The resignation from cabinet yesterday, Sunday, by the Israeli minister of Finance is a good signal by the extreme right-wing, within the ruling Likud Party to the world that a group exists that would not go to sleep, much less on the same bed with terrorism. I am of the contrary view that if we have to sleep on the same bed, and not necesarilly with the witch called terrorism in order to morally strangulate it, we must get done with the ugly task quick. The Roadmap to Peace however clearly spelt out the innevitabilty of this catious and uncomfortable concession. If we must march on in this journey to peace- world peace, this terrain is a 'must-pass' for all stakeholders. I still commend the courage of Netanyahu, and his right to differ. Let me assure him that we would not only compare notes (for those taking notes), at the end of this journey, but we would also compare results (for those taking steps). I personally feel that his resignation is a belated attempt to sweep off 'reason' with an archaic and jaded broomstick of blindness. With the resignation from cabinet of Natan Sharansky, 3 months ago for the same reason, no doubt this 'army' is surely growing but my conviction is that their growth is already condemned as a stunted one. Stunted because, the current momentum for world peace has overtaken the 'terror-for-terror' philosophy of the Netanyahus of this planet. It is increasingly becoming clear that the psychology of terror demands that terror can only be effectively disarmed when the root cause of hate and other sentiments that it feeds on are addressed and not retaliated. The Irish IRA, The Basque ETA, even the fresh testimony of the SPLA in Sudan all attest to this correctness of our position on terrorism. I see the Gaza pullout as a test case for the future resolution of many a contentious issues now in international diplomacy. I believe fervently in the audacious forays into knotty cases of terrorism presided over, not by President Bush, but by Ms Condoleeza Rice. If the acceleration that the current momentum generates would not bring the desired results, let the people- the true custodian of democratic mandate, change the gear and move in the path of the Netanyahus. I am however, of a strong conviction that the path of the current momentum for peace would win out, and the whole world shall be better for it. |
