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January 20, 2013
John Kerry Praises Israeli former Prime Minister Arial Sharon
By Syed R. Mahmood
It was shocking to read that Secretary John Kerry, on January 2, 2014, during his visit to
Israel to conduct a Middle East peace talk with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, that he made a statement regarding the former Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon,who was in a coma for the last eight years, that his thoughts are with the former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon -- He died on January 11, 2014.
By my understanding, John Kerry is a gentleman and a man of integrity in the American politics. He is also a respected person in the international diplomatic community, yet he praised Sharon's contributions and sacrifices for the survival of Israel. Kerry also said that we, all Americans, are thinking of Israel and their former leader Ariel Sharon. The question is: How does Mr. Kerry know that "all Americans are thinking of him?" Where did he get his information? -- Sharon was Prime Minister of Israel from 2001 - 2006.
After the Holocaust of millions of the Jewish population by Hitler, another act of genocide was committed under the command of the Israeli Defense Minister, Ariel Sharon, in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Beirut, Lebanon. This massacre took place September 16 - 18 in 1982. Between 762 and 3,500 Palestinian and Lebanese unarmed civilians; mostly children, women and the elderly, were tortured, raped, killed and mutilated. It was a crime against humanity.
Palestinians were falsely accused for the assassination of Lebanese President Bachir Gemayal. The irony is that the American media does not have the courage to talk about this tragedy. The political circle as well as elected officials will never mention this horrible genocide. The Israeli forces, South Lebanon Army and the Phalangists invaded the Palestinian refugee camps and systematically committed genocide against the civilian population. The Israeli forces surrounded the camp area and did not allow anyone to escape; The merciless slaughter of men, women and children went on. The murderer of humanist Ariel Sharon was never brought to a court of justice by the freedom-loving Europeans and the American political leaders.
Former President George W. Bush called Ariel Sharon a "warrior for the ages and a partner in seeking security for the Holy Land and a better, peaceful Middle East." Sharon provoked a second Palestinian intifada by leading a march into the Jerusalem holy site of the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque plaza in 2000. Sharon declared at the site that the Islamic holy site would stay permanently under Israeli control. More than one thousand Palestinians and around two hundred Israelis were killed. His intentions were to destroy the peace process. It is a sad phenomenon of the American leadership that they did not have enough courage to deal with the Middle East with an even-handed policy. Thus, Israeli sponsored Genocide is never criticized by American officials.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a master of intimidation and manipulation, knows how to keep the American administration and politicians in line. Last year, in a gathering with 1,300 sympathizers of the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Washington D.C., Netanyahu proclaimed that half of the members of the U.S. Congress are sitting in this gathering. It was a warning to the Obama Administration about how much power the Israeli Administration has over the U.S.Congress.
A day before, Prime Minister Netanyahu was in the White House trying to draw a hard bargain with President Obama regarding the Middle East peace issue. According to the print media, the discussion was not very cordial. President Obama had to leave Prime Minister Netanyahu alone in the room while he went to join his family for lunch.
In public, Netanyahu very skillfully, with force, will try to convince the world that he is very serious in resolving the Palestinian issue. He will accuse the Palestinians that they are not serious. He is also not willing to stop the settlement process -- His rhetoric regarding peace is not sincere. He is using the technique of stalling and buying time and keeping the Americans engaged in fruitless negotiations. In the last forty to forty-five years, the Israelis have consolidated their positions on the ground by developing
settlements on the Palestinian's land.
President Carter was the only President who had the vision, courage and skills to negotiate peaceful solutions between Egypt and Israel -- On September 17, 1978, at Camp David, the accord was signed. Carter wrote in regards to the Roadmap for peace -- "Israel has been able to use it as a delaying tactic with an endless series of preconditions that can never be met." U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, in April, 2003, announced the "Roadmap".
Although President Barak Husain Obama seized the moment, so far, he has shown his patience and intelligence in dealing with Israeli affairs. He will never run for another office and he does not have to raise money for any election.
My words to him are; As a Republican, I supported you and worked for your campaign. I had some faith in your integrity. Please change the course of history. Give Americans peace and security. Provide an opportunity for other nations to have the same. At least get us out of Afghanistan; close the chapter of an unfortunate war.
President Obama, you have shown great leadership in negotiating the nuclear deal with Iran. You did not budge under Israeli blackmail and intimidation. Leave the legacy of a World leader who could conquer the hearts and minds of people without bullets. During the remaining years of your Presidency, make every honest effort to bring a just peace in the Middle East. You are not going to live another life. Learn some lessons from the life of Nelson Mandela.
Syed R. Mahmood, Founder and President of American Institute of International Studies (AIIS)
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