I could only laugh last night as I watched Lerato from SABC3 News (at 22:00) lead an interview analysing Sharon’s tectonic decision to leave the Likud.
The political analyst being interviewed was quite balanced, accurate and reasonable. He was also embarrassed. Embarrassed that he was being interviewed by a classic amateur.
Lerato (the hostess conducting the interview) was most upset that the political analyst described Sharon’s new party as “centrist” and looking to pursue the “peace process” with Abu Mazen.
In a vain attempt to grill the analyst she challenged that Sharon refuses to support the idea of an independent Palestinian state. She said “Okay autonomy yes, but he won’t allow a real Palestinian state.”
Only the most naïve and ignorant news commentators would suggest that Sharon is against the idea of an independent Palestinian state.
SABC news would do well to show Lerato the Performance-Based Roadmap to a Permanent Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.
Sharon is a signatory to the roadmap which calls for
| A settlement, negotiated between the parties, will result in the emergence of an independent, democratic, and viable Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel and its other neighbors. |
Sure there are points of departure between Sharon and Abu Mazen such as Jerusalem, refugees, borders and security. But these are within the parameters of an independent Palestinian state.
I'm sure she has mentioned this roadmap once or twice whilst reading the evening news. Surely she knows that Sharon is a signatory to it. So was Lerato really ignorant and out-of-date regarding Sharon’s position…or was she intentionally trying to mislead her viewers?
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