At 1 PM today (December 24), Israel Police raided the Eretz HaTzvi ship at sea, and closed down Arutz-7 radio broadcasts. Internet
broadcasts are not affected.

Arutz-7 officials noted that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of the Likud is the only Prime Minister to ever have given an order to
close Arutz-7. Left-wing Prime Ministers Rabin, Peres, and Barak did not see fit to give such orders.

Mr. Sharon has revealed his true colors—that of an autocrat, but one who is committing political suicide.

By indicating that he would not appoint any minister who opposed his support for a Palestinian state, Sharon surely lost at least
three Knesset seats.  But by closing down Arutz-7 radio broadcasts, he has lost many more—perhaps to the extent of losing the
election to Amram Mitzna!

Many of those who have retained their Zionist or nationalist convictions, and who would  have voted for Likud, will now vote for
two other parties:  (1) Herut, an uncompromising nationalist party rendered even more profoundly Jewish by its merger with Yamin
Israel, and (2) National Union, whose nationalist credentials, unfortunately, are rather ambiguous thanks to Avigdor Lieberman’s
secular orientation.

In any event, even if the Likud wins a plurality of Knesset seats, Sharon will find it extremely difficult if not impossible to form a
cabinet with ministers unanimously in favor of a Palestinian state.  Indeed, the new government will either collapse in a few months,
or Sharon will assume extraordinary police powers!

Sensible nationalists will vote Herut