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New Deputy Defense Minister Sees Regional Conflict

[Ynet News] Roee Mandel - Incoming Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh, who took office Monday, told a Tel Aviv University conference on the Lebanon war: "We need to tell the Palestinians: A large-scale regional conflict is impending. If you do not turn against Israel, your country and economy will prosper. If you take the other side, you will look like Bint Jbeil [a town in southern Lebanon damaged in the war]." "The first lesson drawn from what happened in the north is that unilateral steps were useless. If you withdraw without an agreement, you leave a hostile military element behind you and you will return to fight there." "It has been made clear that the fundamental conflict in the region is between the moderate forces, headed by Israel, and the extremists, headed by Iran." Sneh said that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was preventing many moderate Arab countries from supporting Israel in the battle against a common foe. He said the Lebanon war has emboldened the different resistance organizations in the PA, reinforcing their belief that Israel's status can be eroded. "On the other hand, the moderate elements realized that it's better not to mess with the IDF's fortitude, and that in the imminent conflict ahead...they don't want to support the side that's against us."
2006-11-01 01:00:00
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