Just when I was hoping that peace could be at our sights....

[The Mad Monk]

You also won't do that by blowing up Israeli buses.

[Archaic]

Originally posted by The Mad Monk You have to remember, unlike most arab leaders, Sharon was legitimately elected.

Legitimately elected dispite the fact that the UN condemned him as the architect of the widely reviled Sabra and Shatile refugee camp massacres two decades ago. Not exactly the person I'd want in charge of *any* government.

[The Mad Monk]

You are missing the point. You don't get to pick him, the Israeli voters do, and if he wasn't available, they would pick Netanyahu (sp?), or someone similar.

[DanielXY]

@Azael
Sure he wants the best for the Israeli ppl., but thats not the point.
I define a good diplomat as someone, who actually gets agreements with the other site about all that fine stuff he is thinking of.
Sharon seems unlikly to achieve an agreement. To get agreements you often have to compromise. Sharon is not exactly the guy with much space for compromise Thats why I say he is certainly not the one you want for Diplomatic stuff.

[CyberGnu]

You have to remember, unlike most arab leaders, Sharon was legitimately elected.

So was Arafat...


However, the best thing for Palestine would probably be for Arafat to go. Not because of Arafat himself, but because it would take away one of the biggest stalling tactics in Sharons repertoire. I have no doubt that if Arafat died today Sharon would make the exact same arguments about his succesor, but I hope that american voters would have to be incredibly naive to buy it a second time...

[The Mad Monk]

So was Arafat...

...when?

[Edan]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger


You serious? He didn't start as a politician, he started as a general or something.

You mean like Rabin? And Washington? And Eisenhower?

[CyberGnu]

...when?

Januari 1996.

[Sava]

Ahh yes, Arafat was as legitimately elected as Saddam.

[CyberGnu]

How is it the old parable goes? "Better to be silent and thought an idiot..."

Anyway. I suggest reading newspapers on a daily basis. Arafat's election was certified by the Carter Foundation, on the request of the UN.

[Sava]

So we're going to listen to Jimmy Carter now?

You should take your own advice.

[Eli]

You serious? He didn't start as a politician, he started as a general or something.

Half of the Israeli parliament/goverment are generals, including most of the dovish opposition leaders.

[Kropotkin]

My opinion on the Sharon interview: It seemed to good to be true and maybe it is. Looking at the phrases he uses on the demand side of it seems to me to make pretty much any demands on the palestinians possible. To have the cake and eat it too of sorts.

I have serious problems seeing any real positive development in this as long as both Arafat and Sharon has substancial power.

[CyberGnu]

Funny, Siro tried the exact same thing, but with abysmal lack of success... What reason do you have to not believe Jimmy Carter and the Carter Center? Please include a reliable source, as quotes taken out of context doesn't add much...

Also note that the Carter Center has plenty of experience in overseeing elections. In 2002 alone it monitored elections in East Timor, Sierra Leone, Kenya and Jamaica.

[Kropotkin]

As for the elections, here's a longer quote from www.freedomhouse.org that's to be considered a conservative american institute that monitors democracy and freedom in the world:

Palestinian residents of the West Bank, Gaza, and Jerusalem chose their first popularly elected government in 1996. Despite some irregularities, international observers regarded the vote as reasonably reflective of the will of the voters. The legislative council has complained of being marginalized by executive authority; though it has debated hundreds of draft laws, few have been signed into law. The Palestinian government indefinitely postponed local elections in May 1998, citing the threat of Israeli interference. However, most believe that democratic municipal elections would reflect widespread Palestinian disillusionment both with the Oslo accords and with Yasir Arafat’s leadership.