On November16th 1989, Benjamin Netanyahu, and in a speech to Bar-Ilan University students, stated, "The government had failed to exploit internationally favorable situations, such as the Tianamen Square in June 1989 when world attention and the media were focused on China, to carry out "large-scale" expulsions. I still believe that there are opportunities to expel many people". The Jerusalem Post also presented a tape recording of his speech. What Sharon is doing now is to continue what Netanyahu was sorry for, even he did worse through his anti-peace stances. Sharon creates every pretext to prolong the ongoing Israeli onslaught against Palestinians. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks against the US landmarks, Sharon escalated his draconian aggressions ordering the killing and assassinating of dozens of Palestinians, the incursion to and reoccupation of more cities, destruction of more houses, eliminating every Palestinian trace even trees. What the Israeli government has done indicates that it was in waiting for Sept. 11^th attacks as to escalate its aggressions, threats and provocative air space violations. The timing of Sharon’s escalations raised many questions; why is this when all the world is busy in combating terrorism, is it to divert the world public opinion from the Israeli terrorism? Is it a message to the peace loving that Israel doesn’t want the realization of just and comprehensive peace? Is it the Israeli answer to President Bush and British Premier Blair’s pro-peace and Palestinian statehood statements?

The region can’t stand another war; it is fed up with killing and destruction and eager now more than ever for a viable and lasting peace. Such a peace can only bring security and stability hence all bids to do so through violence and blood failed. Peace and only peace can be the remedy to cure the cancer of hatred and killing, a vicious circle which feeds on innocent civilians blood. Sharon’s ongoing practices since his Hagana beginnings to Beirut, Sabra and Shattila up to date never satisfy the majority of those who are peace-advocates. The doves of peace are the first victims for Sharon, why? Isn’t it the right time to stop the shedding of tears by all. Let bygones be so as to initiate a new page in the region; a glorious page of true peace based on mutual trust, confidence-building measures and on truth. Sharon’s claims to a victim status are never true. Sharon has crossed all red lights and ignored all messages of peace. Occasionally, he complains that Israel is being “coerced” by the Bush administration but contradicts himself saying that Israel controls the US Administration. According the Israeli Hebrew radio, Col Yisrael, Hebrew broadcast October3rd, 2001, Peres warned Sharon that refusing to heed incessant American requests for a cease-fire with the Palestinians would endanger Israeli interests and turn the US against Israel. At this point, Sharon reportedly turned toward Peres, saying "every time we do something you tell me American will do this and will do that, I want to tell you something very clear, don't worry about American pressure on Israel, we, the Jewish people control America, and the Americans know it."!

This is a reminiscent of what the Independent, on June1st, 1998 reported when Netanyahu, according to the Israeli paper Yediot Ahronot, had threatened to "burn Washington", should President Bill Clinton attempt to force Israel to accept a 13 per cent withdrawal from occupied Arab land.

With this in mind, an opinion poll published by Newsweek on October7, 2001 showed that a majority of Americans saw the need to changed American policy towards the Middle East. In fact, a considerable majority of those surveyed by Newsweek thought that the American relationship with Israel and its policy towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as "a major motivation" behind the September 11 attacks. Time is ripe now for an even-handed genuine US sponsorship of the in-coma Mideast process of peace. The need is dire for international efforts, European, Russian and others, to be exerted as to nudge the faltering process of peace, and on all tracks, and as to eliminate the stumbling blocks hindering its resumption.

This is what Syria has been working for leaving no stone unturned in search for the realization of just and comprehensive peace. Just and comprehensive peace had been the major preoccupation of the late President, Hafez Assad. Rarely can any observer find a Syrian speech without the mention of peace as the strategic option. For example, he who follows President Bashar Assad’s speeches, interviews, meetings finds them full of peace desire and wish as the priority when the Israeli official statements were all void of even the word of peace! The last of President Assad’s words of peace came in his recent meetings with Austrian President and Greek Foreign Minister when His Excellency called for “political and cultural” dialogue among all. We are indeed encouraged by US Secretary of State’s recent congratulatory message to foreign Minister Farouk Sharaa’ that the ‘ US is committed to work for the achievement of a just and comprehensive peace in the region based on UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338, and in accordance with the terms of reference of the Madrid peace conference,” Hopefully, our region wouldn’t need further ten years of ciaos, instability and confusion! The very region, which stands by the US anti-terrorism campaign, provided civilians are spared, does wait for a genuine US move as to even-handedly nudge the process of peace in the interest of all!

BY

Mohammad Abdo Al-Ibrahim

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