(JNS) Shiryn Ghermezian - Former Israeli National Security Adviser Brig.-Gen. (res.) Jacob Nagel talked about regional challenges facing Israel's security at an event in New York City last week. He called Iran "a country that wants to annihilate Israel," and said that Israel cannot accept an agreement in Syria that allows Iran and its proxy, Hizbullah, to remain as ground forces in the country because they are threatening the security of the Jewish state. On the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Nagel said for negotiations to begin, PA leader Mahmoud Abbas must acknowledge Israel's right to exist as a Jewish democratic state. Abbas' refusal to do so is the reason why he and Netanyahu have talked no more than seven hours in the last eight years. Addressing the ongoing violence from Hamas in Gaza, Nagel said, "Why is there no solution? Because they don't want a solution. They share the same view as the chief of the Israeli navy: that the future of Israel is in the sea. This is where their mind is at - that we should be in the sea. Not living." "They don't want the 1967 lines; they want Jaffa, they want Nahariya, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The only chance for peace in the West Bank, Gaza or with the Palestinian Authority is if someone on the inside will rise up and say enough, we cannot get 100%. We cannot get the right of return. This is Israel, and Israel is here to stay." "We have to be prepared; Israel doesn't have the luxury to lose one war and then win another war. The first war that we lose will be the last one. We have to be prepared to fight regular armies, paramilitary, terrorists, terror along our borders and all over the world, in addition to cyber attacks and, of course, threats to our legitimacy."
2019-05-24 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive