TEL AVIV Ñ A team of leading Israeli strategists has conducted a
simulation of crises that could strike the Middle East.
The team of former senior officials met for two days in a simulation
that took place at Tel Aviv University's Jaffee Center for Strategic
Studies. The team consisted of members who played such roles as the leaders
of Israel, the United States and key Arab states.
"We are talking about a wide range of players who are participating in
this exercise," former military intelligence chief [Res.] Maj. Gen. Shlomo
Gazit, who played the role of Palestinian Authority chairman Yasser Arafat,
said.
The roles of other Arab leaders were played by other former Israeli
intelligence officials and Arab affairs experts in government. They were not
identified.
The scenarios for the simulation consisted of crises in the Middle East.
They included the resurgence of Hizbullah and threats to Israel, the
prospect of a U.S. quagmire in Iraq and the acquisition of nuclear weapons
by Iran.
"The prospect of a U.S. entanglement in Iraq has basis in reality,"
[Res.] Maj. Gen. Yitzhak Ben-Yisrael, a former Defense Ministry research and
development chief, said. "But I actually think the United States will
overcome this."
Ben-Yisrael, now a professor at Tel Aviv University, played the role of
Israel's defense minister during the simulation. He said the results of the
exercise will be relayed to the Israeli government, adding that the Jewish
state will be affected by each of the scenarios explored.
"We performed a simulation last year before the war in Iraq and several
of the scenarios that were played out later took place in real life,"
Ben-Yisrael said.
On Wednesday, the Knesset committee on the defense budget approved a cut
of $108 million including cuts in supplies, reserve service and personnel.
