Who’s the Pariah Now?

Will there be an Israeli-Palestinian agreement covering the future of Jerusalem by the time President Bush leaves office?
There is a real possibility that some kind of agreement will be reached before the end of this year. We have never had so many different parties so eager for it to happen. There is the Bush administration, eager for some kind of achievement. We have [Israeli Prime Minister Ehud] Olmert, who is eager for a breakthrough. We have [Palestinian President Mahmoud] Abbas, who needs it to survive. And we have something which I am not sure we had before, and that is a real will on the part of the moderate Arab and Muslim world for it to happen. When I returned from Annapolis, I was cautiously optimistic. What brought the moderate Arabs to Annapolis was fear.

Fear of Iran?
Fear of Iran. I believe that fear of Iran is actually making them willing to be much more pragmatic and realistic about solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They know that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not the core problem, but they know that if they do solve it, they will calm the streets and be able to align themselves against the real danger, which is Iran.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak recently said that U.N. Resolution 1701 [which called for all Lebanese militias to be disarmed after the 2006 war] had failed.

Hizbullah is back to its prewar strength and maybe even beyond it because it has not been made to disarm. The situation in southern Lebanon and on our northern border is very fragile—literally explosive.

Is Barak warning that Israel might have to go into Lebanon again?
I think Barak is warning the international community of the explosiveness of the situation [in case] there is a new flare-up.

Has the ceasefire [with Hamas] eliminated the possibility of Israel entering Gaza?
I think we will give the ceasefire a chance, but we are very fearful that at the end of the day, it will be used by Hamas to rearm, regroup and resume their hostile attacks against Israel. When we left Gaza, we expected the Palestinians to take care of their own people. Instead they turned Gaza into a terror base and a launching pad for missiles against Israel. Which proves once again that they never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.

In the United Nations, you were supposedly isolated, but in reality you had wide contacts with the Arab ambassadors, some of whose countries had no relations with yours.
I believe very much in engagement. When I came here, one of my aims was to engage as many of my colleagues as possible, especially those who represent countries which … sometimes are perceived as hostile to Israel. I am very gratified that I managed to establish close relations with some of my Arab and Muslim colleagues.

© 2008