WEYMOUTH: Why did you cancel your trip? SHARON: We are in a war here, a special kind of war. I have decided to continue with the redeployment of our forces. What might result is a situation in which terror bursts out. I want to be here to see how it develops…
President Bush has been calling for an Israeli pullout from these areas. We didn’t intend to stay there. But we are facing terrible terror. The Palestinians must take some steps [to control these areas].
Do you expect [Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasir] Arafat to take the steps? No, he has violated all agreements. It will be done with local commanders.
Are you withdrawing your forces because of U.S. pressure? I think the administration’s wish is that we move out–but we wanted to move out. Why were we there? Because Arafat hasn’t taken any steps against groups deeply involved in terror. He does not arrest terrorists, so we do. This is why I have demanded that the U.S. declare Islamic Jihad, Hizbullah and Hamas as terrorist organizations. Then Arafat would have no choice.
Some say you feared that if you went to Washington, the administration would present you with a new peace plan–one you might not like. I don’t think they have a plan. I’ve made it clear that I’m willing to make painful compromises for a genuine, durable peace, but not for something that endangers Israel.
You have placed yourself at the head of a new peace committee. Why? I will lead the committee with my friend Shimon Peres. Once there is a cessation of terror and incitement, I am very much interested in starting the political process.
Do you have a partner for peace? At the present time, no. If Arafat stops terror, we’ll negotiate with him. [The peace plan] offered him at Camp David has never been offered before by any prime minister and will never be offered again by any prime minister–including myself.
Did he make a mistake in turning it down? The Arabs have never accepted the birth-right of the Jewish people to have an independent homeland.
Was signing the Oslo agreement a mistake? The Oslo agreement was one of Israel’s most tragic mistakes.
What did you mean when you said last month that Israel will not be Czechoslovakia? I wasn’t speaking about President Bush, who has made a courageous decision to lead the free world in a fight against terror. I wanted to spoil the plans of some European governments and certain circles in the U.S. who believe that if Israel makes concessions to Arafat’s terrorism, it will be easier for the U.S. to establish an Arab-Muslim coalition. I just compared the situation of our democracy to that of the brave and democratic Czechoslovakia on the eve of the second world war.
Are you worried about Osama bin Laden? I think all of us should be worried. We are fighting a war against an Islamic fanatic terrorist network.
People say that Israel shouldn’t conduct targeted killings, yet the U.S. wants to kill bin Laden. Is there a double standard? Two days ago we had information that Hamas was planning to send a suicide bomber into an Israeli town. Of course, we decided to avoid it. Arafat could have arrested him. But when we give them names [of wanted terrorists], they usually warn them. They don’t arrest them.
Are you always informed of the details? Yes. No one decides about such acts unless they’ve been approved by the highest echelons. There have been 20 to 30 targeted assassinations. Shimon Peres calls them “interceptions.” When it comes to security, Peres is not a dove.
Is your goal to destroy the Palestinian Authority? My goal is not to destroy it or to act personally against Arafat… I have reached the age of 73 and seen the horrors of war. I look forward to peace. But peace should provide security for the Jewish people.
