|
Thursday May 31, 2007
In the summer of 2005, I voted against Ariel Sharon’s disengagement plan and was subsequently fired from Sharon’s government. However, today I am calling for its completion. We are still deeply entangled in Gaza, and Gaza is still deep in our midst. Israel provides Gaza’s electricity and water, collects taxes on goods and services provided in Gaza on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, and Israeli ports still serve Gaza. There is no justification for this. With the electricity we provide Gaza, they power the Kassam production lines. The tax money we collect on their behalf goes directly to the Hamas government. Israel Beytenu proposes a new policy towards Gaza, which has become a link in the axis of evil. Even after Israel pulled out of the very last inch of Gaza, they chose to use it as a launching ground for attacks against Israeli towns and civilians. Therefore, Israel will start regarding Gaza and the West Bank as two separate entities - the Palestinian Authority jurisdiction will cover the West Bank alone, Gaza will be regarded a hostile, independent political entity - Hamastan. The Palestinians can blame no one but themselves for this – it is their own doing, their own choice. Gaza will be isolated both from Israel and from the West Bank. There will be no 'safe passage’ between the two Palestinian entities – not for goods, not for people, not for Abbas. Israel will complete the disengagement from Gaza by gradually cutting all ties - including water and electricity supply, trade, taxes etc. To avert a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, this will not be done instantaneously – we will give six months notice to allow for Gazans, and the international community to prepare for this new reality. All goods and services that are currently provided by Israel can be rerouted through Egypt.
In response to any Kassam attacks on Sderot, Israel will bomb Gaza's extremely affluent neighborhood Rimal – the decision makers will pay the price for attacking Israel, not the innocent masses.
The international community, the champions of the Palestinian cause, who never miss an opportunity to tell Israel how to deal with the Palestinians will have to put their money (and troops) where their mouth is. Israel will welcome the deployment of NATO troops in Gaza to keep the law and order, and the EU to invest in Gaza to create jobs and income for Palestinians.
As far as Israel-Palestinian relations go, two more points: The first - as long as Israel doesn't have a sign of life from its kidnapped soldier, all visits and communications to Palestinian convicts in Israel are revoked.
The second - In light of his failures, Israel will not regard Abbas as a partner for negotiations and will wait for a new leader to emerge who can 'deliver the goods'.
1 | penelope, Thursday May 31, 2007
very down to earth. lieberman's advice is good but the israelis have a weak government which is not ready to work seriously
2 | David Tenne, Thursday May 31, 2007
It is about time,some others more constractive,determinatin,direction of isoiation will apply to the relationship,with the palestinian and thier EU and UK mates.If they will be disected,cut off from the state of Israel-Let EU AND UK take care of Gaza.
3 | Dan Sheffy, Thursday May 31, 2007
Absolutely!
4 | Dan Sheffy, Thursday May 31, 2007
Weak leaders exercise weak measures. We are faint-hearted when it comes to world opinion. I have fought them all my life and there is no way they are going to change.
5 | DANNY RICHARDS, Thursday May 31, 2007
Mr Lieberman is absolutely right...enough is enough. His is a clear cut strategy which I doubt will ever be carried out by a government which worries more about what the outside world says about Israel's policies than about the security of its citizens.
6 | doc, Thursday May 31, 2007
We seem to vacilate in our policies and conduct between rigorous Biblical wisdom and convoluted, unrealistic behaviors to appease the non-Jewish world. It's crazy-making for the Jews, the Arabs and world's witnesses. Let's think and act like Jews and not like some other-worldly hybrids!
7 | dana beja, Thursday May 31, 2007
i think it the only real idea i heard in a long.
8 | dana beja, Thursday May 31, 2007
i think it is the strongest idea i have heard yet. it about time they are held accountable for their actions.
9 | Alison Epstein, Thursday May 31, 2007
Way to go, Avigdor! Now what's stopping you? As a cabinet member, you have the ability to force this issue or put serious cracks in the coalition. Get to work. We've been waiting months for you to make your move.
10 | Shaul Behr, Thursday May 31, 2007
To quote Quentin Tarantino: "Are you gonna bark all day, little doggie, or are you gonna BITE?"
Mr Lieberman, you are full of strong words and principled statements - but at the end of the day, you are still sitting in this despicable government of shame, and propping up the worst prime minister in Israel's history. All your bluster is utterly worthless and will come to naught unless you are prepared to back your statements with concrete action i.e. leaving the coalition. So do us a favour, either put up or shut up!
11 | Peter Arcan, Thursday May 31, 2007
It is about time that the government of Israel takes some, perhaps, drastic actions vis-a-vis Palestinians and Gaza. Do not care about what the world opinion will think about you. The politically correct EU, let alone Arabs will hate you no matter what you do. Take care of your country, of your future because nobody else will.
12 | David Hes, Thursday May 31, 2007
Absolutely brilliant. This is a win win solution. EU can continue to pamper the Palestinians and Israel can stand firm and show its detterence. Lieberman, I salute you and I hope the knesset adopts your ideas.
13 | Friend of Israel, Thursday May 31, 2007
Sounds good! The situation has lasted all too long. Israel has a right to go it´s own way and leave it´s enemies to go their way. The other cheek has taken hits enough now. And there is no third cheek to turn to palestinians.
14 | Norm, Thursday May 31, 2007
This sounds entirely logical-Whether one is liberal or concservative, secular or observant, Jew or Gentile-it makes sense.
15 | Seth Halpern, Thursday May 31, 2007
This sounds promising as far as it goes, but what if the Egyptians and/or Europeans prove uncooperative or incompetent? What will Israel do if Hamas, like Hezbollah, continues to arm under their noses? If an international force is actually deployed, you may be precluded from attacking. Military interdiction of arms will of necessity require a stern line toward Egypt. You must be prepared in principle to blockade Gaza entirely -- even if it risks starving the population -- in order to extort responsible action from the rest of the world. On the optimistic side, both the EEC and the Arab League may be marginally more sympathetic than in the past (the EEC owing to Sarkozy, the Arabs from fear of Iran's ties to Hamas), so some determined diplomacy might give you a little room to maneuver.
16 | Shalom, Thursday May 31, 2007
Mr. Lieberman, you should resign immediately from this government in order to obstruct their absurd peace plans and expedite the removal of Olmert, Peretz and Livni, from office.
17 | yitzhak, Thursday May 31, 2007
This is why I voted for you and will continue to vote for you. Finally, an Israeli politician who sees the big picture and is not afraid to speak his mind.
18 | Max Abrahamson, Thursday May 31, 2007
If only this type of plan were implemented, but that is probably just wishful thinking.
19 | Seymour, Thursday May 31, 2007
Talk is cheap. Why is he still in cabinet propping up this government?
20 | jerry j, Thursday May 31, 2007
Everything sounds great in the proposal. THe question I have is once Israel has totally left Gaza, then Gaza can use their seaport and airport to brimg in all kinds of weapons and terrorists and it would be legal. They could purchase fighter planes etc. Al Queida could join forces with Hamas in Gaza.Tbis could put Israel in a very precarious position.
21 | alex, Thursday May 31, 2007
It is all empty talk.
You don't have any weight in this goverment, Avigdor, and I don't understand why are you still staing there.
22 | Jon, Thursday May 31, 2007
Hamastan and Palestine. Interesting. A great French writer, Mauriac said the same thing of Germany: "I love Germany so much that I feel that there should be at least 2 (Germanies)"
|
