Weekly Briefing: Sharon's assumptions come crashing down

	September 24, 2005

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OPENING LINES: Sharon's assumptions come crashing down Those of us who opposed Sharon's "disengagement" plan did so not just because of the patent immorality of expelling the residents of 25 Jewish communities from their homes. That obscenity has been compounded by the government's abandonment of their commitments to find and fund alternative housing for the expelled families. What was incomprehensible was the Sharon government's strange assumption that the Arabs would keep their commitments. That the Egyptians would seal the border at Rafah. That the Palestinians would prevent arms struggling. That the PA would disarm the militants. That the PA would stop rockets from being fired at Sderot and Ashdod. Now, with all those assumption crashing down as fast as the several dozen Kassam rockets that fell on Sderot and one that fell near the Ashdod power station, the government is acting like this is all one big surprise. Oh, warns the Defense Minister, we will now make the "ground shake." Oh, he says, we will not be satisfied with "surgical actions." Oh, really? One man who can licks his lips with satisfaction is Benjamin Netanyahu, who looks increasingly likely -- with his ally of convenience Uzi Landau -- to convince the Likud to advance primaries: a show of force that will represent the beginning of the end for Sharon in the party he founded, has led the last five years, and betrayed soon after the last election. Netanyahu, cagey fellow that he is, straddled the fence on all the key issues for the better part of the last two years, failing to deliver when he could have made a difference. Uzi Landau, a rare Mr. Clean in Israeli politics, stood up for what he believed in all along and eloquently expressed his opposition to "disengagement." By rights he deserves a shot at the party leadership. Today he his considered "too ideological" and thus "unelectable" -- but, given the debasement of ideology and the betrayal of the electorate exemplified by Sharon, perhaps that is exactly the kind of leader the center-right needs. And with the security situation likely to deteriorate steadily, it is a leadership that may win unexpected popularity. Ariel Sharon deserves a rest, a return to the peace and tranquility of his sheep and sons at Sycamore Ranch. Let's hope he finds it -- if the Palestinians see fit to spare his Ranch their rockets. For you dear readers, Shabbat shalom, Sabbath peace. Reuven Koret Publisher TOP STORY: After dozens of rocket attacks from Gaza, Israel strikes back, killing 4 Israel launched an air strike on two cars driving in Gaza City on Saturday, killing at least four Hamas militants and wounding nine others. INSIDER QUOTE "There is no longer an Israeli presence in Gaza, so bearing arms in the streets and the existence of militias are not justified." 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After IDF completes pullout from towns in Samaria, Palestinians flood in Jubilant Palestinians fired in the air and honked car horns Wednesday, after Israeli troops pulled out of the last of four abandoned Jewish towns in Samaria. US, UN ready as ever to meddle in Mideast muddle The self-appointed Quartet praised the "political courage" of PM Sharon in withdrawing from Gaza, but did not demand that Palestinian militants be disarmed. Shalom says Iran half a year away from nuke know-how Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said on Monday that Iran may be as little as six months away from building a nuclear bomb. Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal dies at 96 Simon Wiesenthal, the Holocaust survivor who helped track down numerous Nazi war criminals following WWII, died at his home in Vienna. GazaDisney management upbeat despite slow start "We believe we can attract visitors if we keep the murder rate down a bit," said Yasir Araslim, CEO of GazaDisney. Report: Sharon raised illegal campaign funds in New York PM Ariel Sharon raised illegal campaign funds during his just-completed trip to New York, Channel Ten reported Monday. RECENT VIEWS The means don't justify the end By Tal Ben-Shahar Historically, the Left has justified using immoral means by pointing to the allegedly moral end it was trying to achieve. Now the Left tries a new approach. Help the victims of Katif, not just Katrina By Lori Lowenthal Marcus It's the right thing, the Jewish thing, to do, to help a stranger in need. But don't shun the Israeli disaster victims, your own mishpocha. What Allah wants, Allah gets By Julie Burchill Hijab in state schools, honor killings, polygamy, female genital mutilation in upmarket London clinics, now Holocaust denial: Welcome to "Londonistan." Difference between Sharon-Peres and Netanyahu or Landau is fundamental By Dr. Aaron Lerner Sharon appointed none other than Peres, a man who has since Oslo spent more time apologizing for PA noncompliance than defending Israel's security. Europe Died in Auschwitz By Sebastian Villar Rodriguez We exchanged the transcendental instinct of the Jews, who even under the worst conditions have always looked for a better world, for the suicide bomber. Behind the Desperation of Occupation By Brigitte Gabriel Arab terror is caused not by the "desperation of occupation" but by the very thought of a Jewish state. Non-Jews must defend that nation. Wiesenthal: A real-life hero By Howard Galganov If there were justice in this world, the International Criminal Court In The Hague would be renamed the Simon Wiesenthal Criminal Court. 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Terrorist gunmen fail assassination attempt on ex-PA minister Abbas rejects disarmament of terrorists College president: no political influence from "radical rabbis" Israeli Air Force pilots get really high USEFUL LINKS Israel News in English Wiresearch/Newsportals about Israel Israel Insider Yahoo Jerusalem Post Google Israel news (by relevance) Haaretz (English) Google Israel news (by recency) Israel National News   Israel News in Hebrew Other Maariv Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ynet Israel Defense Forces Haaretz CoP/JCPA Daily Alert Galei Tzahal (IDF Radio) WebLog of Mideast Politics Voice of Israel (Second Network) OpinionJournal Best of the Web The Israel Insider daily briefing is a limited circulation newsletter intended for supporters and subscribers only. However, you are welcome to forward individual copies to your friends and colleagues, so they can become familiar with this daily source of inside information on what's happening in Israel, and what it means. 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