Settlers threaten violence over Gaza withdrawal

[Violet_Crumble]

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Several thousand Israeli protesters rallied outside Israel's parliament, the Knesset, shouting betrayal as the vote to withdraw from Gaza was passed – 67 for, 45 against, with seven abstentions.

The numbers were a comfortable passing of the vote, but just who supported the bill won't make Prime Minister Ariel Sharon feel comfortable.

The measure to pull out all 8,000 Jewish settlers from Gaza next year passed only with the support of the centre-left opposition Labour Party, when Cabinet Minister Uzi Landau and deputy minister Michael Ratzon helped lead a Likud mutiny. Sharon then promptly sacked them.

Another four Cabinet ministers, including Finance Minister, former Prime Minister and leadership aspirant, Benjamin Netanyahu are threatening to resign within a fortnight, unless Mr Sharon agrees to a referendum on the issue.

Some settlers say Mr Sharon is a traitor.

http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2004/s1228921.htm

[bemildred]

1. Well, the interesting question is "WHY is Sharon doing this?"

Seems a bit out character doesn't it?

[Matilda]

2. Because the land in Gaza is worthless?

But it makes him look good, while all but four tiny settlements
in the West Bank will remain, making sure the Israelis have access
to the water and the best land.

[bemildred]

3. Sure, it makes sense, but not Sharon kind of sense.

He put them there in the first place. It made no sense then either.
Now he's starting a civil war to remove them. Something has to be
pushing him to do this.

[Matilda]

4. Discount pressure from his own party, and he doesn't need the Left.

So, the only pressure I can think of that he would be concerned
about is the U.S. - does he perhaps sense a Kerry victory? Not
that Kerry's said anything to alienate the Jewish vote, but
afterwards he may not be as accommodating.

[bemildred]

5. It's hard to tell.

There are a number of theories out there.
The "It's a ruse" one has been up here a couple times.

The US has screwed the pooch in Iraq, and the EU and UN are going to
be playing a much bigger role in the Middle East, and Israel has not
been strengthened either internally or externally these last four
years, so I suspect there is some combination of those factors at work.

I expect the the US election is part of it.

But he doesn't look good, not happy with how things are working out.
He looks like a guy who is tough, but feels a little sick about the
situation he is in, in the pictures I see in the news.

[Matilda]

6. What is it about the man that makes it hard to take him at face value?

Can't help feeling there's always a hidden agenda.