Speaking to a small Kfar Sava forum on Friday, 2 Shevat 5774, former Mossad Intelligence Agency Director Meir Dagan had what to say on a number of current issues. Regarding Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s opposition to the deal signed between the United States and Iran, Dagan agrees with the prime minister’s opposition however he does not agree regarding a possible Israeli led assault against Iran’s nuclear program.

Regarding the PA (Palestinian Authority), he stated that Israel in interested in strengthening Abu Mazen for it is to Israel’s advantage that he remains in control of the PA. Pertaining to calls to Israel to withdraw from the Jordan Valley, Dagan does not agree with the prime minister or Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and senior IDF officers who feel pulling out of the Jordan Valley will lead to additional anti-Israel terror.

Dagan feels that while Abu Mazen must remain in his leadership position he places little faith in anything changing regarding the PA’s track record in keeping its side of signed agreements. He is concerned that the current situation will result in a bi-national state as the PA population continues to grow.

The senior intelligence chief feels the current situation will lead to the end of the Zionist dream. He admits he does not care what goes on regarding the future of the PA, but he does care about Israel’s future and the future generations, and he feels this compels separating from PA residents to preserve the Jewish majority and the Jewish state as we know it today.

Dagan admits that the average Israeli is not optimistic and he understands this. For one thing, he points out that in order to reach agreement Israel has to forfeit strategic assets and in return, all Israel receives is paper. He feels that to achieve a real agreement, a new process must be launched, something different entirely, and it does not involve negotiating with the PA for he feels it is highly unlikely that Abu Mazen will stray too far from the negotiating position set into place by his predecessor, Yasser Arafat. Therefore he feels Israel must open a negotiating channel with the Arab League for if there is agreement, then the proposal presented to Abu Mazen will come from Arab nations, and it will be far more difficult for him to refuse as he does today.

As far as Hamas goes, Dagan is pleased with ongoing efforts by Egypt to limit Hamas’ military abilities, a desire shared by Gulf States and Saudi Arabia.

“I am not opposed with the position that the Jordan Valley remains a part of Israel, for this is a legitimate political position. However I am bothered by those who say the area is a vital security interest. There is no Iraqi army and no eastern front. There is peace with Jordan. I do not like the mantra ‘the Jordan Valley is key to our security interests’.”

In his 90 minutes address he expressed his disappointment with the US and the agreement brought to Iran. Dagan views Kerry’s unprecedented interest in the Israel-PA conflict part of his desire to become a contender for the White House in the future. Dagan explains that foreign ministers in the past were not involved in the process to the degree of Kerry’s involvement and the same holds true of US President Obama. He adds that from his own perspective he is not certain that Kerry’s action in the Mideast east will buy him the presidency, but Kerry has his own reasons.

Back to Iran, Dagan remains of the same opinion and he does not feel Israel should attack Iran. Even if Israel would use military force against Tehran, Dagan feels the outcome would be limited at best, delaying the nuclear program in the best of scenarios but definitely not eliminating it.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)