(Guardian-UK) Isaac Herzog - While the disengagement plan should prove to the Palestinians and the Arab world that Israel is serious about peace and the creation of a viable Palestinian state, the withdrawal risks sending the wrong message: Palestinians may come to believe that terrorism is what forced Israel from Gaza. Like many Israelis I am fearful that rather than leading to a reduction in terrorism, the disengagement plan may be used as an excuse by the Palestinian terrorists for further violence. This is why it is critical that the entire Palestinian leadership make it clear to their own people that Israel's leaving Gaza does not represent a victory for armed struggle. Should the majority of Palestinians see the withdrawal for what it is - a bold step towards an elusive peace - then Israel's move will reignite hope that a broader, negotiated two-state solution is possible. The writer, a member of the Labor party, is the minister of construction and housing.
2005-08-05 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive