IN THE TWO years leading to the elections for the 17th Knesset, there was much talk of a “big bang” that would transform political life in Israel. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s plan for unilateral disengagement was causing major tremors. In…
Tag: Ariel
In the Footsteps of Sharon
IN departing from power, Ariel Sharon leaves behind a new Israeli consensus and a new centrist political party, Kadima (Forward), which will continue to engage the public trust even without him. If his political heir, Ehud Olmert, avoids making grave…
Fatah: The (Ominous) Rise of the Younger Generation
DESPITE the brain hemorrhage of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Israel will likely go to the polls on March 28, 2006 with a strong show of stability. By contrast, in the Palestinian Authority (PA) elections will take place, on January 25,…
The Elections Card
WHEN the President of the PA, Abu Mazen, announced a date for elections to the Palestinian parliament (January 25, 2006), he had two things in mind. First, elections seemed crucial in order to close the Arafat Era and provide him…
Can’t Get Enough of Sharon
NOW that the fog has lifted from the disengagement plan in Gaza, the question remains, “Is this what the Left had in mind when it ceased to fear Sharon and began loving ‘Arik’?” Welcome to Gaza Prison. No one enters…
Throes of Disengagement
ON APRIL 14, 2004, Israeli PM Ariel Sharon sent a letter to US President George W. Bush announcing his decision to freeze the “Road Map” and undertake, instead, a unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. The Israeli public read the…
Gaza Cannot Survive Sharon-style” Disengagement”
ON June 8, 2004, Ehud Olmert, Israel’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, announced his intention to close the Erez Industrial Zone, located on the Gaza Strip’s northern border with Israel. Once touted as a model of co-existence, Erez includes factories…
Meretz: From Rabin to Sharon
On June 18 and 19, the Organization for Democratic Action (ODA) held its sixth convention. As preparation for these two days, the members of the Central Committee wrote papers that were presented and discussed in the party’s branches. The papers…