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Setting the Record Straight

Leveraging Regional Support

posted on 03/07/08

"What happens in Gaza is not a local matter, it has regional implications. Hamas is supported by Iran and Syria; the Muslim-Arab world is carefully monitoring the situation to see if Hamas wins or not … and what is Israel’s staying power."
–Brigadier General (ret.) Amos Gilboa, intelligence adviser, Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, “The Gaza Test,” M’aariv, March 6, 2008 (translated by Middle East Bulletin)

VS.

“We have to ask ourselves now, following Annapolis, whether we can take advantage of the Arab Initiative, whether we can take advantage of the Arab states’ willingness to take part in the process, and the answer obviously has to be yes. We all remember Camp David, one of the reasons for its failure was the reluctance of the Arab states to support such an act. Now we have to realize that the Arab states will support and assist to advance the peace process. The question is what we should do.”
–Dr. David Kimche, former director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and deputy head of Mossad, Geneva Initiative conference, January 13, 2008 (translated by Middle East Bulletin)