Sharon insults America
The announcement Monday night that the Israeli military was pulling out of two Palestinian cities was welcome, but it was far from clear that it signaled the start of the full, immediate withdrawal from the West Bank towns and refugee camps repeatedly requested by President George W. Bush.
Earlier in the day, Israel's prime minister, Ariel Sharon, brushed off Bush's demand in a defiant speech to the Knesset, insisting that the campaign would end only when its mission had been accomplished.
Perhaps Sharon does not understand. The president of the United States, speaking out of profound friendship and growing impatience, has asked him to withdraw "without delay." This was not a request made lightly.
Bush has expressed sympathy with Israel's plight and made clear that its security and well-being are of the highest concern. He has sent his secretary of state to the region to try to end the bloodshed. Yet Sharon says he will remove the tanks and troops whenever it suits him. This is an insult to Bush and the United States.
The prestige of the United States is on the line in an effort to help Israel, and the Israeli government is doing nothing to make the job easier.
Sharon says he needs more time to destroy the terrorist network. Israeli forces, however, have already badly damaged the Palestinian civilian infrastructure, with supplies of water, food and medicine disrupted, independent television shut down and residents trapped in their homes. More than 200 Palestinians have been killed and more than 1,500 wounded since Israeli tanks and helicopter gunships rolled into the West Bank on March 29.
Powell's Mideast mission was never going to be easy. Even before the Israeli invasion, Arab leaders refused to denounce Palestinian suicide bombings. Arafat still refuses to call on his people to give up violence. A wise Israeli leader would use the Bush initiative to show that he stands ready to talk peace with any responsible partner. Instead, Sharon embarrasses Bush and gives the Arabs easy excuses.
-- The New York Times