Ariel Sharon's policies

In unequivocal terms, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has reiterated his commitment to peace and the Palestinians' readiness to restart negotiations with Israel. The Palestinian leader condemned terror and terrorist organizations. He recognized Israel's right to live in peace within secure borders. And he said that he was ready to go back to peace talks with any Israeli leader. His words of peace followed actions the Palestinians have taken to ease the tension in Palestine and Israel.

But that was not enough for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. It seems that nothing is.

It is obvious that instead of reciprocating peace overtures in the interests of his people, the Palestinians and the peoples of the region as well, Sharon appears stuck in an anachronistic ideological bubble that prevents him from recognizing the painful price the whole area has to pay in the event of further explosion of the security situation in Palestine.

Sharon appears determined to undermine Arafat. By so doing, he is threatening the whole peace process. He is pushing the entire region to the brink of war.

He must be stopped.

And only the United Starts can stop him before it is too late, before the peace process is officially declared dead.

--The Jordan Times, Amman, Jordan