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MK Benjamin Netanyahu (AP file photo)
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| By Jerusalem Newswire August 24, 2005 |
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Senior Likud MK Benjamin Netanyahu went on the offensive against the Sharon government Wednesday for surrendering Gaza and northern Samaria to PLO control, insisting the move would result in unprecedented terrorist warfare against Israel's Jews.
Netanyahu, an internationally recognized expert on Islamic terrorism, is, according to recent opinion polls, expected to wrest control of the Likud Party from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in the next primary election.
"The pullout is a tragedy and completely superfluous, a giving in to terror in return for nothing. Sharon has created an Islamic terror state in Israel," Netanyahu told Army Radio. What is more, Sharon is "tearing the nation apart and setting a precedent for further withdrawals."
The former prime minister warned that in the very near future "Hamas will fire rockets from the West Bank. Hamas has said that the rocket barrages that banished Israel from Gaza would continue until all lands were freed."
Netanyahu cautioned against relying on PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas to prevent such an escalation, noting that Yasser Arafat's longtime right-hand man had recently "credited the martyrs" -- a euphemism for suicide terrorists -- for Israel's flight from Gaza.
"I don't want to spoil the fun, but the writing is on the wall and it can be prevented."
Speaking to Army Radio just before Netanyahu, Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz insisted, "The disengagement will be good for Israel. It will bolster the economy, strengthen our international image, and secure a Jewish majority in Israel."
Netanyahu replied that Mofaz had failed to tackle the issue of security, noting, "Even the chief of IDF intelligence told MKs last week that terrorism would likely resume in force around springtime. The head of the Shin Bet concurred, saying terrorism will originate in the Gaza Strip."
He accused Mofaz and Sharon of firing former-IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon because the latter had dared to "tell the truth" about the dangerous consequences of withdrawing from Gaza and northern Samaria.
Just prior to leaving his post in June, Ya'alon told Ha'aretz Sharon's disengagement would lead to increased Arab demands for further Israeli concessions. Failing to capitulate, Ya'alon had warned, would result in fresh wave of anti-Jewish terrorism.
During his interview, Netanyahu cited numerous other security officials who had pointed out the withdrawal would be viewed by the Palestinians as a victory for their aggression against the Jews, but said every one had been ignored by the Sharon government.
This report provided by Jerusalem Newswire.
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