Oh what a stupid war

[bemildred]

The declaration of diplomatic war against the
Geneva understandings is one of the more stupid
undertakings of the Sharon government. Not only is
it giving free publicity to Yossi Beilin and
political authority to a virtual agreement he
worked out with his Palestinian friends, it also
exposes the paucity of initiative on the part of
the government. Once again, it brings back
memories of the days of Yitzhak Shamir when there
was a law prohibiting meetings with PLO officials.
Ariel Sharon marketed himself as a moderate
leader, preaching "painful concessions," but his
government is operating according to its right
flank: building fences and settlements, along with
empty mumblings about a political arrangement
sometime in the future.

Some extra bits from the bottom:

The army is looking for a "strategic exit" from
the territories. Under pressure of the mounting
snafus (unnecessary killing of civilians in
Gaza, the six soldiers killed in Netzarim and
Ein Yabrud), Ya'alon is trying to kick
responsibility upstairs to the defense minister
and sideways, to the Shin Bet, before the chaos
breaks out in the territories and the
politicians blame the failure in the war on the
IDF.

Ahmed Qureia, who only yesterday was being
described as Arafat's rag doll, has been turned
into the savior and focus of hope by the
Israeli establishment. Only yesterday they were
saying he isn't committed to the war on terror,
and suddenly he is someone to court, to talk
to, being counted on to haul Israel out of the
mud. It's difficult to believe that is what
will happen. Israel is trapped in its refusal
to make any concessions or show any
flexibility, other than imaginary "abatements"
that mostly exist in announcements to the
media. As long as that policy goes on, and the
initiatives are limited to dealing with Beilin
and initiating more construction in the
territories, there is no chance for any change.

Haaretz

[Rhiannon12866]

1. I agree with this statement

" as if the government is doing anything to help the road map, as it refuses to evacuate outposts and plans to fence in half the West Bank."

With this kind of attitude, the road map is leading nowhere.