can i write in ariel sharon for president of the u.s.? a most contradictory man, he has nonetheless done exactly the right things to move the israeli-palestinian conflict off stalemate. i'm referring to the security wall in the west bank, his announced intention to pull out of gaza and to remove 7,500 jewish settlers but most of all his courage and strength to do what has been necessary all along: assasinate palestinian terrorist leaders.

last month it was the founder and philosophical--"spiritual" is an inapposite term for such a minister of hate--leader of hamas, sheik ahmed yassin. yesterday the exhilirating news that israeli helicopters had fired hellfire missiles at the vehicle carrying yassin's successor, dr. abdel aziz rantisi and ended the non-practicising pediatricians days of delivering jewish babies to their graves.

yassir arafat must have a tick about now and some hamas advisor suggested it might be appropriate under these circumstances to keep secret whomever hamas chooses as it's next leader.

i picture a hamas council meeting solemnly conveyed to choose a new leader, and worthy after worthy declining the position with shermanesque finality. what if they held an election and noone ran?


-benjamin harris