European leaders on Thursday fretted over the fate of Ariel Sharon, a man once seen in Europe as a danger for the Middle East but now viewed as a more complex, even crucial figure.
The concerns reflect a subtle shift in Europe - where there has been surprised admiration for Sharon's dismantling of settlements, satisfaction with the role now played by Europeans on the Gaza-Egypt border, and a growing wariness with the Islamic world.
Sharon changed the political landscape in the Middle East by coupling open and responsive diplomatic relations with a brutal military campaign against the Islamists. Just as Sharon was pulling out of Gaza and closing settlements, he was reducing the number of Israeli vicitims of terrorism from 450 or so in 2002 to only 45 or so in 2005.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment