Rethinking current conflicts in the Middle East
Consul General of Israel Nadav Tamir and the path to peace
by Michael Newborn
Features | 2/24/09
Posted online at 3:21 AM EST on 2/24/09
JF: How do you think the recent events bode for the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
NT: We need to look at the big picture of the Middle East. It is not an Israeli-Palestinian conflict; it is a conflict between moderates who want peace and those who would go to any lengths to prevent peace from happening. A two-state solution is the only solution. There are those who want to deal with us in a civil way, and there are others who want to promote bloodshed and chaos orchestrated by Iran through Hezbollah and Hamas. Iran's radical ideology is dangerous for everyone-Israel as well as the moderates in the Middle East. If the extremists come out the winners of these recent events, it will be destructive to the efforts of all those seeking peace. Along with all the moderates in the Middle East, we are committed to pushing the peace negotiations forward and stopping the extremists and their destructive agenda.
JF: How does the fighting impact Israelis, the Arab community and the American Jewish community?
NT: It is a tragedy for all of us. Most Palestinians and definitely most Israelis and the Jewish community here prefer peace over any conflict. Unfortunately, in our neighborhood, there are those who think that peace doesn't help promote their interest. I just hope that the results will be a better situation in the south of Israel and Gaza. Sometimes in the Middle East, the situation has to get worse before it becomes better.
JF: Do you believe that Israel's massive military reaction will be the new policy for future dealings with Hamas or, for that matter, any enemy of Israel?
NT: We will have to evaluate the situation and each case needs to be studied individually. I don't think we can have a silver bullet for all situations. However, it is important for us to signal to Hamas that going back to the status quo is not an option. For eight years, Hamas fired thousands of rockets at Israeli civilians, and Israel refrained from using military action. Unfortunately, it took this tragedy to achieve a sense of urgency in the international community regarding Israel's situation in the face of rocket fire. We hope that the international community will now play a role in making sure that Hamas stops the rocket fire into Israel and weapon smuggling, so that Israel is not forced to react militarily in the future. We really hope that these recent events were not a step back but a step forward toward what will ultimately stabilize the region, a two-state solution with Israelis and Palestinians coexisting in peace and security.
Edited and condensed by Shana D. Lebowitz
NT: We need to look at the big picture of the Middle East. It is not an Israeli-Palestinian conflict; it is a conflict between moderates who want peace and those who would go to any lengths to prevent peace from happening. A two-state solution is the only solution. There are those who want to deal with us in a civil way, and there are others who want to promote bloodshed and chaos orchestrated by Iran through Hezbollah and Hamas. Iran's radical ideology is dangerous for everyone-Israel as well as the moderates in the Middle East. If the extremists come out the winners of these recent events, it will be destructive to the efforts of all those seeking peace. Along with all the moderates in the Middle East, we are committed to pushing the peace negotiations forward and stopping the extremists and their destructive agenda.
JF: How does the fighting impact Israelis, the Arab community and the American Jewish community?
NT: It is a tragedy for all of us. Most Palestinians and definitely most Israelis and the Jewish community here prefer peace over any conflict. Unfortunately, in our neighborhood, there are those who think that peace doesn't help promote their interest. I just hope that the results will be a better situation in the south of Israel and Gaza. Sometimes in the Middle East, the situation has to get worse before it becomes better.
JF: Do you believe that Israel's massive military reaction will be the new policy for future dealings with Hamas or, for that matter, any enemy of Israel?
NT: We will have to evaluate the situation and each case needs to be studied individually. I don't think we can have a silver bullet for all situations. However, it is important for us to signal to Hamas that going back to the status quo is not an option. For eight years, Hamas fired thousands of rockets at Israeli civilians, and Israel refrained from using military action. Unfortunately, it took this tragedy to achieve a sense of urgency in the international community regarding Israel's situation in the face of rocket fire. We hope that the international community will now play a role in making sure that Hamas stops the rocket fire into Israel and weapon smuggling, so that Israel is not forced to react militarily in the future. We really hope that these recent events were not a step back but a step forward toward what will ultimately stabilize the region, a two-state solution with Israelis and Palestinians coexisting in peace and security.
Edited and condensed by Shana D. Lebowitz
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