(Jpost).An increasing number of Arab countries are improving their relations with Israel, even though not necessarily on a formal basis, Minister for Intelligence and Atomic Energy Dan Meridor told a large audience at the Jerusalem Great Synagogue on Saturday night.
That does not mean that they accept Israel’s legitimacy, he explained, “but they realized that Israel is here to stay and will not be wiped off the map.”
He did not name the Arab countries to which he was referring.
Other countries in the region have not changed their ideas about the endgame, only about the way they want to reach it, he warned, citing nuclear weapons and terrorism.
Although terrorism has been with us throughout history he said, in an era of technology and globalization, more power has been given to individuals.
In the past, war was nation against nation, but today, terrorist leaders such as Osama bin Laden create unprecedented damage.
“It is a new paradigm of war,” said Meridor.
There is a return of religion into politics all over the world, especially the Muslim world, and this is very dangerous said Meridor, “because God never compromises. God is truth and anything done in the name of God is considered to be His will.”
As far as the threat from Iran is concerned, Meridor cautioned against Israel putting itself center stage. “The problem is much broader and deeper and threatens the world as we know it."
The situation today is a test of leadership between America and Iran, said Meridor, who was confident, notwithstanding contentions by Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that America is an empire of the past, that the United States could get itself back to what it was.
The result of this test of leadership he said, will have a significant impact on all other conflicts.
That does not mean that they accept Israel’s legitimacy, he explained, “but they realized that Israel is here to stay and will not be wiped off the map.”
He did not name the Arab countries to which he was referring.
Other countries in the region have not changed their ideas about the endgame, only about the way they want to reach it, he warned, citing nuclear weapons and terrorism.
Although terrorism has been with us throughout history he said, in an era of technology and globalization, more power has been given to individuals.
In the past, war was nation against nation, but today, terrorist leaders such as Osama bin Laden create unprecedented damage.
“It is a new paradigm of war,” said Meridor.
There is a return of religion into politics all over the world, especially the Muslim world, and this is very dangerous said Meridor, “because God never compromises. God is truth and anything done in the name of God is considered to be His will.”
As far as the threat from Iran is concerned, Meridor cautioned against Israel putting itself center stage. “The problem is much broader and deeper and threatens the world as we know it."
The situation today is a test of leadership between America and Iran, said Meridor, who was confident, notwithstanding contentions by Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that America is an empire of the past, that the United States could get itself back to what it was.
The result of this test of leadership he said, will have a significant impact on all other conflicts.