From Ynetnews - News and Jerusalem Post, 31/10/05 ...
During the past few days we were reminded of the reality in the region that is filled with hate toward Israel, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said as the Knesset's winter session opened in Jerusalem on Monday...
"The terror masterminds from Iran and Damascus, from Gaza and Jenin, do not need reasons or excuses, but only opportunities," Sharon added. “In the face of this reality Israel will continue to protect itself and hurt the terrorists. We have no choice. We will continue to build the (West Bank) security fence with no political, practical or budgetary problems. The international community is united in its demand from the Palestinian Authority to meet all of its obligations, and above all the dismantling of terror organizations."
According to Sharon, "The government's policy is to aim to implement the Road Map with the 14 Israeli reservations, as approved by the government. The Road Map is the only political program providing a possibility of peace and hope for both the Israeli and Palestinian people."
...These (reservations) stress Israel's demand that the Palestinians dismantle the terrorist organizations, that Jerusalem remain Israel's united capital, that the Palestinian refugees not have a "right of return" and that Israel keep sovereign powers such as control of the borders and the airspace in any future political settlement. (Israel has already gone a long way toward giving up control of Gaza's borders.)
The 14 reservations also included a stipulation that a cessation of terror would be the first condition for progress in the road map, something at odds with the US understanding of the road map that has Israel and the Palestinians fulfilling their obligations in parallel, not sequentially....
...Regarding the economic crisis, Sharon said that "The improvement in Israel's economic condition enables us to allocate more resources to deal with the internal problems which affect our lives....It's no secret that the economic crisis harmed the poor and the middle class...we now have a chance to mend our past mistakes."
Knesset Chairman, MK Reuven Rivlin, who spoke before Sharon, hinted in his speech that there was a good possibility that the parliamentary elections would be pushed forward. "The great historical storm is already behind us. It does not matter whether the elections are held in the winter or in spring, they will hover over everything that will be done in the Knesset," Rivlin said....
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