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Source: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4356567,00.html
IDF Military Intelligence Chief Surveys Middle East Threats
(Ynet News) Yoav Zitun - IDF Military Intelligence chief Maj.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi said Thursday that "some senior Iranian officials are saying that maybe the nuclear program ought to be reconsidered due to the sanctions." He added that "the nuclear program is progressing, but Iran is making sure not to cross any internationally perceived 'red lines.' Their chief goal is to preserve the regime." Referring to the Palestinian issue Kochavi said: "We see signs from the Palestinian street that Palestinians are reaching a boiling point which stems from the economic situation, but also from the prisoners issue. Still, most of the incidents are of a limited nature, and there was no event with more than 4,000 participants. We estimate there's no energy for a third intifada." The MI chief warned that "For the first time in dozens of years Israel has four borders threatened by terrorist breaching." Regarding the Syrian civil war, he said: "In many ways, the country is disintegrating with 60,000 killed so far, among them 50,000 civilians and 13,000 soldiers....Syria shouldn't be treated as a unified state. It should be referred to as Assad's state and the rebels' state, as two-thirds of Syria's habitable areas are under rebel control." Kochavi noted that "for the first time in many years the four main [regional] powers - Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt - are controlled by religious leadership.... The State of Israel is considered by them as unacceptable, so it will be increasingly difficult in the coming years to reach agreements and normalization."