'If the other side won't compromise, you must fight them with full force'
Sri Lanka's ambassador to Israel, Donald Perera, used to be their army chief of staff. Perera just defeated the Tamil Tigers terror group - whom he likens to Hamas - after a thirty year war. He has some solid advice for Israel (at the end of an interview that describes the extent of cooperation between Israel and Sri Lanka during the latter's terror war - far more than most Israelis know). After noting the similarities between the Tamil Tigers and Hamas, Perera says Sri Lanka is a staunch supporter of Israel's fight against terror. "No one wants bloodshed. The other side should be offered direct negotiations, without preconditions, to determine its level of seriousness. These talks should focus on trying to reach a compromise that would allow both sides to sign an agreement," he says.Here in Israel, we still need to get the public's full support for destroying the terror organizations. When a war comes, we get it, but in between wars people forget.
"In case the other side shows it is not interested in a compromise, (Israel) must move on to the military phase with full force. (The government) will have to explain to the citizens that (Israel) is headed for a long and difficult struggle that will exact a heavy price, but at the end of this struggle the country's situation will be much better," says the ambassador.
"Once you have the public's support, you should fight relentlessly until all of the terror hubs are destroyed. There is no going back."
Read it all.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:48 AM
4 Comments:
Israeli governments have brainwashed the Israeli public into believing there is a "political solution" to the conflict with the Palestinians when in reality it doesn't exist. And they have conveyed the impression there is no military solution to terrorism - false, as the Sri Lankans have shown in bringing an end to decades of fighting with the Tamil Tigers on their island. In the end, its really not about means but about courage - a quality all but forgotten in post-survivalist Israel.
Don't hold your breath waiting for the Israeli government to fight the Hamas and the PA with full force any time soon.
NormanF,
That statement about courage is overly harsh. There are plenty of people in Israel with a lot of courage and a lot of faith in God who would be willing to do the right thing. Unfortunately, most of them are not political leaders.
Hooray! Love Mr Perera! Can we have him as prime minister?
Carl - yes, my statement should have been appropriately qualified. There are lots of people like Shahar Mizrachi who are decent and courageous enough to do the right thing. Rather I should have said as you rightly observed, its the people in the government who don't seem to possess it in spades. That is why is Israel is in such trouble. Appeasing the world's anti-Semites is not going to help the Jewish State turn things around.
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