NATAN SHARANSKY, FORMER ISRAELI CABINET MINISTER: First of all I don't think that our country's on the eve of civil war. It's true that our country's facing very difficult challenges and very difficult decisions which has split our society but Israel is such a vibrant and powerful democracy, it's proved that it is strong democracy through all the years of its existence and through democratic means, through discussion, debate, vote, and accepting the decision of the majority, it will overcome the difficulties of today too.
Now if, nevertheless, the split is so deep it's because the decisions - the painful decisions are taking that way that many people in the country feel that they didn't have an opportunity to express their opinion. That's why I was among those who believed that a national referendum should be organised and if this referendum had taken place, definitely it could decrease the tensions.
As to my personal responsibility, I think I did exactly what a responsible politician in a democratic society has to do. If you disagree with the politics of the government, you should not view the government simply as a job where you're getting your money, but you should see it as a mission and if the government goes in the direction with which you disagree you should resign from this government. That's exactly what I did.

GEORGE NEGUS: Would you condone the use of violence by the settlers who will probably refuse to be moved from Gaza and other parts of the country? Would you condone the use of violence?

NATAN SHARANSKY: Well, I am absolutely against violence of any forms. When I was a dissident of the Soviet Union, I was against violence, any type of violence in our activity in the Soviet Union because I was sure that is the only thing which makes our moral case. Definitely in a democratic country I'm against violence, against incitement, I'm against refusal to fulfil the orders and I'm sure that absolute overwhelming majority of Israeli citizens is against the violence, I think, then, there will be practically no violence.

GEORGE NEGUS: In the report that we have just seen from Israel, we've heard people saying that they understand why some people would want to see the death of Ariel Sharon at the moment. Isn't that an incitement to assassinate the prime minister in much the same way that Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated?

NATAN SHARANSKY: I think it is serious task but the task which our intelligence and our police can fulfil, they are doing it and they hope these crazy voices of some of the fanatics threatening the life of the Prime Minister or some other public figures, will have no effect.

GEORGE NEGUS: But they are fanatics who have the same attitude towards the disengagement that you have.

NATAN SHARANSKY: I think it is the obligation of every citizen in democratic society to express their views and to fight for your views in a democratic way. I am against disengagement as a one-sided step and not as a part of the peace process because I believe that one-sided concessions can only encourage terror.
I am sure that the way how it is now proposed, the military have to leave Gaza region, the terrorist attacks will go rise, Hamas will become much stronger and it will be big encouragement for terrorists not only in Gaza but all over our region. Instead of this, I believe the right way is to link all our steps and connections, concessions with the democratic reforms on the other side.
I believe that is what can guarantee real peace and that is what can guarantee the merging of democratic Palestinian state and not of the terrorist Palestinian state.

GEORGE NEGUS: As a democrat, you wouldn't be bothered if Hamas were elected in the upcoming elections for the Palestinian Authority? If Hamas were to be elected and have a majority in that parliament, as a democrat, would you accept that?

NATAN SHARANSKY: Well, I don't know what you call a democrat. Some people think that elections by itself they are democracy. I want to remind you that Saddam Hussein always had elections.

GEORGE NEGUS: So you don't believe that the elections in Gaza would be democratic?

NATAN SHARANSKY: No, I don't. Look, what I am saying is that should elections today, when Hamas is terrorising Palestinians, when the Palestinian Authority is dealing only with corruption, with encouraging corruption, of course the choice will be in support of the organisation which is threatening with terror and which the organisation which at the same time is dealing with the welfare of the Palestinians and not in support of Authority which is dealing mainly with the corruption.
What is needed is building strong, democratic institutions Palestinian Authority. What is needed is improving, serious improving of the life of Palestinians and not leaving it to the hands of terrorist organisation Hamas to take care of the well being of Palestinians.

GEORGE NEGUS: There are those, of course, who say throughout the world that the tactic of Israeli defence forces are not exactly peaceful, that they are quite terroristic in their own right.

NATAN SHARANSKY: Well, to say that the actions of our defence forces are not peaceful, is like to say that the actions of any force which is in any democratic country which have to protect their citizens. I don't know what kind of accusations can be used against Israel, which is in the forefront struggle against the terror, protecting their citizens was Jews and Arabs.

GEORGE NEGUS: Finally we hear, in the last 24 hours, that the withdrawal of the settlers from Gaza has been postponed by three weeks. Do you believe that the withdrawal will go ahead?

NATAN SHARANSKY: I do know that the Prime Minister decided that the withdrawal should go ahead, that is the reason of my disagreement with him. As to postponement for three weeks, it has to do with the religious holidays in Israel, it has nothing to do with the political decisions.

GEORGE NEGUS: You don't think it has anything to do with the Palestinian elections coming up about the same time?

NATAN SHARANSKY: I don't think so. The religious holidays in Israel were defined 3,000 years ago. I think that the timing of the elections in Palestinian Authority was decided a little bit later.

GEORGE NEGUS: Mr Sharansky, thank you very much for your time. Shalom.

NATAN SHARANSKY: Thank you