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Haaretz's wishful thinking
By Gideon Sa'ar
tags: Mahmoud Abbas, Ehud Olmert 

I consider myself lucky that the Haaretz November 7 editorial ("If not Annapolis, then what?") found that Hamas leader Khaled Meshal and I bear a resemblance. To be labeled as an enemy of peace was an expected sanction. I could also have been compared to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - and perhaps we will also come to this.

According to Haaretz, Israel finally has a partner, Mahmoud Abbas, and we should reach an accord with him. The reality on the ground must not disturb the tranquility of wishful thinking. Is Abbas really a bargain that was only revealed after the Hamas takeover of Gaza in June? Is he not the same person who has headed the Palestinian Authority for the past three years?

Abbas was weak in the past. He did not even succeed in delivering the release of captured soldier Gilad Shalit. To define him today as weak is an understatement. He not only lost control of Gaza to Hamas; the emergency government he appointed in the West Bank is devoid of any power. To form it, Palestinian laws requiring that the government receive the legislative council's vote of confidence had to be canceled. Abbas lacks a majority in parliament, whose activity has been suspended in recent months. His movement, Fatah, is also divided. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades do not accept its authority.
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Without any presence in Gaza, without control of the area under his authority, without an ability to implement, without a parliamentary majority, and without authority over his own movement - what kind of partner is Abbas?

In the world of Haaretz's wishful thinking, "the Palestinian political reality has changed - partly for the worse and partly for the better." In the real world, it has only changed for the worse. Hamas is growing consistently stronger - from the municipal elections in 2005, through the parliamentary elections in 2006 and the takeover of Gaza in 2007. In doing so, Hamas has used Abbas and Fatah to gain legitimacy.

The paradox is that precisely at the peak of his weakness, Abbas has managed to drag Israel back to the Camp David 2000-like framework of "all or nothing." Israel's government has effectively conceded the principle of "security first," which was anchored in U.S. President George W. Bush's speech in 2002 and the road map, and has agreed to skip directly to the core issues.

It is very likely that the Annapolis meeting's results will lead to a Hamas takeover of the PA's territory in Judea and Samaria as well. And this will result in a security nightmare and the entrenchment of an Iranian ally in the heart of the land. The dilemma that must be addressed is not, therefore, a choice between "the status quo and a historic compromise," as Haaretz wants to believe. Rather, it is a choice between the status quo and an immeasurably worse situation.

The Gaza model demonstrated that a complete withdrawal can bring security chaos in its wake, bringing to power the most extreme entities - without a real disengagement from the territory. All signs indicate that a scenario like this would also ensue in Judea and Samaria if we were tempted to withdraw from there, too. This time, however, it would be near Israeli population centers.

It seems that for Haaretz, the objective is not peace, security and stability, but rather "ending the occupation" - regardless of the chaos that would prevail.

A responsible policy would focus on changing the reality on the ground, on an attempt to rehabilitate the Palestinian economy in Judea and Samaria and to provide security for Israel. During the decade and a half of Oslo, both Israel's security and the Palestinian standard of living have deteriorated. Creating places of employment in Nablus and Jenin would contribute to advancing the conditions for peace and stability more than the release of additional terrorists, the transfer of arms to the PA and the handover of more territory to those who cannot establish rule over the territories that already have been placed under their control.

What is clear is that under the current circumstances, continued "progress" according to the process's original premises will lead only to calamity. When an abyss looms ahead of you, "moving forward" is not a good recommendation.

When wishful thinking is the guideline for the editorial staff of a serious newspaper, it is troubling. When wishful thinking becomes government policy, it is dangerous.

The writer is the chairman of the Likud faction in the Knesset.
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  1.   Correct article: Abbas is too weak to be a partner. 09:13  |  Vittorio 11/11/07
  2.   Quoting: It seems that for Haaretz, the objective is not peace 09:28  |  Rob 11/11/07
  3.   Arabs are scratching their backs in disbelief 09:43  |  Genuine Tosefta 11/11/07
  4.   Haaretz Editorial, please respond to Gideon Sa`ar`s letter 09:56  |  Proud Israeli 11/11/07
  5.   Right or Wrong? 10:11  |  Anton 11/11/07
  6.   Haaretz and leftists believe leaving West Bank will bring peace 10:30  |  Sam 11/11/07
  7.   Gaza chaos 10:44  |  Esther 11/11/07
  8.   more so haaretz like all left wing loonies never learn 11:07  |  victor hardman 11/11/07
  9.   There is no chaos in Gaza, no thanks to Israel 11:07  |  Natallie Durson 11/11/07
  10.   the aspirations of Haaretz devotees 11:22  |  Leon Rosgarten 11/11/07
  11.   Cudos to Haaretz for publishing Saar ! part 1. 12:08  |  Judah N. Wenkel 11/11/07
  12.   Cudos to Haaretz for publishing Saar ! part 2. 12:23  |  Judah N. Wenkel 11/11/07
  13.   Gideon Sa`ar Good for you!! 12:41  |  Evelyn Rosenbaum 11/11/07
  14.   Short sightedness 13:01  |  Hopeless 11/11/07
  15.   Bravo Anton 13:11  |  nina 11/11/07
  16.   THIS HARASSMENT HAS BEEN GONG ON FOR DECADES 13:12  |  indrajaya 11/11/07
  17.   Occupation has brought peace 14:20  |  chelemer 11/11/07
  18.   There will neve be peace until the Palestinians internalize 14:23  |  Reut 11/11/07
  19.   #18 Reut 14:35  |  Chris Linthwaite 11/11/07
  20.   Up until now Haaretz and the left were always right (correct) 14:41  |  Zev 11/11/07
  21.   Hopeless is right 14:46  |  geoff 11/11/07
  22.   To geoff of Sydney 14:57  |  Hopeless 11/11/07
  23.   Not Answering Haaretz 15:00  |  Merlot 11/11/07
  24.   to Chris Linthwaite # 19, Johnboy & Labhrass 15:39  |  Judah N. Wenkel 11/11/07
  25.   wishful thinking - if you can call it thinking 15:39  |  Mark Lincoln 11/11/07
  26.   End the Murderous Arab Occupation 15:45  |  Joseph E . 11/11/07
  27.   Sa`ar: Dig our heels and wait for the Messiah. 15:46  |  Fortuna Benmayor 11/11/07
  28.   Excellent comments by Judah N. Wenkel # 11, 12. 15:51  |  Fortuna Benmayor 11/11/07
  29.   Is Israel waiting for Abbas to save Israel ? 15:58  |  Akram Zekaria 11/11/07
  30.   Wrongful assessment by Gideon Sa`ar - why? 16:06  |  Smadar 11/11/07
  31.   Reut # 18, I must tell you, I agree with each and every point 16:08  |  Eliezer 11/11/07
  32.   25# Mark Lincoln. I wonder if I wrote your post ?! 16:32  |  Akram Zekaria 11/11/07
  33.   HAMAS-SHMABAS,RETAKE W.BANK,NEGOTIATE TERMS OF SURRENDER LATER)) 16:53  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 11/11/07
  34.   Wow, wow, Reut, you said it so well. 16:54  |  Roger 11/11/07
  35.   G_d’s Chosen People Indeed! That Can`t Be Right ! 17:02  |  Reader 11/11/07
  36.   If Gideon Sa`ar`s Idea of Progress is... 17:05  |  Reader 11/11/07
  37.   to Reader of Edmonton # 35 17:40  |  Judah N. Wenkel 11/11/07
  38.   wishful thinking 18:05  |  Ralph 11/11/07
  39.   Reader in Edmonton - On moving forward 18:38  |  Sam 11/11/07
  40.   9Natalie Yes, Israel can stop Kassams by accepting Sharia laws 18:47  |  Rob 11/11/07
  41.   Where has this writer been? 18:49  |  Dutch 11/11/07
  42.   More delay tactics.Justice will fortify the "leader" 19:07  |  Charlie 11/11/07
  43.   35# Reader who needs to read more.. 19:15  |  Akram Zekaria 11/11/07
  44.   Judah N. Wenkel, kudos! 19:18  |  akiva 11/11/07
  45.   22Hopeless Your arguments contradict your message 19:55  |  Logician 11/11/07
  46.   Abbas is too weak plus his goals are also to destroy Israel. 19:58  |  Chaim 11/11/07
  47.   As a Palestinian Arab, I think Gideon is right, BUT 20:10  |  Arab 11/11/07
  48.   Saar, ask the Palestinians what they think of your idea 20:32  |  Ivar 11/11/07
  49.   Indeed, Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people 20:56  |  Daniela 11/11/07
  50.   #19 Chris 21:44  |  nina 11/11/07
  51.   Reader....read up, OK? 22:06  |  Ofer Maimon 11/11/07
  52.   #38 ivar dreams of the aurora borealis 22:31  |  victor hardman 11/11/07
  53.   39Ivar Anton already told you what Pals think 22:46  |  Rob 11/11/07
  54.   #24 Judah N Wenkel 23:05  |  Labhras 11/11/07
  55.   #24 Judah N Wenkel and her potted history 23:20  |  Johnboy 11/11/07
  56.   lost minds 23:44  |  fred 11/11/07
  57.   55Johnboys Potted History 23:47  |  Rob 11/11/07
  58.   To Arab in Jerusalem living in hell 23:56  |  Sam 11/11/07
  59.   arab#47 00:04  |  ron 12/11/07
  60.   Arab - and what is your solution then? 00:20  |  Ofer Maimon 12/11/07
  61.   Dutch #41 01:06  |  Dakkar 12/11/07
  62.   27# Fortuna Bennmayor. 01:24  |  Akram Zekaria 12/11/07
  63.   Judah N. Wenkel - Do You Mean You Don`t Understand Why... 02:22  |  Reader 12/11/07
  64.   55Johnboys potted history. Second Try 02:28  |  Rob 12/11/07
  65.   #55 Johnboy re JNW 02:29  |  Labhras 12/11/07
  66.   To the Author 03:19  |  TonyL 12/11/07
  67.   Peace and being irrelevant 03:21  |  Harry 12/11/07
  68.   #57 Rob is OUTRAGED!!! 04:27  |  Johnboy 12/11/07
  69.   63Reader Hamas is not seeking an Israeli peace partner 04:30  |  Rob 12/11/07
  70.   Sam - Which Israeli has the Stature to Negotiate a Fair Deal? 04:32  |  Reader 12/11/07
  71.   41 Dakkar, i don`t think you realize how serious people are.. 05:23  |  Dutch 12/11/07
  72.   Reader- negotiating a deal 05:39  |  Sam 12/11/07
  73.   Abbas useful 07:18  |  Josef Kramer 12/11/07
  74.   68Johnboy, changing topic when loosing argument? 07:37  |  Rob 12/11/07
  75.   VERY DANGEROUS MOVE 08:44  |  JOJO 12/11/07
  76.   # 61 Dakkar Re: Finger-wagging Americans 10:10  |  Dutch 12/11/07
  77.   on Proud Israeli #4, and a strong partner. 12:16  |  zeev 12/11/07
  78.   to Jojo #75 12:34  |  zeev 12/11/07
  79.   Mr. Sa`ar` s wishful thinking 12:45  |  Dutch 12/11/07
  80.   Mr. Sa`ar`s wishful thinking... 12:49  |  Dutch