[AP/Washington Post] Steven Gutkin - Israeli Public Security Minister Avi Dichter, who formerly headed the Shin Bet intelligence service, offered a surprisingly optimistic view Monday of prospects for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, despite what he called a big push by Iran to sow discord in the region. Dichter predicted the Palestinians would ultimately understand they have no choice but to accept Israel. "I spent more years in Gaza than I spent in Tel Aviv. I think I know (the Palestinians) very well," Dichter told a gathering of diplomats and reporters at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. The Palestinians "know that they have no chance to build themselves as a nation without a peace agreement with Israel," he said.
2007-03-13 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive