Friday, July 21, 2006
The war in Lebanon could have been avoided
Uri Avneri is a known left wing activist, that just by mentioning his name I risk loosing 99% of Israeli readers – so please hang on with me, it does not get any worse. Anyway, Uri wrote in response to Giora Eiland's plan to solve the Palestinian problem in the Gaza Strip:
Giora Eiland was the head of Israel's National Security Council until he resigned from unknown reasons. Today, Amir Oren (Haaretz newspaper) published an article claiming that the war with Lebanon could have been avoided. Giora's plan for peace with Lebanon was delayed by Sharon twice and by Olmert once (about the time Giora resigned). Giora's resignation was effectively delayed until now, and that is why the plan was publish in the daily newspapers only today.
Thinking back on the past year, I have an urge to explain why Sharon delayed the Lebanon "problem", but I need more time to think it over...
Years ago Boutrus Boutrus-Ghali, then the acting foreign minister of Egypt, told me with a thin ironic smile: "You Israelis have the best experts on Arab affairs in the world. They have read all the books, all the articles. They know everything -and understand nothing, because they have never lived one single day in an Arab country." General Eiland seems to be no exception.
Giora Eiland was the head of Israel's National Security Council until he resigned from unknown reasons. Today, Amir Oren (Haaretz newspaper) published an article claiming that the war with Lebanon could have been avoided. Giora's plan for peace with Lebanon was delayed by Sharon twice and by Olmert once (about the time Giora resigned). Giora's resignation was effectively delayed until now, and that is why the plan was publish in the daily newspapers only today.
Thinking back on the past year, I have an urge to explain why Sharon delayed the Lebanon "problem", but I need more time to think it over...
