JAMES DES IGN
PINE .JEWELRY
HAS IMPORTANT
DIAMONDS
The Deep Divide
Ya'alon's criticism, U.S. pressure show Sharon's
position has eroded.
good sense in the short term to clamp
down to stop the next bomber, but in
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
the long run the tight closures could
Jerusalem
produce dozens more terrorists.
is not every day that an Israeli
These differences came to a head last
army chief of staff calls in top
week when Sharon convened a high-level
journalists to express deep misgiv-
meeting to discuss the unprecedentedly
ings about government policy.
tight noose Israel had imposed on the
Palestinians in the wake of an Oct. 4 sui-
So when Lt. Gen. Moshe Yialon initi-
cide bombing that killed 21 people in a
ated a late October briefing to warn that
the government's handling of Palestinian
Haifa restaurant. Yialon warned of a
terrorism could provoke more intense
pressure cooker in the Palestinian territo-
Palestinian violence, the country sat up
ries that was likely to explode and urged
and took notice.
that restrictions on the move-
At bottom, Yialon's critique
ment of people and goods
reflected a deep divide between
among West Bank towns and
two schools of thought: the
villages be eased.
hard-liners, like Defense
The director of the Shin Bet
Minister Shaul Mofaz, who
security service, Avi Dichter —
believe relentless military pres-
who sees his organization as pri-
sure can force the Palestinians to
marily responsible for stopping
abandon terrorism for peace
the bombings — objected. Any
negotiations; and relative moder- Ya'alon
lifting of closures or roadblocks
ates, like Yialon and many of the
could enable suicide bombers to
Israel Defense Force's top generals, who
get through to their targets, he argued.
maintain that Palestinian violence will
Mofaz backed Dichter, but agreed to
only abate when serious political incen-
some minor easing of restrictions.
tives are put on the table.
Convinced that the government was
about to make a major blunder with
Ya'alon's concern about the lack of a
political horizon mirrors growing public
potentially far-reaching military ramifica-
criticism of government policy and
tions, Yialon decided to go public.
decreasing confidence in Prime Minister
He incurred sharp criticism from the
Ariel Sharon's capacity to deliver the
government, primarily for making politi-
peace and security he promised when
cal comments while still in uniform.
first elected nearly three years ago.
Ya'alon's supporters said distinctions
between the military and political
The domestic criticism of Sharon has
not gone unnoticed in Washington,
domains are not so clear-cut and, as
where some powerful voices are urging
Israel's No. 1 soldier, Ya'alon was duty-
pressure on Israel to move the Palestinian bound to warn the public about what he
track forward and help deflect Arab
sees as a potential deterioration in the
anger at the American role in Iraq.
military situation.
By going public, Ya'alon highlighted
Ydalon did not leave it there, however.
Israel's profound security dilemma and
He implied that because of its hard line,
deep differences in the security establish-
the government had missed a great
opportunity to take the peace process
ment over how to deal with it. All the
top brass agree that tight closures, block-
forward during Mahmoud Abbas' brief
tenure as Palestinian Authority prime
ades and roadblocks in and around
Palestinian population centers make it
minister, and was likely to do so again
harder for suicide bombers and other ter- with Abbas' successor, Ahmed Qurei.
rorists to get through.
Moreover, Ya'alon complained, every
time there might be a chance to move
At the same time, though, Ya'alon and
others argue that the longer Palestinians
forward, the government seemed to
order another targeted assassination of a
are cooped up without minimal public
terrorist kingpin.
services, the easier it is for terrorist
Government spokesmen vehemently
groups to tap into feelings of humiliation
denied the charges. Mofaz claims he is
and hopelessness to recruit future
bombers.
doing all he can to ease conditions for
Palestinian civilians but says ongoing ter-
In other words, they say, it may make
DEEP DIVIDE on page 24
8.45
Carat
Pear
Shaped
Diamond
LESLIE SUSSER
1
0-Color/S11 Clarity
GIA Certificate
*Call for price
Pear Shape
8.58
Carat
Princess
Cut
Diamond
H-Color/VS1Clarity
GIA Certificate
*Call for price
Square
Diamond
5.00
Carat
Pear
Shaped
Diamond
E-Color/SI2 Clarity
GIA Certificate
$62,000
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Pear Shape
3.00
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Round
Brilliant
Diamond
G-Color/VS2 Clarity
GIA Certificate
$37, 500
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*$27,500
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Brilliant
Cut
All stones subject to prior sale.
JAMES DESIGNS
PINE JEWELRY
VISA
Old Orchard Mall
6659 Orchard Lake Rd.
West Bloomfield MI 48322
• 248-626-4484
11 / 7
2003
21