World Tribune.com

Leading Israelis voice concerns about nation's survival

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Wednesday, December 20, 2000

TEL AVIV — Leading Israeli defense officials and diplomats are quietly voicing concern over the viability of the Jewish state.

The concern has been voiced in both official forums as well as in meetings over the past few months to review Israel's defense and diplomatic strategy.

"There were many people who began voicing doubts about Israel's long-term viability and staying power," said Uzi Arad, a former senior government official and director of the Herzliya-based Institute of Policy and Strategy, which organized the conference. "These doubts were voiced in closed quarters. When this became prevalent, we said 'Let's do something about it.'"

A former senior Mossad official and diplomatic adviser to then-Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Arad has organized the nation's first strategic conference. The three-day conference which begins on Tuesday night, includes appearances by Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Netanyahu, and leaders of the military and defense communities.

Arad said that in meetings over the last few months leaders of the military expresed concern over such issues as the vulnerability of Israel to low-intensity conflict, the failure of government to make decisions and insurgency in both Israel and in the Palestinian areas.

A report prepared by the conference and commissioned by the Defense Ministry urges that Israel boost its air power and missile defense to confront the increasing prospect of a multi-front and multi-level war. The report says Israel faces a war that could begin with a low-intensity conflict and build into a war that would include enemy missile and nonconventional weapons attacks.

"We see this as a conflict that could change everything," Ben-Eliahu said. "The escalation may encompass the region in a very short time."

The report recommends that Israel focus on air power and missile defense to deter its enemies and respond to any attack. It also urges policy-makers to seek Israel's participation in a pro-U.S. alliance similar to that formed in the 1991 Gulf war.

"The Iranians are very close to having a nuclear weapon," Ben-Eliahu said. "We are no longer talking about typical scenarios. This creates a new condition that Israel should determine its own defense doctrine in the future. Ultimately, the structure of the military will be different than in the past."

Wednesday, December 20, 2000

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