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The following is a translation provided by Peace Now of a Yedioth Aranoth interview with Moshe “Boogie” Ya’alon, Israeli Vice PM and Minister for Strategic Affairs.
Gestures, statements, negotiations—nothing will come of it in the end. That is the bottom line as far as Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Strategic Affairs Moshe (Bogi) Yaalon is concerned. The former Mapainik, who has become a right-wing marker in the government, looks at the lame efforts to resume the negotiations with the Palestinians and at the gestures made by Prime Minister Netanyahu—from the announcement of the two-state solution to the decision to freeze construction in the settlements—and suggests that we not become confused. It is all maneuvers. “And I say so out of knowledge,” Bogi says. “Nobody in the forum of seven thinks that we can reach an agreement with the Palestinians.”
Q. So why all these games of make-believe negotiations? It’s possible to announce that we will not reach an agreement, and that is all.
“Because in the political establishment there are pressures. Peace Now from within and other elements from without. So you have to maneuver. But what I’m saying now has to be given over to the Americans, and I hope that they will understand.
“Some of what we have to do is maneuver with the American administration and the European establishment, which are also nourished by Israeli elements, which create the illusion that an agreement can be reached. If the leader of the opposition gets up on stage and says that she is in favor of peace, unlike the prime minister who is against peace, then honestly. Come off it.”
Good Shabbos!
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They dont even pretend anymore. Its a mafya government, much like Berlusconi and Putin. I wonder when some brave journalist will ever dare to sit down and trace the black money flowing through the region?
The Israeli governments minor partners take on the whole issue:
http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=171840
Ya’alon is saying what most people understand:
The situation is not ripe for a peace deal. The Palestinian Arabs are split between the PA and Hamas, the PA is led by the weak and old Abbas, Hamas is opposed to peace conferences as a matter of principle, and the two (three?) sides are far apart. Any peace deal can’t be implemented in time for Abbas to take the helm, the person in charge of the PA will be somebody else. But who?
And the likelihood is that a new Arab state in the West Bank will arm and cooperate with other Arabs and Iran to “Liberate” the rest of Palestine (that is, Israel) by force as soon as it is able.
The Arab culture from Egypt to Gaza to the West Bank is still eliminationist, so that any new Arab state is likely to take a violent attitude to Israel. The masses have not been prepared for eventual peace or co-existence.
On the other hand, the Middle East has defied logic in the past, so it makes sense to engage in direct talks. Perhaps lives can be saved or a small war prevented. And perhaps things can be moved ever-closer to peace rather than to war. But nothing much should be expected in the next few years, even if talks start today.