Over 100,000 people gathered at Zion Square in Jerusalem last Nov. 22 to protest the Barak government\'s policy of restraint. “Let the IDF Win!” the protestors repeatedly chanted. Opposition leader Ariel Sharon was a main speaker at the rally, and the crowd greeted his remarks with great enthusiasm. Some excerpts from his dramatic speech:
\"I have confidence in the IDF, and in the security forces, who [can] provide the appropriate solutions - if only the government is determined and gives clear instructions. We don\'t need a \'reaction,\' or \'retaliation,\' or \'vengeance\' - but rather the liquidation of terrorism! The liquidation of terrorism!! Not to react - but to initiate, and initiate, and again to initiate. We must make the enemy face a new situation every day, we must shake his self-confidence, make him worry about protecting himself instead of how to attack us. We are facing a war being conducted by the Palestinian Authority… The foolish Oslo Agreement is no longer in existence. We must win against terrorism; this is possible, and this is our goal now. After the situation is calmed, we will go for a better diplomatic agreement…
\"Look how the state looks now. Children can\'t travel safely to school, car bombs in city streets, Jerusalem residents under fire, communities are attacked, roads are frequently closed, theaters and malls are empty… Citizens of Israel - and this is possibly the worst of all - are afraid in the only place where Jews have the strength and the rights to protect themselves. For these rights and strength, we must thank G-d every day. Mr. Prime Minister [Barak], go into the street and look what is happening. What is happening to you?! This is not the way to run a country! This nation deserves security! And it is possible to do this! We, the nationalist camp, will restore security - I promise you all, we will restore security! We know how to do it, and we also know better than them to reach a diplomatic agreement, and we will do that too! There is no reason for despair! We will win! We will win! We will win!\"
\"I have confidence in the IDF, and in the security forces, who [can] provide the appropriate solutions - if only the government is determined and gives clear instructions. We don\'t need a \'reaction,\' or \'retaliation,\' or \'vengeance\' - but rather the liquidation of terrorism! The liquidation of terrorism!! Not to react - but to initiate, and initiate, and again to initiate. We must make the enemy face a new situation every day, we must shake his self-confidence, make him worry about protecting himself instead of how to attack us. We are facing a war being conducted by the Palestinian Authority… The foolish Oslo Agreement is no longer in existence. We must win against terrorism; this is possible, and this is our goal now. After the situation is calmed, we will go for a better diplomatic agreement…
\"Look how the state looks now. Children can\'t travel safely to school, car bombs in city streets, Jerusalem residents under fire, communities are attacked, roads are frequently closed, theaters and malls are empty… Citizens of Israel - and this is possibly the worst of all - are afraid in the only place where Jews have the strength and the rights to protect themselves. For these rights and strength, we must thank G-d every day. Mr. Prime Minister [Barak], go into the street and look what is happening. What is happening to you?! This is not the way to run a country! This nation deserves security! And it is possible to do this! We, the nationalist camp, will restore security - I promise you all, we will restore security! We know how to do it, and we also know better than them to reach a diplomatic agreement, and we will do that too! There is no reason for despair! We will win! We will win! We will win!\"