hamas rejects new palestinian prime minister, page-10

Tell me Snooker is Israel and Palestine a better place for having Sharon visit the Temple Mount as Likud opposition leader in September 2000? What exactly was the purpose of his visit if not to serve his own interests? Who else benefited from that visit which threw petrol in the fire of mid East politics?

Israelis? No, terrorism and suicide bombings have soared in the last 2 years under Sharon's wise rule. Palestinians? Ummm, somehow I don't think so.

The only group to benefit was the hard right of Israel - because they are now in power. Oh, and the hard liners from Palestine too, because violence begets violence. I pity the moderates from both sides who have been sidelined by the lunatic fringe. A job well done to PM Rabin's assassin, looks like the Peace Process died with him. Mission accomplished.

On a lighter note, Snooker, how was the Grand Prix?