Letters
Gaza pullout
24 June 2005
Dear Sir
One need not reject a 2 state formula to regard the disengagement plan as a perilous and ill timed political gamble. Mahmoud Abbas faces a resurgent Hamas whose popularity clearly outshines his own. In the face of this challenge, he has failed to build a viable security infrastructure or crack down on terror groups while missile attacks on Israelis continue with impunity. His authority has been undermined by a lack of support and credibility from fellow Palestinians. Israel's proposed concessions have therefore been decoupled from any guarantee of political reform or security, a recipe for certain disaster. The failures of Oslo, as well as the Northern Ireland 'peace process' should serve as a salutary reminder of what happens when heady optimism triumphs over reality.
Yours sincerely
Jeremy Havardi
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