ABSTRACT
On March 7, 2001, approximately twenty months after Barak’s government was formed, the twenty-ninth government of Israel, headed by Ariel Sharon, was sworn in. At the Knesset, the prime minister turned to his successor:
Mr Prime Minister elect,
…The challenge facing your government is in security and the peace process, reducing the level of violence and resuming peace negotiations. The outgoing government [leaves you] a desk free of commitments, which will enable you to promote security and peace in your own way.
…The policy I pursued did not create the difficult reality of the conflict, but exposed its true face. It appears that the Palestinian leadership, unfortunately, is not yet ready for an historic reconciliation with the State of Israel and for the necessary compromises…
Political wisdom requires that we do not waste time, but instead use it with a sense of urgency, to minimize the dangers, to strengthen the security of Israel and ensure its future by working toward an end of conflict with its neighbors and toward peace agreements.
