Of course he has. You need a reminder:
"All of our efforts to attain a cease-fire have been been torpedoed by the Palestinians. The fire did not cease, even for one day. The Cabinet has therefore instructed our security forces to take all necessary measures to bring full security to the citizens of Israel. We can rely only on ourselves. And from this day forward, we will rely only on ourselves."
"We are currently in the midst of a complex and difficult diplomatic campaign. I turn to the western democracies, first and foremost the leader of the free world, the United States. Do not repeat the dreadful mistake of 1938, when the enlightened democracies of Europe decided to sacrifice Czechoslovakia for the sake of a temporary, convenient solution. Don't try to appease the Arabs at our expense. We will not accept this. Israel will not be Czechoslovakia. Israel will fight terror. There's no difference between 'good terror' and 'bad terror' just as there is no difference between 'good murder' and 'bad murder.' Terrorism, as we witnessed this week in Alei Sinai, is worse than murder."
"We have been fighting terrorism for over 100 years. Unfortunately, there is no swift and immediate solution, but if we confront this terrorism united, we will be able to overcome it and bring peace. And we shall overcome."
--Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (in translation), October 4, 2001
Do you honestly think he ever will when push comes to shove?
I didn't notice any letup in settlement construction around Ma'ale Adumim. Did you? It seems like the Prime Minister is ignoring the Bush administration on this key issue right now.
Oh, and yes, Israel is stronger without Gaza than with it.
After the 2001 remark Bush made some unpleasant remarks about Sharon's comments and Sharon rolled over on his back. As far as the construction activity on Maale Adumim most of what I have read is that they are awaiting American approval before any real construction starts which means it might never. Remember the big concession Sharon supposedly got was that there would be no progress toward a Palestinian State until they started dismantling the terrorists. That got replaced by Hudna, which translated into "if you can't beat them join them". Yet the moves toward a Palestinian State are going forward at double speed. Now they are going to have a real airport, seaport, etc. yet have done nothing to reign in terrorists and Sharon has done nothing to stop it in fact has abetted it.
Unpopular here, but true.