Posted on 06/26/2002 8:43:03 AM PDT by Stand Watch Listen
Among the elements threatening to destabilize the region is an expected US attack on Iraq, the build-up of nuclear weapons in Iran, Hizbullah's conventional military arsenal, and Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer told the Jewish Agency's Board of Governors last night in Jerusalem.Once the US focuses on destroying Iraq, Israel will be one of Iraq's first retaliatory targets, Ben-Eliezer said, and they have the weapons to do us harm. Israel is working with the US to overcome any damage from such an attack, Ben-Eliezer said.
However, Iran, which borders Iraq, also has missiles. They can reach almost anywhere in Israel, most notably the densely-populated center of the country, Ben-Eliezer said.
Iran will have nuclear capability within three or four years, the defense minister noted.
"The whole world is sleeping while Iran builds a core nuclear infrastructure that is going to do something bad to the interests of the world," Ben-Eliezer added.
Hizbullah has grown from a tiny terrorist organization to one that has 10,000 katyushas and hundreds of long-range missiles and rockets. They are supported by Syria and are one of the main terror threats today.
"They are trying to escalate the situation in the North and we are doing everything not to let that happen," Ben-Eliezer said.
"The strategy of restraint is a must. We want to concentrate on the struggle with the Palestinians."
It's clear that Arafat is trying to escalate the conflict with Israel into a regional one, Ben-Eliezer said. The leaders of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt believe this is Arafat's intention.
"What worries Egypt and Saudi Arabia today are internal problems as the result of the struggle that is happening here, and their consequences upon the stability of the Middle East. They are worried about the Iranian connection. There is a connection between Iran, Syria, Hizbullah, and the Palestinians that could crush Middle East stability," Ben-Eliezer said. He believes US President George W. Bush was correct in telling Syria to stop backing terrorist organizations and in particular Hizbullah.
He added that he spoke last week with the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, who was concerned about the regional conflicts because 82 percent of all industry there is dependent on Middle Eastern oil.
"Increasingly, Europe and Japan realize that the game Arafat is leading might damage the oil producers," Ben-Eliezer. There is room for cooperation between the US, Europe, Russia, and some Arab countries, all of whom want the region to remain stable, Ben-Eliezer said.
"More and more they realize that Arafat is the obstacle and not the solution. More and more nations realize that this is not a conflict just between Israel and the Palestinians, but one that has damaging consequences for the security of the region," Ben-Eliezer said.
In fighting the Palestinians, Israel has a very strong army, but its aircraft and tanks do not help it against the suicide bombers, the defense minister said, citing a macabre joke that it's easier to find a man or woman to volunteer to be a suicide bomber than it is to find the explosives with which to arm them.
Ben-Eliezer said he viewed the speech Bush gave Monday very positively, particularly his focus on the need for a change in Palestinian leadership and the imperative to dismantle terrorist organizations. It must be the start of any negotiation process, Ben-Eliezer said.
"But we should not forget that the president spoke of two nations, the Palestinians and the Israelis. Most of my life has been spent in the military and I can tell you one thing: there is no military solution to this problem. Militarily we are doing quite well... But at the end of the day and I do not know which day we are talking about we have to sit down at the table and negotiate an agreement between both sides. Those who try to ignore that reality are wasting their time. We can not ignore the fact that we are two people living on the same piece of ground," Ben-Eliezer said.
Arafat can not be the one that sits down to conduct those negotiations. "Arafat has chosen terror as the main channel to achieve his dream," Ben-Eliezer said.
But there are other more reasonable Palestinians who can become the leaders, and when they step forward, Israel is willing to sit down and begin negotiations to come to a solution acceptable to both sides, he added.
Thanks for the post.
There are two options.
They are an independent country and can have whatever they want, or
War.
Not unless PC is done away with. Even after the 9/11 attack, PC seems to still be firmly entrenched in America. How many more will have to die on the altar of PC, before these nerds wake up?
Maybe, but, personally, I am getting a little tired of all the talk. If we are going to do it, we need to get to it.
Patience, patience. There are probably things going on behind the scenes that we know nothing about. We were both in the USAF for many moons, and they did not tell us everything that was going on. I agree, however, I am growing a little weary of all the talk. Let's get to it.
Yeah, there comes a time when you have to stop talking, and just do it. There probably are many things going on behind the scenes. The problem is, the longer we wait, the more time the other side has to complete their own plans. And, these people fight very dirty, indeed. They do their fighting by terrorist war on women and children.
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