Ariel Sharon, I fear, is losing what's left of his mind. A very disturbing development.
Part I:
Sharon said he will stand by the disengagement plan, dismissing calls from both sides of the political spectrum to delay the plan in view of Arafat's demise and enter into negotiations with his heirs."We don't know yet who they are and we also have to refrain from interference and statements on this matter. We need to decide what's better now, what's safer the agreement with the Americans, which was legislated by Congress, or to cancel it with all its advantages and reach an agreement with the Palestinians.
"Knowing both sides well, I am relying on our agreement with President [George W.] Bush and the Congressional legislation. I wouldn't forfeit these," Sharon said.
What "agreement" is he talking about? What "Congressional legislation?" I've been following this story pretty closely and I'm not aware of any such thing. What did I miss? (Note: this does not constitute an "agreement.")
Part II:
He proceeded to sound a warning about external elements that are trying to take over the Likud, thereby hinting at increased activity by "the Feiglins," members of the Jewish Leadership division influential in the Likud, and groups opposed to the disengagement that are threatening members of Knesset."There is an effort to take over the Likud from outside. There are incitement and threats and pressure on MKs. I want to tell you that this situation of threats and pressure is insufferable," Sharon said.
Now that sounds ominous, and some of these threats are quite serious and, yes, insufferable. (This "threat," on the other hand, hardly sounds like the actual work of a "right-wing extremist" -- unless it suits your purposes to read it that way.) But as I understand it, many of these threats consist largely of warnings that some Likud Knesset members might not be reelected if they defy their (Likud) constituents.
Isn't that how democracy is supposed to work? If you screw the people who elected you and support measures they elected you to oppose, you might not get reelected? By those people, anyway. Of course, you might very well get reelected by others who actually approve of your actions. So those threats seem a little empty to me.
To the extent Sharon is reacting to physical threats by actual extremists, he is of course quite correct. But especially in light of the fact that he himself has taken to routinely dismissing members of his cabinet for disagreeing with his agenda, his apoplexy over threats that MKs may lose their jobs if they support disengagement is downright creepy.
