DENIAL RUNS THROUGH ISRAEL

Sharon Defends Peace Plan Against Critics in Likud (GREG MYRE, May 27, 2003, NY Times)

In the face of scathing criticism from his own right-wing party, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today staunchly defended his support for the latest Middle East peace effort. "Ruling three and a half million Palestinians cannot go on indefinitely," he declared.

A lifelong hawk, Mr. Sharon hit back at his critics in the Likud Party with language that sounded as if it were coming straight from Israel's liberal peace camp.

"You may not like the word, but what's happening is occupation," he told Likud members of Parliament. "Holding 3.5 million Palestinians is a bad thing for Israel, for the Palestinians and for the Israeli economy. We have to end this subject without risking our security."

Mr. Sharon's rightist cabinet on Sunday gave conditional approval to the Middle East peace plan, known as the road map. The vote energized diplomatic efforts but also brought a firestorm of criticism from right-wing Israelis, who accused the prime minister of plunging the nation into a process they view as a potential disaster.

While Mr. Sharon battled with his traditional allies, the Israelis and Palestinians pressed ahead with preparations for top-level meetings intended to build on the current diplomatic momentum.

Mr. Sharon and the Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, are expected to meet this week, probably on Wednesday, diplomats said. They are expected to join President Bush for a summit meeting in the region, probably next week.

It's been paiful to watch this train approach, as hawks denied the obvious: Ariel Sharon long ago reconciled himself to the inevitability of a Palestinian state, but sees an opportunity to establish it on his own terms. Posted by Orrin Judd at May 27, 2003 9:53 AM