Sharon's sudden exit from the political scene in Israel has sent ripples through the Middle East. Regardless of how people felt about the ailing leader, everyone has been affected by Sharon's illness. Sharon's absence left a tremendous void in Israel. For all its leaders and parties, for all its trappings of democracy, Israel is still a country yearning for a charismatic leader at the helm. Each time a popular leader disappears from the scene, Israel goes into shock. Adolf Hitler used to say that his entire life was not enough for the things he had in mind for Germany. Hitler believed that his plans for Germany would need hundreds of years to be completed, whereas he had less than 100 years to live. Because he had little trust in the abilities of his aides, the Nazi leader had to race against time to accomplish his dreams and make the future, as he saw it, come true. Ariel Sharon felt the same way. For the past few years, he doubted the abilities of friend and foe. He believed he was the only one who could make things happen. As a result, he alienated a major section of the Israeli right-wing. Differences between Sharon and much of the Israeli opposition deepened. Sharon had come to the conclusion that the current Israeli institutions were incapable of achieving his vision. He formed Kadima to create a new vehicle of change, one powerful enough to push through his schemes. At 77, the man nicknamed "the king of Israel" was racing against time. He wanted to demolish any prospect for a Palestinian state. He wanted to deprive the Palestinians of their rights and undermine their expectations. He was willing to give the Palestinians autonomy in Gaza, but opposed Palestinian control over Arab Jerusalem. He was determined to assassinate key members of the resistance. He wanted to reduce the Palestinian Authority to a position of servility vis- à-vis Israeli goals. His plan was to intensify Jewish settlement activities so as to pre-empt any future negotiations. And he dreamt of turning Israel into a regional superpower with absolute hegemony. Sharon had the same problem as Hitler. Time was too short. Sharon now lies in hospital, suffering from a severe brain haemorrhage. And Israel is worried. What is most worrying to the Israelis is not that Sharon is gone, but that no one is capable of stepping into his boots. Once again, nature has spoken. Once again, life has put the brakes on human ambition, and on the dreams of tyrants. Will Sharon's successor come to understand the limitations of power? Or will we go back to square one? Will we ever be able to break the vicious circle? With Israel in grief over Sharon, one wonders what Arabs and Palestinians will do. Are Palestinian and Arab leaders prepared for the post-Sharon era, or will they act in their usual, confounded manner? Will we be able to convince future Israeli leaders of the necessity of peace, sending out the right signals to Israeli public opinion? Will we be able to show the world that we're in control, or will chaos prevail, as happened lately in Gaza? The recent deterioration of security in Gaza is unacceptable. Unless we want to give the Israelis pretext to re-invade Gaza, we must start doing things differently.
