Arik - The Life Of Ariel Sharon (100 page)
Read Arik - The Life Of Ariel Sharon Online
Authors: David Landau
Tags: #Biography & Autobiography, #Political, #Historical, #History, #Middle East, #Israel & Palestine, #eBook
Suleyman Demirel
9th President of the Republic of Turkey
Thorbjoern Jagland
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway
Warren B. Rudman
Former Member of the United States Senate
Javier Solana
High European Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, European Union
The
Road Map
April 30, 2003 (Excerpts)
The following is a performance-based and goal-driven road map, with clear phases, timelines, target dates, and benchmarks aiming at progress through reciprocal steps by the two parties in the political, security, economic, humanitarian, and institution-building fields, under the auspices of the Quartet [the United States, European Union, United Nations, and Russia]. The destination is a final and comprehensive settlement of the Israel-Palestinian conflict by 2005, as presented in President Bush’s speech of 24 June, and welcomed by the EU, Russia and the UN…
A two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will only be achieved through an end to violence and terrorism, when the Palestinian people have a leadership acting decisively against terror and willing and able to build a practicing democracy based on tolerance and liberty, and through Israel’s readiness to do what is necessary for a democratic Palestinian state to be established, and a clear, unambiguous acceptance by both parties of the goal of a negotiated settlement as described below…
In Phase I, the Palestinians immediately undertake an unconditional cessation of violence…[S]uch action should be accompanied by supportive measures undertaken by Israel. Palestinians and Israelis resume security cooperation based on the Tenet work plan to end violence, terrorism, and incitement through restructured and effective Palestinian security services. Palestinians undertake comprehensive political reform in preparation for statehood, including drafting a Palestinian constitution, and free, fair and open elections upon the basis of those measures. Israel takes all necessary steps to help normalize Palestinian life. Israel withdraws from Palestinian areas occupied from September 28, 2000, and the two sides restore the status quo that existed at that time, as security performance and cooperation progress. Israel also freezes all settlement activity, consistent with the Mitchell report.
At the outset of Phase I:
• Palestinian leadership issues unequivocal statement reiterating Israel’s right to exist in peace and security and calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to end armed activity and all acts of violence against Israelis anywhere. All official Palestinian institutions end incitement against Israel.
• Israeli leadership issues unequivocal statement affirming its commitment
to the two-state vision of an independent, viable, sovereign Palestinian state living in peace and security alongside Israel, as expressed by President Bush, and calling for an immediate end to violence against Palestinians everywhere. All official Israeli institutions end incitement against Palestinians.
• Palestinians declare an unequivocal end to violence and terrorism and undertake visible efforts on the ground to arrest, disrupt, and restrain individuals and groups conducting and planning violent attacks on Israelis anywhere.
• Rebuilt and refocused Palestinian Authority security apparatus begins sustained, targeted, and effective operations aimed at confronting all those engaged in terror and dismantlement of terrorist capabilities and infrastructure. This includes commencing confiscation of illegal weapons and consolidation of security authority, free of association with terror and corruption.
• GOI takes no actions undermining trust, including deportations, attacks on civilians; confiscation and/or demolition of Palestinian homes and property, as a punitive measure or to facilitate Israeli construction; destruction of Palestinian institutions and infrastructure; and other measures specified in the Tenet work plan…
• Implementation, as previously agreed, of U.S. rebuilding, training and resumed security cooperation plan in collaboration with outside oversight board (U.S.-Egypt-Jordan). Quartet support for efforts to achieve a lasting, comprehensive cease-fire.
• All Palestinian security organizations are consolidated into three services reporting to an empowered Interior Minister.
• Restructured/retrained Palestinian security forces and IDF counterparts progressively resume security cooperation and other undertakings in implementation of the Tenet work plan, including regular senior-level meetings, with the participation of U.S. security officials.
• Arab states cut off public and private funding and all other forms of support for groups supporting and engaging in violence and terror.
• All donors providing budgetary support for the Palestinians channel these funds through the Palestinian Ministry of Finance’s Single Treasury Account.
• As comprehensive security performance moves forward, IDF with-draws progressively from areas occupied since September 28, 2000, and the two sides restore the status quo that existed prior to September 28, 2000. Palestinian security forces redeploy to areas vacated by IDF.
• Immediate action on credible process to produce draft constitution for Palestinian statehood…
• Appointment of interim prime minister or cabinet with empowered executive authority/decision-making body.
• GOI fully facilitates travel of Palestinian officials for PLC and Cabinet sessions, internationally supervised security retraining, electoral and other reform activity…
• Palestinian performance on judicial, administrative, and economic benchmarks, as established by the International Task Force on Palestinian Reform.
• As early as possible … Palestinians hold free, open, and fair elections.
• GOI facilitates Task Force election assistance, registration of voters, movement of candidates and voting officials. Support for NGOs involved in the election process.
• GOI reopens Palestinian Chamber of Commerce and other closed Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem…
• GOI immediately dismantles settlement outposts erected since March 2001.
• Consistent with the Mitchell Report, GOI freezes all settlement activity (including natural growth of settlements).
In the second phase, efforts are focused on the option of creating an independent Palestinian state with provisional borders and attributes of sovereignty, based on the new constitution, as a way station to a permanent status settlement. As has been noted, this goal can be achieved when the Palestinian people have a leadership acting decisively against terror, willing and able to build a practicing democracy based on tolerance and liberty. With such a leadership, reformed civil institutions and security structures, the Palestinians will have the active support of the Quartet and the broader international community in establishing an independent, viable, state.
Progress into Phase II will be based upon the consensus judgment of the Quartet of whether conditions are appropriate to proceed, taking into account performance of both parties … Phase II starts after Palestinian elections and ends with possible creation of an independent Palestinian state with provisional borders in 2003…
• International Conference: Convened by the Quartet, in consultation
with the parties, immediately after the successful conclusion of Palestinian elections, to support Palestinian economic recovery and launch a process, leading to establishment of an independent Palestinian state with provisional borders.
• Such a meeting would be inclusive, based on the goal of a comprehensive Middle East peace (including between Israel and Syria, and Israel and Lebanon), and based on the principles described in the preamble to this document.
• Arab states restore pre-intifada links to Israel (trade offices, etc.).
• Revival of multilateral engagement on issues including regional water resources, environment, economic development, refugees, and arms control issues…
• Quartet members promote international recognition of Palestinian state, including possible UN membership.
Progress into Phase III, based on consensus judgment of Quartet … Phase III objectives are consolidation of reform and stabilization of Palestinian institutions, sustained, effective Palestinian security performance, and Israeli-Palestinian negotiations aimed at a permanent status agreement in 2005.
• Second International Conference: Convened by Quartet, in consultation with the parties, at beginning of 2004 … to launch a process with the active, sustained, and operational support of the Quartet, leading to a final, permanent status resolution in 2005, including on borders, Jerusalem, refugees, settlements; and, to support progress toward a comprehensive Middle East settlement between Israel and Lebanon and Israel and Syria, to be achieved as soon as possible.
• Parties reach final and comprehensive permanent status agreement that ends the Israel-Palestinian conflict in 2005 … includ[ing] an agreed, just, fair, and realistic solution to the refugee issue, and a negotiated resolution on the status of Jerusalem that takes into account the political and religious concerns of both sides, and protects the religious interests of Jews, Christians, and Muslims worldwide, and fulfills the vision of two states, Israel and sovereign, independent, democratic and viable Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and security.
• Arab state acceptance of full normal relations with Israel and security for all the states of the region in the context of a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace.
Agreed Documents on Movement and Access from and to Gaza
November 15, 2005 (Excerpts)
Rafah
Rafah will be opened as soon as it is ready to operate at an international standard in accordance with the specifications of this agreement and as soon as the 3rd party [the European Union] is on site, with a target date of November 25.
The passages will operate continuously. On an urgent basis, Israel will permit the export of all agricultural products from Gaza during this 2005 harvest season. The new and additional scanner will be installed and fully operational by December 31. At that time, the number of export trucks per day to be processed through Karni will reach 150, and 400 by end-2006 … Israel will permit export of agricultural produce from Gaza and will facilitate its speedy exit and onward movement so that quality and freshness can be maintained…
• The PA will ensure that the passages will be protected on the Palestinian side of the border…
Israel will allow the passage of convoys to facilitate the movements of goods and persons. Specifically:
• Establish bus convoys by December 15.
• Establish truck convoys by January 15.
• Work out detailed implementation arrangements in a bilateral committee of the GoI and PA with participation as needed from the Quartet team and the USSC [U.S. Security Coordinator].
It is understood that security is a prime and continuing concern for Israel and that appropriate arrangements to ensure security will be adopted.
Consistent with Israel’s security needs, to facilitate movement of people and goods within the West Bank and to minimize disruption to Palestinian lives, the ongoing work between Israel and the U.S. to establish an
agreed list of obstacles to movement and develop a plan to reduce them to the maximum extent possible will be accelerated so that the work can be completed by December 31.
Construction of a seaport can commence. The GoI will undertake to assure donors that it will not interfere with operation of the port…
The parties agree on the importance of the airport. Discussions will continue on the issues of security arrangements, construction, and operation…
The 3rd party will have the authority to ensure that the PA complies with all applicable rules and regulations concerning the Rafah crossing point and the terms of this agreement. In case of non-compliance the 3rd party has the authority to order the re-examination and reassessment of any passenger, luggage, vehicle or goods. While the request is being processed, the person, luggage, vehicle or cargo in question will not be allowed to leave the premises of the Rafah crossing point.
The 3rd party will assist the PA to build capacity—training, equipment and technical assistance—on border management and customs.
Preface: Land of Hope
Chapter 1: Poor Little Fat Boy
1.
Yigal Sarna, “His Childhood,”
Hadashot,
September 15, 1985.
2.
“Man of the Year,”
HaOlam Hazeh,
September 24, 1973.
3.
Dahlia Eliashiv interview, Kfar Saba, November 8, 2006.
4.
Yuval Steinitz interview, Jerusalem, April 30, 2008.
5.
Ariel Sharon,
Warrior,
35.
6.
“Arik Sharon’s
Saison,
”
Haaretz,
August 1, 1983.
7.
“It’s All Talk,” Israel Radio, February 8, 1990.
8.
“An Etzel Fighter: Sharon Commanded a
Saison
Posse.”
Arutz Sheva Israel National News
, June 28, 2005.
9.
Ibid.
10.
Ariel Sharon,
Warrior,
37.
11.
Mordechai Zippori interview, Karmei Yosef, January 30, 2007.
12.
Ariel Sharon,
Warrior,
38.
13.
Bregman,
Israel’s Wars
, 19.
14.
Ariel Sharon,
Warrior,
44.
15.
Omri Sharon interview, Tel Aviv, December 2010.
16.
Hefez and Bloom,
Shepherd,
28.
17.
Ariel Sharon,
Warrior,
54–58.
18.
Hefez and Bloom,
Shepherd,
32.
19.
Ariel Sharon,
Warrior,
62.
20.
Dan,
Ariel Sharon,
13.
21.
Ibid.
22.
Asher Levy interviews, Tel Aviv and Latrun, March 12, 13, 2008.
23.
Ariel Sharon,
Warrior,
65.
24.
Ibid.
25.
Ibid., 72.
26.
Northern Command, File C/A/3/7, September 1952, Top Secret, IDF Archives.
27.
Ariel Sharon,
Warrior,
76.
28.
Ibid.
29.
Morris,
Israel’s Border Wars, 1949–1956,
136, 150.
30.
Benziman,
Sharon,
40.
31.
Har-Zion,
Chapters of a Diary,
161.
32.
Moshe Dayan,
Story of My Life
[Hebrew], 114.
33.
Gideon Altschuler interview, Karmei Yosef, February 28, 2007.
34.
Ariel Sharon,
Warrior,
89.
35.
Morris,
Israel’s Border Wars, 1949–1956,
278.
36.
Ibid., 203.
37.
Ariel Sharon,
Warrior,
91.
38.
Moshe Dayan,
Story of My Life
[Hebrew], 115.
39.
Ariel Sharon to Chief of Operations, January 5, 1954, IDF Archives.
40.
Altschuler interview.
41.
Hefez and Bloom,
Shepherd,
28.
42.
Gilad Harel, “The Azoun Raid,” personal testimony to the Paratroop Brigade book and Web site
The First Ten Years;
Yitzhak Gibli and Aharon Davidi, interviews in
The Sixth Night,
a documentary broadcast by Israel Television Channel 2 in June 1996.
43.
Ariel Sharon, “Reprisal Actions: How We Were, and How We Fought” (lecture, Sapir College, March 20, 2003).
44.
Moshe Dayan,
Story of My Life
[Hebrew], 132.
45.
Ibid., 641.
46.
Ariel Sharon,
Warrior,
100.
47.
Bar-On,
Gates of Gaza
, 258.
48.
Moshe Dayan,
Story of My Life
, 173; Moshe Dayan,
Story of My Life
[Hebrew], 179.
49.
Morris,
Israel’s Border Wars, 1949–1956,
312–13.
50.
Ariel Sharon,
Warrior,
111.
51.
Shmuel Tamir,
Son of This Land,
2:1138–39.
52.
Commander of Battalion 890 to Chief of Staff, June 27, 1955, IDF Archives.
53.
Morris,
Israel’s Border Wars, 1949–1956,
413.
54.
Ibid., 361–62.
55.
Bar-On,
Gates of Gaza,
25.
56.
Golani,
There Will Be War Next Summer,
235.
57.
Morris,
Israel’s Border Wars, 1949–1956,
426.
58.
Peres,
Battling for Peace,
113.
59.
Peres,
Ben-Gurion,
169.
60.
In
There Will Be War Next Summer,
Golani writes that Meir Amit, the chief of operations on the General Staff, and Uzi Narkiss, his deputy, were out of the loop and that senior officers in Southern Command—and Sharon, too—were unaware of the political purpose of the parachute drop.
61.
Defense Ministry protocols, cited by Amir Oren, “38 Soldiers Died in Vain. Who Approved? Who Lied?,”
Haaretz,
October 26, 2006.
62.
Laskov’s report to Dayan, December 4, 1956, cited in Oren, “38 Soldiers Died in Vain.”
63.
Golani,
There Will Be War Next Summer,
526–27, citing Ze’evi’s testimony to Laskov. Golani writes, too, that in addition to the tanks and the infantry that Sharon mentions, the “reconnaissance patrol” included a 120-millimeter mortar battery, ammunition trucks, and fuel tanker-trucks. He cites the official war record of Southern Command, which refers to “a belligerent reconnaissance force sent out in the direction of the pass.”
64.
Ariel Sharon,
Warrior,
147.
65.
Ibid., 150.
66.
Golani,
There Will Be War Next Summer,
519.
67.
Ibid.
68.
Dov Tamari interview, Caesarea, March 10, 2007.
69.
Eitan Haber, “Paratroop Brigade 202 Rules the Country,”
Yedioth Ahronoth,
March 5, 1982.
70.
Nahum Barnea, “Doers, Motta Gur Style,”
Koteret Rashit,
October 29, 1986.
71.
Yitzhak Navon interview, Jerusalem, June 26, 2007.
72.
Moshe Dayan,
Story of My Life
, 243.
73.
Shimon Peres interview, Tel Aviv, July 11, 2006.
74.
Ariel Sharon,
Warrior,
156.
