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Shalom Arari, the former advisor of the Defense Ministry of Israel on Arab Affairs
Today the whole Middle East is shaken by the developments.
When we speak about peacemaking treaties in the context of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict,
we see that the situation becomes clear.
We see two main problems.
The first problem is the treaty, and I was one of developers of it.
You know that we still have weak positions.
There is the Palestinian state, Fatakhstan, as we call it.
And the second problem is the Gaza Strip.
Where do they want Israelis to live?
Back in the sea or Russia?
Moreover, the Palestine Liberation Organization is not recognized, Abu Mazen isn’t recognized.
Today the situation is more difficult than it used to be.
The Gaza Strip has a new administration.
And we can say that the influence of the Islamist movements is growing,
as they move forward in Libya, Egypt and other countries.
These are global jihad organizations,
which dare the Hamas government of the Gaza Strip to organize a real Hamastan.
About seven different forces try to interfere in the situation; that is why it has become so difficult.
Ehud Dekel, the former head of the negotiation headquarters of Ehud Olmetr’s government
We are sure that Palestine, Islamists, Jihadists, and other organizations
will try to use their power against us as soon as they have such an opportunity,
as soon as they have a reason.
Because the main concept of rebellion is a nice camouflage for hiding real terrorist activity.
I think the next round of confrontation is very close, notwithstanding all our efforts on postponing it.
As it is very important for us and the Palestinian people in this situation if they want any stability.
You have started our discussion from mentioning the peacemaking treaty with the Gaza Strip.
In fact we have no such treaty.
We have mutual understanding that it is necessary,
but unfortunately, each side understands it in its own way.
We would like somebody broadcast them the reality in a different way.
I’m afraid future events will be very pessimistic.
Yes, we should be responsible, concerning this affair.
We say that Gaza is controlled by Hamas at the moment.
Hamas should take almost national responsibility for the population of the Gaza Strip.
What have we seen in recent times?
They decided not to stop terrorists who started missile attacks on the peaceful population.
And this is bad.
Of course, heavy criticism against Hamas is observed.
They are criticized for not preventing murders.
In this situation it is very difficult to predict future events.
I think we should be ready for the next wave of the conflict's escalation.
Alexander Shumilin, the head of the Analysis Center of Middle Eastern Conflicts under the USA and Canada Institute of the Russian Academy of Science
Considering the terrorist attack in Toulouse,
the tragedy is directly connected with the situation in the Middle East.
And we should understand it in various aspects.
The terrible terrorist attack committed by the criminal who openly stated about his belonging to Al Qaeda.
The reaction of leaders of almost all countries of Europe is no less important.
Mrs. Ashton’s mistake is quite typical for understanding of the situation in the Middle East
by the European leaders.
They try to balance, to equalize terrorists and their victims.
And it was stated at such a top level yesterday.
I’m really sorry.
Of course the situation is very difficult
and develops in unexpected and unpredicted directions around Israel.
Would the Islamic factor strengthen?
It is ambiguous.
The appearance of soft Islamists in power…
I repeat, as it is important to understand that propaganda materials,
which often exaggerate the issue, say that Islamists have captured power,
at least, they will do it tomorrow.
It is not true.
Islamists participate in administration at the current period.
And it is natural, because they were a force suppressed by dictatorships;
a force that people do not suspect of dealing with withdrawn dictators and former elites.
That is why this process should be considered
as the inevitable identification of Egyptians, Tunisians and Muslims living in Europe
who voted for soft Islamists.
They are in search of a new identity.
And soft Islam is a significant element of it.
Tatyana Nosenko, senior scientist of the Israel Department under the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences
The religious factor is one of the factors in the Palestinian-Israeli confrontation.
In recent decades this factor is being intensified.
Both sides suggest ways of settling the conflict, considering religious aspects too.
As for influence of Islamist political forces in neighboring Arab countries,
we shouldn’t discuss influence on further development of the confrontation.
The main point here is influence on relations between Israel and its nearest neighbors.
Here we have less optimistic prospects and more optimistic prospecst.
A change of the situation in Egypt… we cannot say in what direction the events will develop.
Will the Islamist forces insist on changes for the worse for Israel?
Some experts think that coming to power will make them take softer positions
and reduce the radical degree of plans that were typical for them for a long time.
However, more pessimistic developments shouldn’t be excluded.
It could lead to a reconsideration of some agreements that exist between Israel and Egypt,
I mean the Camp David Agreements and the peacemaking treaty.
Under pressure from radical forces this treaty could be reconsidered.
The same concerns Jordan, where strengthening of Islamist forces in the government is possible.
Whether the Jordanian King can resist these forces or not
is important for further development of relations between Jordan and Israel.
In Syria the situation is unclear.
It is difficult to predict how it will develop.
If the opposition comes to power in Syria,
it could bring disadvantages for Israel in the sphere of achievements reached under the former regime.
The whole process of relations between Syria and Israel could turn in a negative direction.
Islamists who are considered as soft…
The final aim of these parties is destroying Israel.
They think that Israeli territory, including not only Jerusalem, but also Haifa and other cities,
is a holy land of Muslims.
That’s what they think.
For example, Hamas.
Yes, Hamas is more pragmatic than Islamist Jihadists, because they feel national responsibility.
They need electricity for the population, they should provide the population with necessary supplies.
They have no time for rebellion.
They want water and electricity from Israel, as they have to provide their people with it.
Therefore, the only differences are methods and speed.
But their final target is the weakening of Israel and withdrawing it from the world map.
It is their words.
We talk about different kinds of Islamist movements.
It is a great problem as a whole.
This problem will make Israel finally change its approach in dealing with the Arab countries.
The main objective has always been the settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Today we can only restrain this conflict suggesting a method after a method.
For protecting our civil population, we should fight against those who try to wipe us off the world map.
The point is not that Israel wants to occupy the Gaza Strip and start a military campaign,
we have left that behind several years ago.
We started from the statement that there is no real power that could control the situation there.
We have no right to sit and wait until a new missile destroys a school or a kindergarten.
The last operation was successful, as we managed to intercept missiles due to our missile defense system.
But some missiles destroyed sensitive targets in the civil territory.
The life of one of Israel’s regions was destroyed.
And we know the factors that permanently influence shaking stability.
Terrorist attacks against the peaceful population is the main problem.