On Mon, 13 May 2002, Brad DeLong wrote:
> So is the fact that Ariel Sharon is now speaking in support of the
> rights of Palestinians to a state of their own a positive sign or a
> negative sign?
Sharon wants the same thing the Likud wants: that the Palestinians should accept permanent oppression. He just wants to call the resulting set-up a state. It's like saying it's still a car if you've removed the wheels and engine. Very shrewd.
The positive sign is that Likud comes out and calls a spade a spade, and says in effect, We have no intention of ever bargaining in good faith or of being just. I hope they keep it up. That's much easier to argue with.
Michael