Political Quotes

“my vote in solidarity with the State of Israel should not be read as a vote in solidarity with policies of Ariel Sharon that I view as misguided and counterproductive. My support for Israel is longstanding, but Ariel Sharon is not ``Israel.'' He was wrong in rejecting the successful peace process in Osla, in rejecting President Clinton's efforts at Camp David in 2000, in rejecting the talks between Israelis and Palestinians at Taba, Egypt in January 2001, and he was wrong in Sabra and Shatila. Without approving in any way actions of some of his adversaries or condoning their violence, he is wrong in continuing to reject measured answers to the Middle East crisis. New York Times columnist Tom Friedman, hardly a Palestinian advocate, recently wrote: ``Many Israelis feel Mr. Sharon is so paralyzed by his obsession with eliminating Mr. Arafat, by his commitment to colonial settlements and by his fear that any Israeli concession now would be interpreted as victory for the other side that he can't produce what most Israelis want: a practical, non-ideological solution.'' A ``non-ideological solution'' is what this land--so small in size, and so great in meaning--requires.…”