Sharon doesn't want a settlement of the conflict. He wants to continue the slow-motion expansion of Israel until Palestine is a series of small, isolated dependencies. Apartheid is the model that comes to mind.

Arafat seems to relish the victim role more than the statesman role. So he's unlikely to settle, especially for the crumbs that Sharon would be willing to offer.

So, yes, bypassing these two may be the way to go. In general, the US and the rest of the world should be more willing to intervene and impose a solution. But that's much more complicated that blowing up palaces in Baghdad.


- mark 9-21-2003 5:36 am





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