Sharon is unique

Submitted by Kenneth S. Besig (Israel), Dec 15, 2005 at 12:01

Ariel Sharon has managed to achieve a unique political situation in that no one, not even his closest advisors and confidantes, not to mention the Israeli voters, believes a word he says.

On the Israeli Left and Right Sharon is seen as a proponent of unilateral territorial concessions, including the eventual division of Jerusalem, even though Sharon vehemently and routinely states otherwise. Among Sharon's followers, no one believes that Sharon will honor any committment he makes, political, personal, or business, and yet all seem to feel that when the inevitable Sharon betrayal takes place, they won't be the ones betrayed.

Regarding the democratic process, no one, not even Sharon's most loyal supporters, believes that Sharon will ever hesitate to trample democratic norms to achieve his goals, whatever and however tainted those goals may be. And worst of all, the American government and European Union now take for granted that Ariel Sharon will do whatever they demand from him, no matter the dangers these demands create for Israel, Israelis, and indeed the entire Middle East.

I know that throughout history certain leaders have been valued not for their military prowess or their effective leadership, but rather for their treachery and duplicity. But as an American/ Israeli, raised and nurtured on democratic principles and methods, I am terrified at the way that Ariel Sharon has perverted Israeli democracy, and how the public here has tolerated it.

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".