked diligently from within to break the government and they have finally succeeded.
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1. "Bush Officials Pronounce Clinton MidEast Plan Dead" by Jane Perlez NEW YORK TIMES February 9, 2001
This offer was made despite the fact that Barak failed miserably at both his Prime Ministry but especially his Defense Ministry. As Defense Minister, Barak followed in the pattern set by Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres: When Israel appeases; Arafat attacks and murders Israelis. To date since the signing of the Oslo Declaration of Principals on September 13, 1993, 546 Israelis have been murdered (including 14 Americans), with thousands more injured - some maimed for life.
I am sure that Arik had a good reason but that may not be enough to reduce the bad feelings already coming from his supporters on the Right. Even the Left who wanted Barak out of office are scratching their heads. Early comments such as "This must be a Purim ?spiel? or a bad joke." Barak, having been overwhelmingly rejected, now announced in one his famous zig-zags that he considers his concessions to Arafat null and void. Presumably, that clears the way for him to accept the Defense portfolio from Sharon.
The nation is confused, having utterly rejected Barak in such an overwhelming vote that Sharon won with a 25% majority. Some people are rightly thinking that this is almost an exact replay of Binyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu?s short term in office after he abandoned his supporters of the Right and moved to Center/Left. It must be remembered that the Right joined with the Left (for different reasons) to vote Netanyahu out of his office.
Sharon may be fulfilling a campaign pledge made directly to Barak but, clearly, after the names Barak called him, Sharon had no such obligations. All of Barak?s campaign slogans referred to Arik as the man who will start war and more - much more and worse demonizations.
Barak had proven himself the supreme closet Dove - even to the point of saying that, if he won, he would appoint Amran Mitzna as Defense Minister. Mitzna is a former General, now Mayor of Haifa and a self-proclaimed Dove. Mitzna would then carry on Barak?s policy of appeasement and pre-announcing attacks thereby putting Israeli soldiers in harm?s way.
Barak?s short history is filled with inconsistencies - called zig-zags. He was, however, consistent when it came to any response to attacks by Arafat and Hezb?Allah (Party of God) terrorists. In a word - he didn?t respond.
When he literally forced the Israeli soldiers to abandon their posts in Lebanon, commanding them to run like scared rabbits, he embarrassed the entire Army. They left tanks, long-range artillery and shells, missiles and, worst of all, Barak betrayed our Lebanese allies of 18 years, leaving them to face the vengeful Hezb?Allah.
By his precipitous retreat, Barak left a huge power vacuum which was quickly filled by Hezb?Allah and now Osama Bin Laden, the super-terrorist leader believed to be responsible for the bombing of the American barracks in Saudi Arabia (twice), the destruction of two American embassies in Africa in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, probably the U.S.S. Cole and, no doubt, other vile attacks on American assets abroad - killing hundreds of Americans as well as local people.
When Israelis were attacked - even butchered - Barak ordered up theatrical helicopter rocket attacks against empty buildings. The buildings were empty because Barak notified Arafat that he was coming to make a show for local Israeli consumption. Barak put the Israeli helicopter crews in great danger from Palestinian sharp-shooters knowing when and where they were coming.
Barak knew Arafat had fired shoulder-held ground-to-air missiles. Barak accepted the risks because he was pursuing pacifistic diplomacy and had accepted "Peace with Violence" for the Israeli people.
Is this the Defense Minister whom Arik Sharon wants to head up Israel?s Army and response team?
This was the Defense Minister who left a soldier bleeding and dying in Joseph?s Tomb as he ordered another retreat and no attempt at rescue!
This was the PM/DM who refused to stop the Wakf (Muslim clerics) from digging up and destroying any signs of Jewish artifacts from Solomon?s Temple, the First Jewish Temple, lest he anger the Arabs!
This was the PM/DM who was willing to divide Jerusalem and accept Arafat historically fake claim that the entire Temple Mount and Western Wall were only Islam?s Holy places!
This was the PM/DM who was ready to give up the Jordan Valley, Israel?s only defensive border across her whole Eastern exposure!
This was the PM/DM who offered Hafez Al Assad the entire Golan Heights down to the waters of the Kinneret, Israel?s major fresh water source!
Arik, we your loyal supporters are confused and depressed. How can you bring into your government, the man people rejected by a 25% margin? Even the Left didn?t want him. Even they recognized his arrogance and his bizarre negotiating tactics which offered everything but received nothing.
As of February 9, 2001, the new Bush administration formally stated that they had abandoned the so-called ?Peace Process? of Clinton and Barak. They especially stated that these proposals belonged to the prior government of Barak and did not apply to the new government of Ariel Sharon. (1)
Saeb Erekat today, February 9, stated that discussions must start with concessions last made by Barak at Taba. This was where Barak?s Peace team was desperately trying to freeze the concessions on a document to be forced on the next Israeli government.
Why in the world would the Sharon government go against what he had pledged, appearing to insult both his supporters and the Bush administration by taking in the discredited Ehud Barak?
All of us who have looked to Arik Sharon to stop at Barak?s insane, suicidal policies are now confused and angry. Does this mean that much of the Clinton-Barak policies will be accepted by the new Israeli government? Will Israel continue with a fully feathered Dove as a Defense Minister? Barak?s craven behavior has only encouraged Arafat?s minions to continue their radical Islamic ?Jihad? (Holy War) of murder, bombing, shooting, stabbing because no matter what they did or whom they killed, Barak just gave them more of Israel?s precious assets of land, water and Holy Sites.
Will Israel?s military (under Barak?s control) continue its policy of nurturing Leftist Dovish officers who are prepared to order their soldiers to run in the face of any Arab mob and to abandon wounded soldiers if their rescue might be difficult?
Arik, old friend, please explain what you have in mind. Peres and the Left have already started to work to make your Prime Ministry the shortest on record. Bringing Barak into the heart of your government will be a repeat of the crippling mistakes made by PM Menachem Begin, z?l and Netanyahu. The Left worked diligently from within to break the government and they have finally succeeded.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1. "Bush Officials Pronounce Clinton MidEast Plan Dead" by Jane Perlez NEW YORK TIMES February 9, 2001