(Ha'aretz) Shmuel Rosner - Not long ago Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip, and apart from applause it has not yet received anything in return. Did the move justify the expectations? Martin Indyk and Tamara Cofman Wittes of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy wrote: No American president can seriously consider rejecting an Israeli proposal for withdrawal and evacuation of settlements. This will ensure Israel applause, but not much more than that. It is not American money that will take Israel out of there, nor a vague promise of ending the demands - which in any case would be a promise written in the sand in an unstable region. Israel will evacuate settlements of its own accord, taking into consideration the costs and the benefits. Or it will decide not to. This is a sign of a mature state, with the ability to decide alone and take responsibility for its actions - even if Uncle Sam is not available at the moment to nod his head and approve.
2006-05-26 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive