NAZIF: We’ve said clearly that this would not be a good idea. If it is to deter Iran, it probably will have the exact opposite effect. So I don’t see the logic.
Iran, like any other country, has many factions with many different opinions. We have seen changes in the Iranian way of thinking over the last couple of decades. We’ve seen Iran coming closer to the communities in the Middle East and then seen them getting a little bit farther. What we need to do is just take them at face value. This is the Iranian government. This is what we are dealing with.
Well the answer is in the question. When Israel has made peace with the Palestinians, with the Syrians, with the Lebanese, I think things will become much warmer.
There is a warm relationship in business right now, but at the end of the day it’s the whole relationship between the people of the countries [that counts].
We’re still facing some problems there because the Palestinians themselves are divided. We were partially successful in 2005 when … the withdrawal from Gaza took place. If at the time, we had followed up with reassuring measures, especially on the developmental side with the Palestinians in Gaza, we would not be where we are today.
We were of the opinion that those Palestinian elections should not be held. We opposed them.
It’s the Americans that insisted on the elections. President [Hosni] Mubarak voiced our concern.
Exactly. But I think insistence on getting a democratic “solution” among the Palestinians at the time had sort of taken over [U.S. administration policy]. And, unfortunately, then we lost Israeli Prime Minister Sharon a few months later, and this [combination of events] has created a situation today that is, I do think, worse than where we were a year and a half ago.
I think that’s true, yeah. When you talk about how to promote democracy, you need to do it within the constraints of the countries you’re working with. Palestinians did not elect Hamas because they believe in its principles. They elected Hamas because they were not satisfied with the status quo.
Our position is very clear. You need to get inclusion. And inclusion means you cannot ignore somebody. You cannot just say, “Hamas doesn’t exist,” or “Hizbullah doesn’t exist,” or “whatever faction in Iraq doesn’t exist.”
Of course. They have to be. They have a majority in Parliament. They’ve been elected. They need to be there. Now to what extent, that’s the negotiable part.
Her visit to the region has shown that the United States is interested in moving along. For a change we are starting to look at the issues.
Egypt is going through a reform process. President Mubarak came up with changes in the Constitution that would take Egypt further along in democratization. I think the administration is more understanding of what’s taking place.
Under the current circumstances? Of course! There is no alternative in place. You’ll just give those militias a free hand. And I think it would be seen as the U.S. opting out of the region. The U.S. started this, and they need to give closure to it in a proper way. Now, I think that what President Bush came up with is not an opting out, it’s a commitment to peace and order. We support this, provided the Iraqi government deals even-handedly with both the Sunnis and the Shias.
