Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told the Knesset on Monday that
any cabinet decision regarding unilateral steps in the
territories will be brought before the House "so that we can
conduct a serious and comprehensive discussion of the issue."
At the close of a vociferous and often stormy debate
initiated by the opposition, the prime minister's
announcement was approved by a vote of 51 to 39.
Coalition leaders had to work hard to convince their
coalition partners (the National Union and the National
Religious Party) to vote in favor of Sharon's announcement.
Coalition chairman Gideon Sa'ar said that the prime
minister's speech would not mention evacuation of
settlements.
Sharon's speech was very soft, and made no mention of the
territorial compromise about which he had spoken extensively
a month ago at the Herzliya conference. "In a few months, we
may come to the conclusion that the Palestinians continue to
refuse our outstretched hand in peace and that they avoid
fulfilling their obligations with regard to the road map,"
Sharon told the Knesset. "This scenario should not be
ignored, and therefore we are preparing for it today. If we
reach the point when we realize that all possibility of
implementing the road map has been exhausted, we will have to
take a series of steps to ensure maximum security for
Israel's citizens and minimum friction with the Palestinian
population.
"If the moment comes when it is clear to us that we have no
one with whom to implement the road map, I will of course
also bring the measures that the cabinet decides upon to a
vote in the Knesset."
Sharon added that "the steps have not been decided upon and
certainly do not stand to be implemented at the moment."
Sharon also said that he "was not among those who were
eulogizing the road map," and added that he hoped that
"reason in the Palestinian street would increase and the
Palestinians would abandon the path of terror. When this
happens, the Palestinians will find us a generous partner,
prepared to take swift and numerous steps in their direction
to reach an agreement that will ensure that the two peoples
can live in peace."
Upset that Sharon had no mentioned the pullbacks he mentioned
in Herzliya, the opposition said that Sharon will never do
what he promised there and that it was all a show.
