Palestinians bring a wounded man into a hospital in the Khan Younis refugee
camp, December 30, 2004. An Israeli drone fired two missiles into the southern
Gaza city of Khan Younis on Thursday, killing three Palestinians.
REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
The independent is overly optimistic about the ‘government of unity’ in Israel.
The independent does not tell us how is the Labour party better placed to
influence Sharon this time round. Despite its better electoral standing then,
the Labour party became a very junior partner in the last ‘government of unity’
and acted as a fig leaf for Sharon’s war crimes in the West Bank. No comments
and no letters.
Write to: letters@independent.co.uk
Bcc:        info@arabmediawatch.com
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=596989
Peres deal ensures Gaza withdrawal
By Eric Silver in Jerusalem
31 December 2004
That measure, and other disengagement provisions, should now enjoy a more rapid
passage through the 120-member Knesset. Mr Sharon is planning to seek formal
cabinet approval in February to evacuate the settlements.
Up to 13 of Likud''s 40 MPs were still threatening yesterday to resist the Gaza
pull-out, but as well as Labour (19 seats) within the coalition, Mr Sharon can
rely on the centrist Shinui and left-wing Yahad, with 15 and six respectively,
to support the evacuation from the opposition benches. The six-member
ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party is expected to follow Labour into the
coalition.
Unlike previous "national unity" governments, Labour will fill none of the major
posts.
http://comment.independent.co.uk/leading_articles/story.jsp?story=596960
Editorial : This national unity government is what Israel needs
31 December 2004
It is promising, first, because it means that fresh elections will be avoided,
with all the uncertainty they would entail. With Israel''s withdrawal from Gaza
planned for next summer, and perhaps sooner, an election would be a highly
unwelcome disruption. Mr Sharon campaigned hard to gain Knesset approval for the
withdrawal. It would be regrettable in the extreme if the same battles had to be
fought over again, especially as the climate of Israeli opinion is strongly in
favour of leaving Gaza.
It is promising, second, because a coalition which brings together Mr Sharon''s
Likud Party and the Labour Party of Mr Peres has the potential to be a
government of real national unity. A broad coalition of this sort is exactly
what Mr Sharon will need to weather the storms that lie ahead, not only over
Gaza, but in the expected negotiations with the Palestinians, once their new
leader is elected.
The news is promising, third, because it brings back into government at a very
senior level not only one of the most experienced and authoritative figures in
Israeli politics, but one of those long intent on establishing peace with the
Palestinians.
In short, it is hard to conceive of any arrangement that offers better prospects
for political stability in Israel, for the withdrawal from Gaza and for
re-starting talks with the Palestinians. Assignment of most ministerial
portfolios has yet to be finalised, but agreement on Mr Peres''s role means that
formation of this much-needed coalition is no longer in doubt.