Ariel Sharon: Comments and Analysis

The reign of Ariel Sharon is over and reign is what it seemed like even from afar, as Sharon ruled like an evil King or Czar. In another time and place (WWII), he would have been seen as a hero who fought only with one driving motive in mind, creating a safe place for Jews to be and it was clear nothing else was important to him like the fact that another people and other interests were from his point of view in the way of his self appointed goal. Compromise and negotiation was not part of his character. Even his unilateral withdrawal from Gaza involved no compromises. The withdrawal from Gaza was as he saw it in the best interest of Israel and the fact it affected Palestinians was not of much importance except as it affected the future of his country. The fact that seemingly Israelis on all sides of the political spectrum agree there is no one of Sharon's stature (albeit a very questionable stature: he should have been tried for war crimes) to take his place is very concerning. It is said only strong men can make peace these days, a sorry comment on international affairs in general, if it is true.

Unfortunately, Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who not that long ago appeared to sound like the worst racist, anti-Arab, politico I ever heard spouting his terrible nonsense has little chance of replacing Sharon. Olmert is now seen as a moderate who invented the idea of a New Israeli party willing to give up land. This whole scene is sad for the Israeli people and sad for the world. I certainly hope someone will be able to assume authority who has some kind of moral underpinnings or is that much too much to hope for. I stopped being a Zionist years ago but still wish for some kind of solution that makes sense for all the people who live in the region. The only kind thing I can say is that at nearly the end of his life, Sharon did something (the withdrawal) that could be the start of a positive move toward co-existence in the region. The down side is zealous right wingers like Sharon caused so many people in the Middle East and around the world to hate Jews (refueled age old anti-Semitism) that it might take a big miracle (the actual achievement of peace) to re-educate not only people in the Middle East but many of the poor peoples of color around the world to begin to take another view.