George Bush’S Great America [EN]: Chapter 262

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While Ariel Sharon was piecing together the puzzle, his ideas far removed from the culprit’s fleeting thoughts during a brief exchange of pleasantries, Mahmoud Abbas was thinking along similar lines.

However, while they reached the same conclusion, the crucial difference lay in their perspectives.

Unlike Ariel Sharon, who wouldn’t have been surprised by the U.S. President’s repeated diplomatic slights, Mahmoud Abbas’s deduction process was fueled by hope.

‘Although it stems from the U.S. President’s political ambition for dictatorship, a glimmer of hope has finally emerged for Palestine.’

Ariel Sharon reluctantly agreed to these insulting conditions, weighing political, diplomatic, and national interests. Mahmoud Abbas, however, readily saw it as a stroke of luck and began contemplating how to seize the opportunity.

The ideal outcome would be Israel’s complete withdrawal from Palestinian territories, but recognizing that was unrealistic, a second-best option through compromise was necessary. The problem was that their respective compromise positions had always been diametrically opposed.

Unless one side yielded significantly, the conflict would never end.

After the reporters left, informal negotiations commenced.

“Well, the stage is set. Let’s negotiate.”

Ariel Sharon made no attempt to hide his discomfort. He felt an urge to strangle Mahmoud Abbas then and there. He inwardly grumbled that he might arrange for someone to do just that upon his return to Israel.

Mahmoud Abbas raised one of the most critical and contentious issues.

“First, withdraw all Jewish settlements from the Gaza Strip, as well as all Palestinian territories.”

That depended on the defined borders of Palestine, but Sharon didn’t bother arguing the point. This was, in fact, the core issue. Due to the successive Intifadas [Palestinian uprisings against Israeli occupation], Israel was in a more precarious position than it appeared.

The Intifada wasn’t merely a peaceful protest with picket signs, as seen in developed countries. It was a form of national uprising involving armed clashes with machine guns mounted on trucks, violent demonstrations with Molotov cocktails and homemade bombs, and even occasional suicide bombings. It couldn’t simply be called a people’s uprising because the involved countries and peoples were distinct from the outset, giving it the character of a genuine independence movement.

In effect, other countries had just recognized Palestine, effectively making it a new nation. Until moments ago, it hadn’t even been a country. In short, the Intifada was a large-scale independence movement by the Palestinian people against the oppressor, Israel.

“Hmm.”

Ariel Sharon groaned at Mahmoud Abbas’s assertive demand for withdrawal. While Mahmoud Abbas usually maintained a degree of decorum, that didn’t imply weakness or naivete. He possessed the qualities of a potential dictator.

What is a common trait among dictators? They know how to seize opportunities, they are capable of cruelty, and they possess some talent until their obsession with power turns into delusion.

Of course, not everyone fits this mold perfectly. There are exceptions depending on the situation and the individual. However, the crucial point is that one common trait trumps all others: they are all masters of self-preservation.

In other words, Mahmoud Abbas was being so assertive because he believed he could make such a bold demand.

This attitude came as a shock to Ariel Sharon.

‘Has this already been discussed in advance?’

Palestine had entered the stage a bit earlier than expected, with the U.S. President’s tacit approval, but the overall situation remained unchanged. Only the stage had become the same; Palestine was still just an extra.

But what if Abbas already had a deal with that devil in disguise? What if that greedy devil had elevated an unnoticed extra to the lead role in exchange for Palestine’s soul?

‘Oh, my God! It’s like looking at the Bible!’

He had often heard musicians and artists lament that they would make a deal with the devil for their work, but what made the devil superior to a human, except for the ability to manipulate a person’s soul?

Wasn’t that Yankee, smiling brightly before him, even more vicious? He was willing to trample on the spirit of liberalism, one of the United States’ greatest legacies, solely for his own self-preservation.

‘What if I’m being manipulated like a puppet in a play with a pre-written script?’

But he immediately dismissed the thought.

‘That can’t be. Balance is key. To achieve the goal that devil desires, a certain balance is necessary.’

Usually, balance evokes the image of a parallel seesaw, but in reality, balance is more nuanced. By adjusting the ‘axis,’ one can balance 10 kg on one side with just 1 kg on the other.

Therefore, to prevent Israel’s oppression of Palestine, it’s not necessary to make Palestine as strong as Israel. It’s enough to shackle Israel, restraining its actions.

Firstly, there are numerous complex domestic political issues. Unless George W. Bush is truly a devil with superhuman intelligence, he wouldn’t want Palestine to grow rapidly now. Rapid growth would only fuel continued conflict.

Therefore, even setting aside his position as Israeli Prime Minister, the best course of action would be for the new country, Palestine, to be established with a guarantee of appropriate territory from Israel, and then to completely separate the two peoples and become strangers.

Complete separation might be unrealistic, but from his perspective, that would be the optimal solution.

“That’s going to be difficult. But I can accept a gradual withdrawal in stages. And even now, armed clashes continue. It would be beneficial to establish a border, even an arbitrary one, to keep each other at bay.”

And that border… Judging by his casual mention of the Gaza Strip, it seemed he was determined to claim it, no matter what.

‘Damn it, I wish I could declare it all invalid!’

If he brought this news back home, a coup d’état might occur. The military was eager for more fighting, even if the people weren’t entirely in favor of peace.

‘I wish a coup would happen.’

A coup would lead to the massacre of all Arabs in Palestine, simplifying everything. Domestic problems would be resolved, and the United States would be satisfied. There would be occasional terrorist attacks, but which country doesn’t experience them these days?

Counting only developed countries, perhaps only the three nations of East Asia were relatively free. But even they weren’t entirely immune. These attacks were causing negative growth rates year after year, with each year breaking the previous record, driving him insane.

His approval rating had plummeted, and he was destined to be ousted. Therefore, for the sake of the country’s future, he considered sacrificing himself, allowing a coup government to take over and continue the war.

But that was impossible and unacceptable. Not for ethical reasons, but because Israel, already an international pariah, couldn’t simply get away with such an action.

No, beyond the question of ‘getting away with it,’ Israel would be remembered as a nation destined for history books.

After collapsing in such a manner, the proud Jewish nation, which had risen again through the ages, would be ridiculed like the Nazis for generations to come. History, after all, is written by the victors.

Consider the Union Jack, the symbol of England, a nation responsible for countless war crimes and massacres, which is still in use. Yet, the Hakenkreuz [Swastika], representing a fraction of those atrocities, remains banned. Perhaps when Israel falls, the Star of David will become an object of hatred.

“Jerusalem! This is outrageous. I can never accept this.”

“Outrageous? Are you saying it’s outrageous when you can’t even effectively control it now?”

Although temporary, borders were drawn to accommodate each other’s circumstances. Initially, they didn’t align perfectly, but through negotiation and compromise, a roughly similar picture emerged.

However, one city remained a point of contention: ‘Jerusalem,’ a city coveted by followers of Abrahamic religions, fueling constant disputes over ownership and nourished by countless corpses.

The two men, engaged in their endless negotiations over Jerusalem, immediately sensed a subtle shift in Bush’s expression as he observed from the sidelines. After a moment of silence, the President spoke.

“How about leaving Jerusalem as a neutral zone until proper borders are drawn? You can each govern half.”

‘Look at that nuance, as if he were observing an ant colony. To me, that arrogant American is like a giant. But I can’t blame the giant. It’s Palestine’s fault for being so small that it invites such condescension.’

The dictatorial Arab felt shame and humiliation.

‘It seems they want to divide it like Berlin during the Cold War. From a third party’s perspective, it’s the most reasonable approach. But we will definitely secure Jerusalem, no matter what.’

The desperate Jew felt dissatisfied.

‘After all, it’s just a temporary border for the sake of peace. We’ll see what happens during renegotiation.’

Of course, if I’m still in the prime minister’s seat by then. The probability is low. But through this negotiation, a lifeline isn’t falling from the sky, but at least I’ve obtained the materials to create one.

Beyond that, many stories were exchanged. Provocative opinions were voiced, but the discussions remained superficial, mere arrangements of words lacking real power.

Thus, the negotiation concluded without incident.

In conclusion, the outcome of this negotiation was Israel’s official recognition of Palestine and the establishment of a border, albeit temporary.

But the most significant result, regardless of opinions, was the official end of the Second Intifada, which had become far more dangerous than in its original form.

‘Devil! Devil! Devil! Ah! Truly a devil! Even though I know destruction is coming, I cannot refuse!’

‘This is an opportunity that Allah has granted me directly. It is a destiny arranged for the sake of Palestine’s independence and, furthermore, for my brilliant future!’

Each with their own unique thoughts.

‘Wow, is this really happening?’

One of them had a slightly more unique perspective.