A Revealing Rant From the Israeli Left -- Venting Over Bush's Win

Haaretz - Israel News - Time to implement Bush s vision:

"In order to convince the young men of the Tanzim to lay down their arms and win the elections, Abu Mazen and Abu Ala must provide a 'political horizon.' The key was and still is in the door that slammed shut when Bill Clinton left the White House. When Bush sought to help Sharon win on the disengagement issue, he omitted from the Clinton plan of December 2000, on purpose or by accident, the June 4, 1967 lines. If Bush wants to help Abu Mazen win the elections, he should find an opportunity to balance his recognition of the 'demographic reality' (the blocs of settlement) with support for the principle of exchanging territory.

Even the excuses that use of the two-state vision will bring down the right-wing coalition in Israel and that dismantling of the settlements will bring about 'civil war' have been shelved thanks to disengagement.

In his death, Arafat has given Bush a rare opportunity to prove to the Arab world that the vision of democracy for the Middle East is not a code-name for the lust for power, oil, small-minded local politics or just plain laziness. "