The Independent worries that Ariel Sharon’s strategy with the Palestinians appears to be based on “security for independence” instead of “land for peace.” Reporter Donald Macintyre misunderstood and/or overreacted to comments by Sharon advisor Eyal Arad:
The startling assertion that Mr Sharon repudiates not only the Oslo accords but the concept of “land for peace” that underpinned them will fuel Palestinian fears that he is seeking to redraw the internationally agreed road map to peace, to which Mr Sharon insists he is committed.
Memo to Macintyre: Security for independence isn’t just Sharon’s formula. It’s the road map’s formula too. Phase one requires the PA to dismantle the Palestinian terror infrastructure. Even The Guardian acknowledged this, quoting Arad:
“The road map replaced the falsehood of [territories for peace] with a much more realistic formula – security for independence. The road map postulates … total dismantling of all terrorist apparatus in the Palestinian territories by the Palestinians … What the prime minister says and what the road map says is that before full compliance nothing will happen.”
