Defense Minister: Sharon's new party 'dangerous'

JERUSALEM - The joining of far-left politicians to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's new "centrist" party, Kadima, is "dangerous" and may lead to far reaching territorial concessions to the Palestinians that threaten the future security of the Jewish state, Israel's defense minister warned yesterday.

"Sharon's alignment with several members of the left who support the Oslo agreement and a return to the 1967 borders is dangerous," said Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, who is running for the opposition Likud party leadership.

Returning to 1967 borders means the division of Jerusalem and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, Judea and Samaria. Sharon already withdrew Israeli troops and Jewish communties from Gaza this past summer.

"They (leftists) may lead Sharon to territories that are dangerous from a security and diplomatic standpoint. I am certain that the Likud voters will return to the party and its diplomatic, social and security path – it is their national home," Mofaz said.

The comments by the defense minister, previously a staunch Sharon ally, were in reference to the support of Kadima by former Labor chairman Shimon Peres, and recent statements concerning the new party by far-left Israeli politicians and Palestinian leaders.

Peres, a key architect of the 1993 Oslo Accords, announced last week he is bolting the Labor party in which he spent most of his adult life and is backing Sharon's new party. If Kadima is victorious in upcoming elections, Peres plans to serve as a senior minister in charge of peace talks with the Palestinians.

Peres said in a statement, "I spoke with Mr. Sharon, and I am convinced that he is determined, as I am, to continue with the peace process and restart it immediately after the elections. He is open to creative ideas for achieving peace and security. I decided therefore to support his election and cooperate with him to realize these goals."

Sharon two weeks ago sent shockwaves through the political arena here when he left the Likud Party he helped found to start his own "centrist" party.

Likud traditionally has opposed unilateral concessions to the Palestinians. Many senior Likud leaders revolted against Sharon's withdrawal this past summer from Gaza and parts of northern Samaria.

Sharon described his new party as "liberal" and said it would give Israel "new hope for peace."

Eli Landau, a top Sharon advisor, said the prime minister started Kadima to advance a far-reaching diplomatic plan aimed at changing Israel's borders and reaching a permanent status agreement with the Palestinians.

"His decision stems from his desire to bring the state of Israel to permanent borders during his term of office," Landau said. "He knows that this step will be a dramatic one."

Dovish Israeli politicians and some Palestinian leaders said Sharon's new party represented a "real opportunity" for the "peace camp" and for Israel to give up land to the Palestinians.

Yossi Beilin, an extreme leftist lawmaker and a planner of the Oslo Accords, said Kadima was "a big victory for supporters of sharing the land. This is a real opportunity for a coalition headed by the peace camp, including former Likud members who understood that for 38 years they have deceived the nation and themselves."

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told WorldNetDaily the Palestinian Authority "is monitoring the political process in Israel very closely. We believe what is happening is very significant. We hope once a new election takes place, whoever is in power will be willing to go to final status negotiations and make peace with the Palestinians."

Senior Likud leader Uzi Landau told WND, "Peres coming together with Sharon is the final proof of what Kadima is about. This is a party formed specifically to give to the Palestinians territory from which they will launch attacks against us, with not even a promise from them to stop their terrorism or dismantle the terror infrastructure."

Previous stories:

Peres joins Sharon's new party

Aide: Sharon aims to change Israel's borders

Related commentary:

The Oslo illusion

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