Will the 'peace process' remain there after departure of Sharon?

Sharon is the master mind in maneuvering politics in Israel. Likud Party is his creation but he deserted the party when the members of the party differed with him on the issue of withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. However he did not complete evacuation of Jewish settlers from the West Bank to watch the situation in Gaza Strip. He formed a new political party: Kadima.

Born at Kfar Malal in post Israel on February 27, 1928 Ariel Sharon began his military career practically at the age of 14 which is unusual. He joined the Gadna, a paramilitary youth battalion followed by Haganah, the underground para military force and ultimately Israel's defence forces as military precursor. Ariel Sharon was promoted to the rank of Major General by dint of his valor and gallantry in the six-day war in 1967 which brought debacle to Arab countries, particularly Egypt and Syria, and the 1973 Yom Kippur war. Sharon commanded the most powerful armored division on the Sinai front which made a breakthrough in the Kusseima Abu-Ageila sector that was fortified. Sharon applied his intelligence by breaking the command of his superior in the battle field.The judge in the military tribunal gave credit to Sharon for his decision which in fact helped Israel to win war.

Ariel Sharon became controversial in Lebanon war in 1982 while he served as Defense Minister in the cabinet of Menachem Begin. He was blamed for the massacre of Palestinian refugees at Sabra and Shatila camps near Beirut. That he was responsible has been reflected in the report of Israeli Kahan Commission which recommended to the Prime Minister to remove Sharon. He was removed, but remained as Minister in successive governments. Palestinians demanded his trial as war criminal. On June 18, 2001 relatives of the victims of the Sabra massacre began proceedings in Belgium court to have him indicted on war crime charges. But as the law of Belgium had changed, a foreigner could not file a case against a foreigner.

In politics Sharon was restless. After retiring from the military, he was instrumental in establishing Likud party in order to avoid joining Begin's partyHerut. Likud party comprised of the liberal and independent politicians. Having elected in the Knesset in 1973 and serving for one year, he decided to quit politics. In 1977, Sharon made an attempt to join Likud party but he was rejected. He also tried to join Labour party where he was not acceptable either. Only alternative for him was to form a political party, Shlomtzion, which won two seats in Knesset. Immediately after the elections Sharon merged Shlomtzion with Likud party and became the Minister of Agriculture. During this period Sharon supported the Gush Emunim (an extremist extra parliamentary group) settlements movement which led to the settlement of Jews in occupied territories with a view to preventing return of these territories to Palestinian Arabs.

Sharon in fact increased the number of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. While he was the Minister for Construction and Housing from 1990 to 1992 he was the key player in expanding Jewish settlements by confiscating more lands which was never seen before in Israel's history. During the same period he developed bad relations with the Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir. Sharon wanted to replace Shamir as head of Likud party, but failed. But this arrogance implied that only Sharon was capable to wipe out 'terrorism' of the Palestinians.

Cruel, arrogant, aggressive in his demeanor Ariel Sharon was instrumental in carrying out massacres of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and occupied Arab territories in Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Since 1982 he was bent upon to destroy infrastructure of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation. Several attempts were made to assassinate Yasser Arafat. The last day of his life was practically confined to Ramallah, the headquarters of Palestinian Authority, as a result of the ruthless policy of Ariel Sharon after he assumed premiership in 2001. During the last half of 2002 the whole world witnessed the massacres carried out by Israeli troops against innocent people in the Palestinian controlled areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The envoy of the Secretary General of the United Nations described the devastation in Jenin in particular as horrible beyond belief. He was reported to have said that the Jewish State had been morally repugnant. This could be the most notorious atrocities that had been conducted by Ariel Sharon. By his behavior and action Sharon could becompared with Hitler of Germany.

Both Ariel Sharon and Benjamin Netanyahu, former Prime Minister, are responsible for sabotaging peace plans. Reagan peace plan, Mitchell report, Tenant plan, Road map, Oslo peace treaty and Camp David plan have now been thrown into the trash bins of history. Political climate in both Israel and Palestinian controlled areas are fluid. Elections in Israel may bring another hard core politician Like Netanyahu to power. Therefore, future is uncertain for the Palestinians.

Mohammad Amjad Hossain, a former diplomat, now resides in Virginia.