Originally Posted by Mr Mephisto

And I think Sharon is playing into the hands of the militants. You seem to forget they (Hamas, Islamic Jihad and al Aqsa etc) don't want peace with Israel. It is their avowed desire to destroy Israel. If Abbas fails, it's as much to their benefit as anyone. They want to destroy the peace process, and Sharon is helping them do it.

I do not make any apology for these people. But I, personally, think that Israel should be helping Abbas and not punishing him. If Abbas can show the Palestinian people real progress then they might withdraw their support for the militants. Real progress like improvements in travel, financial aid, removal of illegal settlers etc etc. Any peace process is a set of compromises. What has happened, and continues to happen, in Northern Ireland is an example.

One side cannot triumph over the other, or ride roughshod over their moderate leaders.

I abhor the actions of the militants, but I honestly think Sharon is cutting off his nose to spite his face.



No, if anyone is going to sink Abbas, it will be a combination of Israeli hardliners (like Sharon) and Palestinian hardliners (like Hamas et al). If it weren't so tragic, I'd describe it as "deliciously ironic"...

Mr Mephisto