Decolonization in France and Israel: A Comparative Approach (The Middle East‪)‬

A recurring image in accounts of contemporary Israel is that of Ariel Sharon as a kind of Israeli Charles De Gaulle. This comparison has enjoyed currency since Sharon first became Prime Minister of Israel, and particularly since the publication of the Gaza Disengagement Plan in February 2004. (1) It has survived escalations in the conflict, targeted assassinations of Palestinian leaders, and prolonged military activities in Gaza and in the West Bank. It has also survived a succession of political setbacks, such as the lost referendum among Likud party militants over the proposed disengagement in May 2004 and the failure of negotiations over the constitution of yet another government of national unity in August 2004. (2) With his substantial military history Sharon has become something of a national icon, enjoying an almost unprecedented parliamentary majority and a number of political options. Throughout 2004, Sharon's leadership enjoyed unparalleled support from the US administration, including an explicit and groundbreaking endorsement of settlement annexation in areas of the West Bank. Many thought that such concentration of political power and such a mandate could lead to a new and more courageous approach towards the Palestinian intifada.