Tuesday afternoon, Ariel Sharon was elected prime minister of Israel. Here's why it's not as bad as you think.
It's time to stop being optimistic and to start being realistic. Now is not the time for a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians, as much as we would like it to be. Barak wanted to be the leader who would bring about a peace treaty with the Palestinians so badly that, for a time, it seemed as though he were willing to make concessions on which the Israeli people would not back him in referendum. The people's backing is required by Israeli law before any land may be given up. Barak finally called for a special election, reasoning that the Israeli people would reelect him if they agreed with his methods. Tuesday, we saw that the Israeli people are calling for a change in the course of action.
Even if a deal had been made between Barak and Arafat, it is doubtful that it would have been honored. The same groups of Palestinians (NOTE - "groups" of Palestinians, not all Palestinians) responsible for the recent uprisings would continue their violence until their demand for a Palestinian "right of return" was met.
Time after time, Arafat has scoffed at the most generous of offers, holding out for this "right of return." To ask this is not only unfeasible, but also insulting. It is unfeasible because there are nearly four million Palestinian refugees living outside of Israel, to whom this would apply if enacted. Not only is there not room for these people in the places where their homes existed before they left, but more importantly, there is not room for four million more people in Israel. Israel is a small country; she has neither the space nor the resources to accommodate that many new immigrants. It is insulting because the Israelis have brought numerous offers to the bargaining table, and all have been rejected simply because they do not grant this clearly impossible request.
The only conclusion I have been able to draw from the events of the past year is that the Israelis do not have a partner for peace in the Palestinian Liberation Organization. Arafat may claim to want peace, but until he is willing to make concessions, his promises are empty. Now is not the time for a peace deal; when that time comes, Sharon will be more than capable of acting as peacemaker. Until then, however, we need a strong leader who can restore the calm.
In America, we tend to think of either being in a state of either war or peace. In Israel, however, there is a third option. Peace is evasive and war is far too destructive, but perhaps a break from the violence can be attained, an agreement to live peacefully until the time for a real peace presents itself. It is this condition that I believe Ariel Sharon will bring to Israel.
I recently came across an article in {{{ITAL}}} The National Journal by Jonathan Rauch (Jan. 26, 2001). In his article, Rauch compares Sharon to Reagan, and the situation in the Middle East to the Cold War. He posits that Sharon's confrontational approach to Israeli-Palestinian relations, and further moves of separating Palestinian areas may influence Palestinians to reconsider their no-concessions policy. Most importantly, however, Rauch explains that Sharon has the ability to show Palestinians that they can achieve a better deal through peace than they can through violence.
I am not advocating war. I pray for peace daily, and I wish a real peace were possible at this point in time. Terrible as it may be, the reality is that now is not the time for any true peace deal to be struck between Israelis and Palestinians. Sharon has just taken office. Things will most likely get worse before they get better. But they will eventually get better. Until then, we continue to pray. Good luck Ariel Sharon: Israel is in your hands now.
Florice Engler is a freshman who has not yet declared a major.
