By Maya Bengal, Ma'ariv, 05.02.05

“Ehud Barak did not learn and did not change"
The Unity Government has brought the color back to Haim Ramon’s cheeks. He admits: “they don’t like me at the Party because I don’t play according to the rules”. Only Ehud Barak manages to wipe the smile off his face.
How did it happen that of all people Ariel Sharon, the man who has for many years been associated with the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, is now the one to promote the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza?
“Sharon’s political outlook was to reach a long term interim agreement. He believed the Palestinians would settle for 60% of the territory, and that he could expand the state’s borders beyond the 1967 borders. He believed the Palestinians would not have another alternative. He has sobered up from his dream to reach an agreement with the Palestinians about this. On the other hand, the Geneva Initiative and the large support it has gained world-wide, clarified to him that he stands a chance of remaining with nothing. He believed things could stay the same for a long time until the Palestinians would accept what he offers them but he found out he was wrong: both the International Community and the Palestinians are not waiting for him.
Afterwards, he wanted to impose a unilateral peace agreement, and then he understood that Gaza is a consensus: that the withdrawal from Gaza can be passed, that there is a majority of supporters.”