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As America Leaves the Middle East, Israel Must Stand Strong

(The Metropolitain-Canada [French]) Freddy Eytan - The Middle East, representing 8% of the world's population, supplies 70% of global terrorism. In the face of this reality, it is difficult to believe that the violence on our region will ever subside. The American doctrine that dictatorships should be swept away and replaced by democratic regimes is not feasible in the Arab-Muslim world dominated by Shia and Sunni Islamist currents and archaic tribes. In the current turmoil, as Obama's America refuses the role of "world policeman" and leaves the field open to the extremists, this weakening of America in the region works against the interests of the State of Israel. In this context of uncertainty, Israel must strengthen its military deterrence, while continuing along the path of peace. It is dangerous to try to reach a historic compromise only with Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank without considering the reactions of Hamas and its intentions to sabotage any agreement. Thus, Israel cannot yield on such existential issues as defensible borders and no return to the armistice lines of 1949. After the bitter experience of the Oslo Accords, we find that the Palestinian Authority is not able to guarantee the application of a peace agreement, even after obtaining U.S. and European funding. Looking toward 2014, we in Israel rely on our faith in our just cause and our military power, as well as the unwavering solidarity of free nations. Amb. Freddy Eytan, a former Israel Foreign Ministry senior advisor who served in Paris and in Brussels, was Israel's first Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
2014-01-10 00:00:00
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