Meretz parties from their ruins (the Labor party chairman, the birthday darling, has not joined the initiative!) and to set up a strong and combative opposition in the spirit of the document.
To quote Winston Churchill: This is not the beginning of the end, but it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.
December 22, 2003
He read out the written text of his speech, word for word, without raising his eyes from the page.
It was vital for him to stick to the exact wording, since it was an encoded text. It is impossible to decipher it without breaking the code. And it is impossible to break the code without knowing Ariel Sharon very well indeed.
So it is no surprise that the flood of interpretations in Israel and abroad was ridiculous. The commentators just did not understand what they had heard. That's why they wrote things like "He did not say anything new," "He has no plan," "He is marking time," "He is old and tired." And the usual Washington reaction: "A positive step, but..." Nonsense. In his speech, Sharon outlined a whole, detailed-and extremely dangerous-plan. Those who did not understand-Israelis, Palestinians and foreign diplomats-will be unable to react effectively.
Here is the deciphered text of Sharon's "Herzliyah speech":
The name of the game is hitnatkut ("cutting ourselves off"). Meaning: most of the West Bank area will become de facto a part of Israel, and the rest we shall leave to the Palestinians, who will be enclosed in isolated enclaves. From these enclaves, the settlements will be removed.
Stage One: In order to do this, we need time-about half a year. We are talking about a large-scale and complicated military operation. The army will have to occupy and fortify new lines, while "relocating" dozens of isolated settlements. This will require detailed planning, which has not yet even started. The necessary forces and instruments will have to be prepared. Half a year is the minimum.
During this period we shall not be idle. On the contrary, we shall finish the Separation Fence, and it will play a major part in the new deployment. We shall develop the "settlement blocs," to which we shall transfer the settlers who will be relocated.
The execution of the plan in half a year is perfectly timed. At exactly that time the American election campaign will reach its climax. No