News Brief

Israeli Prime Minister accused of betrayal by Christian Zionists

-15/4/04

Following the news that Israel's Prime Minister has vowed to hold on to six Jewish settlements in the West Bank, which Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei and Yasser Arafat say will destroy any "hope for peace", Christian Zionists have accused Ariel Sharon of compromise and betrayal.

The "disengagement" plan being proposed by the Prime Minister envisages Israel holding on to six settlement blocs in the West Bank. Palestinians fear US approval of Mr Sharon's plan could scupper the "roadmap" and with it their chances of establishing a state that includes all of the West Bank and Gaza.

But following the exchange of letters between Prime Minister Sharon and President Bush on April 14, the Zionist Americans For a Safe Israel (AFSI) have accused Sharon of betrayal.

ìIn order to shore up his flagging political fortunes, Israelís Prime Minister has betrayed the Zionist principles on which he served the nation as general and on which he ran for public officeî; said Herbert Zweibon, the AFSI chairman.

Zweibon continued; ìPresident Bush, so resolute in Iraq, displays a double vision. With one eye he clearly sees that Arabs recently liberated from a murderous regime have turned their violence and primitive hatred to the very forces which attempt to bring stability and a better life to their country. With the other eye he has the ìvisionî of a democratic Palestinian Arab state accepting Israel, renouncing terrorism and living peacefully side by side with a Jewish state."

Calling the decision to hold onto six settlement blocs a "paltry victoryî he said the refusing Palestinian Arabs the right of return to Israel was "mere gift-wrapping on a box of explosives."

AFSIís chairman called on "all Israelís supporters" to denounce and reject the plan.

Meanwhile the United Nations human rights body called on Israel to end settlement activity on Palestinian land and stop work on its barrier in the West Bank.

Twenty-seven states backed the EU proposal demanding Israel reverse its settlement policy and construction of the "so-called security fence in occupied Palestinian territory". Two countries - the United States and Congo - rejected the resolution.