A senior Likud official said yesterday, according to Arutz-7's Haggai Segal, that he is now certain that Prime Minister Sharon is promoting his retreat plans only in order to ensure that he is not indicted in the Greek Island scandal. "I have no other explanation for his stubborn insistence to continue with the retreat," he said.
Mr. Sharon, for his part, has explained his desire to withdraw in his realization that if Israel does not initiate diplomatic steps, the international community will formulate other plans that are even worse for Israel. Former Foreign Ministry director-general Eitan Bentsur, however, said last night that though "Sharon's intentions are good," his strategy simply did not work. "He thought that he could go through with his disengagement from Gaza, and then be allowed to keep large chunks of Judea and Samaria," Bentsur said. "But we see that Europe responded right away by saying that Gaza was only the first step, and that they expected Judea and Samaria to be next. So his plan has just not worked."
Mr. Sharon, for his part, has explained his desire to withdraw in his realization that if Israel does not initiate diplomatic steps, the international community will formulate other plans that are even worse for Israel. Former Foreign Ministry director-general Eitan Bentsur, however, said last night that though "Sharon's intentions are good," his strategy simply did not work. "He thought that he could go through with his disengagement from Gaza, and then be allowed to keep large chunks of Judea and Samaria," Bentsur said. "But we see that Europe responded right away by saying that Gaza was only the first step, and that they expected Judea and Samaria to be next. So his plan has just not worked."