Sharon should stay out of Fla. politics

We can only hope Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon cancels his preliminary plans to appear at an Israel solidarity rally in Miami on Sept. 9.

Sharon does not belong in Miami the day before former Attorney General Janet Reno faces off two opponents in Friday's Democratic primary.

It seems obvious why Sharon has been invited to Florida on that day by incumbent Gov. Jeb Bush, the president's brother, and it's not just to rally Americans for Israel.

Let's face it. The governor would be very happy if loads of Jews came to see Sharon and didn't vote in the primary.

Sharon's appearance is tantamount to an endorsement of Jeb Bush. The message becomes clear: Why should a Jew vote for Reno -- or any other Democrat -- if Sharon supports the governor?

That all this is happening in Florida makes the matter more distasteful. This is the state that Democrats blame for stealing the presidency from Al Gore and handing it to George W. Bush. What's more, the governor and his secretary of state sullied their hands in the election imbroglio.

Certainly, Sharon wants to make the trip to help the brother of a president who has been strongly supportive of Israel during this crisis.

After all, Bush became the first president to call for Yasser Arafat's ouster. Why shouldn't Sharon repay him for his friendship?

But does Sharon have to do it so blatantly on the day before the Florida primary? How about on the day after the primary so he can be joined on stage not only by Jeb Bush but by the winner of the Democratic primary?

If Sharon accepts Jeb Bush's invitation, what's to stop other candidates from inviting Israel's prime minister to their states close to November elections?

We hope Sharon avoids interfering in the U.S. election process, whether in Florida or any other state. It's not what we want to see Israel's prime minister doing right now. He's got more important tasks to accomplish a lot closer to home.