US warns Israel over 'separation'

[Riesstiu IV]

Link

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had outlined a future "disengagement plan" in case the roadmap peace plan failed. But the White House said the US was committed to a negotiated settlement between the two sides under the American-backed roadmap. Palestinians and Jewish settlers have denounced Mr Sharon's proposed steps. The United States "would oppose any unilateral steps that block the road towards negotiations under the roadmap that leads to the two-state vision," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.

"A settlement must be negotiated and we would oppose any Israeli effort to impose a settlement," he said.

The BBC's Rob Watson, in Washington, said the fact that this White House has close relations with Mr Sharon makes this criticism all the more striking.

Disengagement

In a long-awaited speech on Thursday evening, Mr Sharon said Israel would take the initiative if the Palestinians did not begin adhering to the roadmap soon. "If in a few months the Palestinians still continue to disregard their part in implementing the roadmap, then Israel will initiate the unilateral security step of disengagement from the Palestinians," he told a security conference in Herzliyah, near Tel Aviv.

Mr Sharon said Israel "will greatly accelerate" building a controversial barrier in the West Bank, which Israel says is vital to stop Palestinian militants crossing into Israel to carry out attacks. He said the erection of the barrier would enable Israel to remove roadblocks in Palestinian areas and "ease the daily lives of the Palestinian population not involved in terror". In a major policy shift, Mr Sharon said some Jewish settlements would be evacuated, although he did not identify which ones. "The relocation of settlements will be made first and foremost in order to draw the most efficient security line possible, thereby creating this disengagement between Israel and the Palestinians," he said.

Palestinian rejection

Palestinians condemned Mr Sharon's speech as unacceptable. "I am disappointed that he is threatening the Palestinians," said Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei. "We are committed to the roadmap," he added.

Nabil Abu Rudeina, an advisor to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, said Mr Sharon was trying to torpedo the roadmap. "These declarations represent nothing new and amount to a rejection of the roadmap. "The alternative proposed by Sharon is inapplicable," he said.

Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the spiritual leader of the Islamic militant group Hamas, called Mr Sharon's plan "a delusion to fool the world". "Sharon is asking Palestinians to raise white flags, to surrender. This is totally rejected by our people. We will not surrender and our people will defend themselves," he said.

Settler anger

Ironically, Jewish settlers, once a bedrock of support for Mr Sharon, were as opposed to the prime minister's plan as the Palestinians. Settler spokesman Yehoshua Mor-Yosef said the proposals "will escalate terror". "The dismantling of settlements and expulsion of Jews from their homes will only increase the appetite of the murderer," he said. Effie Eitam, leader of the pro-settler National Religious Party, which commands six seats in the coalition, threatened to quit the government.

 

[Johann MacLeod]

so outside of Sharon who supports this?

 

[Sarevok]

apparently the days of the berlin wall are being revisited...

 

[Simon Darkshade]

The Berlin Wall was not aimed at saving lives. This one is.
Mr. Bush has to appear to go through the motions of condemning Israeli action in this regard, just as he had to appear to go through the motions in regards to condemning Taiwan. When the actions and policies of his administration are viewed in a wider perspective, it can be seen that they are in tacit agreement with the Israeli government on the matter.

It is a drastic step, but defensible borders and security for Israel is what lies at the heart of the whole dilemma.

 

[eyrei]

I'm thinking not many people that post here have spent much time in fear for their lives...myself included.

 

[EzInKy]

Originally posted by eyrei
I'm thinking not many people that post here have spent much time in fear for their lives...myself included.

Absolutely. As distasteful as a wall may seem, it's pretty evident from extremists statements that they are not going to be satisfied unless Israel totally disappears. I try to imagine what it would be like, and what we would do, if a terrorist group wanting to reclaim California for Mexico was sending suicide bombers to blow up civillians in Los Angelas.

 

[G-Man]

Originally posted by Johann MacLeod
so outside of Sharon who supports this?

The Israelis.

Originally posted by Sarevok
apparently the days of the berlin wall are being revisited...

The Berlin wall was built to divide a people. The seperation fence is built in order to seperate Israelis and Palestinians, who are not the same people. Israelis don't need the Palestinians and want to be seperated from them.

 

[Tassadar]

So it is more like apartheid then, great.

Insteed of solving conflictual issue , they create more and more. Lost case award winer of the century.

 

[EzInKy]

Originally posted by Tassadar
So it is more like apartheid then, great.

Insteed of solving conflictual issue , they create more and more. Lost case award winer of the century.

Why, if they are two distinct seperate nations, would a barrier between them be considered apartheid?

 

[Enemy Ace]

It seems as though the United States and the Palestinians are for maintaining the status quo, for they wish not for any alternatives to exist other than those which have repeatedly failed.

 

[Simon Darkshade]

Full separation has not yet been tried, and is thus a new alternative.

 

[Enemy Ace]

It would seem I have made an error in my statement. I was speaking primarily of both sides, to mean the United States and the Palestinians. I agree with Israel's decision. Perhaps I should return and edit the post.

EDIT - Done.

 

[SeleucusNicator]

I applaud Sharon for begining to distance himself from the miserable failure that is Bush's roadmap to nowhere.

 

[G-Man]

Originally posted by Tassadar
So it is more like apartheid then, great.

Insteed of solving conflictual issue , they create more and more. Lost case award winer of the century.

1. I fail to see any connection to the apartheid.
2. It solves the conflict for Israel. We tried to make it so that there would be a solution satisfying both sides, but our partners have made it clear that such a thing can't happen.

 

[Enemy Ace]

Originally posted by SeleucusNicator
I applaud Sharon for begining to distance himself from the miserable failure that is Bush's roadmap to nowhere.

Yes, I wish Bush would take heat where it is most deserving. His roadmap to peace is an embarrasment.

 

[Tassadar]

Originally posted by G-Man


1. I fail to see any connection to the apartheid.
2. It solves the conflict for Israel. We tried to make it so that there would be a solution satisfying both sides, but our partners have made it clear that such a thing can't happen.

1.- Isolation of a ''low class" citizen by a ''dominator"

2.- Did you try to stop illegal settlement on their ground ? no because blablablablabla

 

[Enemy Ace]

Originally posted by Tassadar


1.- Isolation of a ''low class" citizen by a ''dominator"

2.- Did you try to stop illegal settlement on their ground ? no because blablablablabla

Enough!

Make up your minds. One day the Palestinians are occupied, the next they are citizens. Which shall it be? You cannot retain the benefits of both situations.

 

[EzInKy]

Originally posted by Tassadar


1.- Isolation of a ''low class" citizen by a ''dominator"

They will be citizens of different nations, so the term "apartheid" would not apply.

 

[EzInKy]

Originally posted by Enemy Ace


Enough!

Make up your minds. One day the Palestinians are occupied, the next they are citizens. Which shall it be? You cannot retain the benefits of both situations.

It's no wonder the Israelis get so frustrated.

 

[WickedSmurf]

Although a wall seems childish and desperate to me, I fully support the construction of it. Something new must be done to at least limit civilian casualties on both sides. The wall is probably not the best of ideas but at least it is something very concrete and it will make this conflict go in a different, hopefully less violent, direction.