By Reuven Koret
January 15, 2005
A public opinion poll by Dialogue published in Haaretz Friday indicates that only 38.3% of the Israeli population believes that preparations for "disengagement" -- that is, the forcible expulsion of Israeli citizens from their homes and lands, the destruction of all their property, and the handover of what remains to the Palestinians -- should proceed without a prior vote, either in a referendum or elections.
These results represent a radical shift from poll figures of only several months ago, which showed support for disengagement above 60% without the need for a referendum or elections first.
Even the left-of-center Haaretz pointed to the survey results as "a flashing red light."
This is how Yossi Verter of Haaretz puts it: "[T]he public is split equally between those who support the continuation of preparations for the disengagement (38.3 percent) and those who prefer to have a referendum before the disengagement (37.5 percent). Only 17 percent prefer early elections."
It would appear that Haaretz's Verter is incapable of drawing the clear conclusion from the numbers: most people surveyed oppose disengagement unless there is a democratic vote on it beforehand.
Opponents of "disengagement" have said that they will accept the result of a national referendum. If they lose, the weight of public opinion will force them to accept the judgment of the majority. There might seem to be no other way to keep the country intact: Prime Minister Ariel Sharon must submit his "disengagement plan" to the will of the people.
But there is another option, albeit one which requires the bold and daring leadership -- the kind of leadership of which only "The Bulldozer" may be capable.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, in a single act, can turn around the growing resistance to his "disengagement" plan and restore unity to the nation and broad support for his policies.
Some people are evidently upset that Sharon intends to expel thousands of men, women, and children from their homes in Gaza and Samaria, destroy their property and community, and then hand it all over to the Palestinians.
The problem is that many appear to find it objectionable that a politician elected because he ran against the unilateral disengagement plan of the labor party now adopts that platform, against the will and platform of his own party, rejecting the results of its referendum against the plan, and inviting the losers to join him in his minority government, and then only with the support of the far left and Arab parties.
Before the election, Sharon spoke of "painful sacrifices" in exchange for a peace agreement. He ran against unilateral concessions to a group that cannot deliver even minimal security, let alone peace.
But that's all history. Sharon can make everybody forget and forgive all that with a single act.
Here it is, pure and simple:
Sharon should order himself and his family evicted from his Sycamore Ranch, call in Israeli security forces to level his house and farm to their foundations, then hand the whole thing over, sheep and all, to the Palestinians and invite Hamas, Jihad, and Fatah terrorists to dance a jig where his famous hearty breakfasts used to be consumed.
But let's not be too hasty.
Before he takes such a radical step, he should "soften himself up" by inviting the Palestinians to send over daily barrages of Kassam rockets and mortar shells while his friends, sons, and young relatives are playing outside.
By so doing, he will show that he appreciates what the people of Gush Katif, Samaria, and Sderot are feeling today. And they will understand that he is willing to share in the "painful sacrifices" for peace, or, if not peace, since that is clearly not in the cards, then at least the pleasure of bringing a smug grin to the face of Shimon Peres, Yossi Beilin and Amram Mitzna.
Presently, the residents of Sderot, Samaria, and Gaza don't have the choice that Sharon does. They are, effectively, in the same position as Sharon's sheep, to be herded hither and thither as he wishes.
Should they bleat a protest, then in will come the police with their horses and dogs, electric prods and truncheons. The tanks and giant bulldozers await to finish the job. And if they persist in protesting, they can expect to be put in the pen for 3 to 5 years.
The vast Sycamore Ranch was built on land handed to Sharon for a song. Wealthy foreigners have offered him loans to keep it going, and keep his sons in the shearing and shaving business, in the hope that papa Sharon will return the favor in one way or another: a Greek island here, a shady Casino there, with hardly a bleat of protest.
What the State hath given, the State can taketh away. That is what the government has been telling the settlers of Gush Katif and Samaria. And the citizens of Sderot are also seeing how Sharon has improved their quality of life since he decided to cut and run and abandon Gaza to the terrorists. Sharon has helped the residents of Sderot to identify with the settlers.
Soon, thanks to Sharon's plan, the residents of Ashkelon and Ashdod will also be able to identify. And if Shin Bet head Avi Dichter is to be believed, the citizens of Afula and Nazareth will not be far behind, experiencing first-hand what their Katif brothers and sisters have enjoyed for these last few years.
Now it's Sharon's turn. It's time for him to identify with the people who elected him, not with mere words but with real action that will win him respect.
As the evidence mounts that flight from Gaza will lead to chaos and possibly civil war, that it will represent the greatest victory ever for terrorists and spawn an out-of-control terrorist state which will import arms without restraint and export missiles and mortars over its fences without restraint, it is time for Sharon -- as is his nature -- to think big, and to give generously.
Sharon was recently reported to be the wealthiest Israeli Prime Minister in history, and his wealth is largely derived from his vast ranchland. As the citizens of Sderot and the communities of Gaza suffer, he has the opportunity to open his heart and gates for a big party to celebrate their shared self-destruction.
He should start by inviting the residents of Sderot, Kibbutz Nahal Oz and other Kibbutzim in this area also hit by Kassam missiles, as well as the doomed Israeli communities of Gaza and Samaria over for a barbeque, a little kumsitz, where they can have a bite of the roast lambs led to the slaughter. Or if he doesn't invite them, perhaps they should pay him a friendly visit, to express their solidarity with his impending act of self-sacrifice.
Until he fulfills his commitment to disengage from his ranch, appreciative citizens should come back, again and again, to express their solidarity with Sharon's willingness to give up his own property, endanger his own life and the lives of his friends and family, reward the terrorists and share their victims' fates.
After all, what are good neighbors for?
There's the famous story about the rabbi who advises the quarelling couple to bring into the house various farm animals, so that when they are eventually removed, they will feel they have space for each other. The same should hold true for Sharon, his ranch, and his neighbors.
After a few painful sacrifices at Sycamore Ranch, and an unending procession of neighborly visits, a national referendum may look pretty attractive.
Views expressed by the author do not
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