Peluang Terakhir Sharon

(Ariel Sharon Last Chance)

Sebaik sahaja Israel mengumumkan bahawa wilayah Selatan Lubnan mahu dibomnya, seluruh duniapun faham betapa Perang Arab-Israel yang Keenam sudahpun bermula. Namun, berbeza dengan peperangan rantau itu sebelumnya, ketika Israel begitu yakin dengan kemenangan setiap pertempuran itu, peperangan kali ini akan berakhir dengan kekalahan di pihak Ariel Sharon.

Ada pihak yang berkata Ariel Sharon memerlukan masa yang singkat untuk mencetuskan peperangan itu, tetapi ia memerlukan masa yang panjang untuk menamatkannya. Ariel Sharon terlalu yakin untuk melumpuhkan semangat bangsa Palestin dengan melancarkan Operasi Perisai Pertahanan, tetapi kesannya itu melantun kepadanya pula. Helah menggunakan kekerasan adalah satu rencana perang yang tidak berkesan, tetapi Ariel Sharon tidak faham perkara ini. Lagipun, Israel telah menaikkan kemarahan masyarakat antarabangsa apabila ia memperlekehkan resolusi majlis keselamatan PBB. Majlis Keselamatan PBB mengarahkan diadakan gencatan senjata dan askar Israel berundur keluar daripada bumi Palestin. Peraturan itu adalah hasil satu Persidangan luarbiasa Majlis Keselamatan hasil desakan negara-negara Arab pada Ahad dulu. Kenyataan PBB itu menyebut bahawa 'operasi ketenteraan Israel yang berkesinambungan adalah merupakan pencabulan undang-undang perikemanusiaan antarabangsa.'

Peserta sesi khas itu menyatakan kerisauan terhadap keadaan yang semakin genting, jumlah mangsa awam yang terkorban, dan risiko kemusnahan pentadbiran Palestin.

Satu sesi Majlis keselamatan PBB dengan penyertaan wakil Israel dan pemerhati khas Palestin, dijadualkan pada hari Isnin. Perdebatan mengenai krisis Timur Tengah dijadualkan pada sebelah petang. Para analis berpendapat kemungkinan dikuat-kuasakan sekatan ekonomi terhadap Israel dan seandainya ini gagal, satu campurtangan ketenteraan mungkin menyusul. Pada akhir minggu, Collin Powell dijangka tiba di Timur Tengah untuk mengkaji keadaan di sana. Lawatannya itu tidak mungkin dapat merobah imbangan ketenteraan. Collin Powell memang faham perkara ini semasak-masaknya. Dalam satu temubual di NBC dia ada berkata: 'Saya tidak yakin akan berjaya merundingkan satu perdamaian antara dua pihak.' Malahan, dia memang tidak diharapkan mencapai kejayaan. Tujuan utama lawatan itu ialah menentukan kedudukan AS dalam hubungannya dengan Israel. Washington sedang menanggung beban kerana menyokong Israel pada mulanya. Sudah pasti Presiden Bush tidak mahu kesilapan yang serupa berulang semula.

Dmitry Litvinovich

Terjemahan: SPAR

Asal: http://english.pravda.ru/main/2002/04/08/27430.html

2002-04-08

ARIEL SHARON'S LAST CHANCE

As soon as Israel announced that Southern Lebanon territories would be probably bombed, the world understood that the sixth Arab-Israeli war started. However, unlike the previous regional wars, when Israel was a sure winner every time, this war will be the defeat of Ariel Sharon.

They say that it takes just little time for Ariel Sharon to start and quite a long period to finish. Ariel Sharon hoped to break the will of the Palestinians by launching operation "Defensive Shield," but it turned out to be the other way round. The use of force is an ineffective argument, but Ariel Sharon can't seem to understand this. What is more, Israel provoked the opposition of the international community when it refused to implement UN Security Council resolutions. The genocide of the Palestinian people is often spoken about now, and Israel?s policy is called ?state terrorism." The victim has turned into the hangman. The UN Security Council once again demanded a cease fire and that Israeli troops immediately withdraw from occupied Palestinian territories. Israeli. The requirements are outlined in a statement passed at a UN Security Council?s extraordinary session called on a request of the Arab countries on Sunday. The statement says thatthe continued military operation of Israel is ?a gross violation of international humanitarian laws.?

Participants of the session also expressed their anxiety of the aggravation of the situation, the increasing number of civilian victims, and risk of the liquidation of the PA administration.

Sessions of the UN Security Council with the participation of Israel?s standing envoy and the PA observer in the United Nations are scheduled for Monday. The debate on the Middle East crisis is to take place in the second part of the day. Analysts think that an economic blockade will be probably imposed on Israel; however, if this proves ineffective, military intrusion may follow. At the end of the week, US Secretary of State Colin Powell is to arrive to the Middle East to study the situation right on the spot. The visit is unlikely to change the alignment of forces. Colin Powell understands this perfectly well himself. In an interview with NBC, he said, ?I am not sure I will succeed in making both sides of the Palestine-Israeli conflict sign a cease-fire agreement.? In fact, he is not expected to succeed. The main goal of the visit is to determine the US?s position concerning Israel. Washington had to pay a price when it originally provided support to Israel. President Bush would not like to make the same mistake twice.

Dmitry Litvinovich PRAVDA.Ru