Israel's reoccupation of Palestinian cities and towns culminates a predictable pattern. American willingness to accept Ariel Sharon's portrayal of that reoccupation as an acceptable part of its global "war against terror"was not only surprising, but misguided and dangerous. By helping to de-legitimize Yasir Arafat and by accepting Prime Minister Sharon's characterization of Israel's reoccupation as "self-defense," American policy threatens to weaken the moral clarity and credibility of the US in the eyes of the world. The consequences for the Middle East and beyond could be deadly.
Israel's reoccupation of Palestinian cities and towns culminates a predictable pattern. American willingness to accept Ariel Sharon's portrayal of that reoccupation as an acceptable part of its global "war against terror"was not only surprising, but misguided and dangerous. By helping to de-legitimize Yasir Arafat and by accepting Prime Minister Sharon's characterization of Israel's reoccupation as "self-defense," American policy threatens to weaken the moral clarity and credibility of the US in the eyes of the world. The consequences for the Middle East and beyond could be deadly.