Sharon Vs. the World

from: Sami Awad

I am still looking for someone that actually believes that this Israeli government campaign to kill and destroy the Palestinian people, their infrastructure, and their aspirations will result in security for Israel. I am also still looking for someone to explain to me how this campaign will actually result in making peace between the Israeli people and Palestinians as Israeli Prime Minister Sharon has claimed. If anyone can see logic in killing as many as people as possible as a formula to making peace with them please write me explaining how this logic works, for I want to know. I think the Israeli Prime Minister is confusing two words: Peace and Defeat. He does not want peace with the Palestinians; he wants to defeat the Palestinians. If in every statement made by Sharon you put the word "defeat" instead of "peace" then it will all make sense. He actually believes that if the Palestinians are defeated they will crawl to him begging for the crumbs of his victory banquet.

Since the incursion into Bethlehem, the Israeli government, including Prime Minister Sharon, made promises to the Vatican, the United States and the international community that the Israeli army will not enter or raid the Church of Nativity. Do you want to guess what happened? Yes, the Israeli army tried to enter the church today from the floor of the Catholic Church administrative offices. The Israeli army set blaze to the offices after the failed raid, resulted in the sniper killing of one Palestinian who tried to extinguish the fire. Israel also reported the injury of four Israeli soldiers from friendly fire.

What should the reaction of world leaders be when such promises and guarantees are broken? What should the reaction be when one person continuous to defy international UN resolutions demanding him to withdrawal from the occupied cities? I believe that the reaction should be simple: Those who do not abide by international law and international resolutions should be recognized as international criminals. The international community fought, arrested and has put Milosovich on trial because of the atrocities he comitten and because he destroyed his people and their future. The international community has put sanctions on countries like Iraq, Cuba and North Korea, because ultimately they wanted the citizens to revolt and change their leaders, which have for many years failed them. What will the international community do in order to force Sharon to abide with international law? Everyone knows that words are not enough.

I believe that Sharon is actually challenging the government of the United States and its President, George Bush. The mentality of a militant/racist person like Sharon seems to be one that believes "no one can tell me what to do," not even the closest alley and best friend of Israel. To make this challenge even stronger, and instead of moving any step forward Sharon has moved ten steps back by announcing today that two new cabinet positions will be made to the most extreme of the political parties in Israel, parties that actually call for the ethnic cleansing and transfer of all Palestinians from the Holy Land.

Oh, maybe this is Sharon's strategy for peace. If there are no Palestinians then there will be peace. If you have no enemy then you will not have to fight with anyone. If left unchecked, Sharon will achieve this "peace." For several days there have been growing voices across the globe demanding the Israeli government to end its massacre of the Palestinians. Today I salute the large number of Israelis who are finally waking up from the nightmare daze that one person, by the name of Ariel Sharon, has put them and us in. It is my prayer that the voice of those who love peace and justice will continue to grow in all corners of the world.

Sami Awad

Executive Director

Holy Land Trust