The political drama continues in Israel as the shaky Likud coalition attempts to keep it together.

 
What’s happening in the Middle East?

It makes Edward Said throwing a stone in Lebanon seem like a minor event.

To the outsider looking in, the region is in chaos. And within the context of world affairs post-September 11th, post-Afghanistan and post-war Iraq, it’s only natural that the United States is now peddling their Greater Middle East Initiative to advance democracy and capitalism in the region. The lukewarm reception isn’t surprising. At the heart of the Arab world’s critique is American policy in Israel. All this in the middle of an American election campaign where both George W. Bush and John Kerry are shaping their Middle East foreign policy.

Partnered with Russia, the European Union and the UN, the US led Roadmap to Peace is on life support, some are already calling it dead. The Jerusalem Post and Haaretz are regularly reporting on the diplomatic machinations of the top bureaucrats flying between Jerusalem and Washington and the late night phone calls between National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice and Sharon’s deputy Dov Weisglass. Former high level diplomats from the US and UK have released statements this month criticizing American and British foreign policy in the Middle East.

Ariel Sharon, the man who kicked off the Al Aqsa Intifada with his visit to the Temple Mount is now considered a moderate in today’s Israel and is facing attacks on the left and right. His proposal to take down settlements in the Gaza Strip went down to defeat in the Likud Party’s referendum with the resulting instability in his own Cabinet leading to the firing of two right wing Ministers.

Yes, this is General Sharon of the 1982 Lebanon War, the one who brought down American Secretary of State Alexander Haig.

Ariel Sharon, in his 70’s, is nothing if not the ultimate political survivor. He has been disregarded before but has managed to resurface. There is talk of new coalitions and new partnerships to keep the government from falling. Sharon’s relationship with Shinui, Labour and the religious parties continues to be tenuous at best but he continues to survive the ‘no-confidence’ motions filed against his Likud government. He has even rekindled an alliance with Egyptian President Husni Mubarak.

Meanwhile, stripped of real power,Yasser Arafat continues to be holed up at the Muqata, his Ramallah compound, monitoring the instability of the Palestinian state and mustering the resources to engage in yet another peace process.

In arguably the most beautiful country in the world, in the land of religion where Judaism, Christianity and Islam originate, where home demolitions, checkpoints, spraying of Bedouin lands, suicide bombings, assassinations, police and military brutality are forms of communication in this battle over land and history, the country is going through what could be termed as the “Mid-Intifada Blues.