Peres: Israel 'out-manned, out-gunned and alone`

28 September 2006

In an impassioned speech at Chatham House, two-time Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres argued that Israel still faces huge threats from its regional neighbours and that the recent war with Hezbollah had highlighted serious inadequacies in the IDF's capability in defending Israel. He said that Iran now posed a serious threat to stability in the Middle East and that it had endless ambitions in the region, which it will pursue with its 'adopted daughters' Hezbollah and Hamas.

Mr Peres also spoke of his nation's continuing search for peace and argued that Israel never goes to war with any other aim than to provide long-lasting peace and stability for its people. He stated that while the country has succeeded in building peace with Egypt and Jordan it has failed both with Lebanon and Palestine.

The former Prime Minister also argued that while diplomacy was important and needed to be pursued; the key driver of change and peace in the region was economics. He said that all important progressive changes since WW2 were done economically not militarily and that peace, especially with Palestine, lay in creating a viable economy for the country by 'opening a new port, lowering barriers and opening the skies.' Mr Peres, also admitted that in the past his country had not tried enough when it came to economic progress with the Palestinians

Notes for editors:
Shimon Peres spoke at Chatham House on Wednesday 27 September.

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