[Ynet News] Ron Ben-Yishai - The Turks are not alone in the deterioration of their ties with Israel. In recent years, up until several months ago, Israel's intelligence community estimated that the fears of Arab Sunni-majority states in the face of the Iranian-Shiite threat would prompt a process of rapprochement between them and Israel. However, the Gaza operation, reinforced by the inciting commentary of Arab satellite networks, changed the picture. We are also seeing an anti-Israel tide in Europe and in South America as well that at times gives rise to latent anti-Semitism. We are dealing with an accumulation of positions, declarations, and actions adopted by organizations and governments worldwide with growing intensity, aimed at isolating Israel and thereby pressuring it to modify its political positions and force military restraint upon it. They are trying to brand Israel as a "pariah state," undermine the legitimacy of its very existence, and revoke its natural right and duty to defend its citizens.
2009-10-16 06:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive