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November 1971
opinions, for what they are worth. In
other words, I can speak - 1 speak to
you now, and I am sure that nobody will
come and tell me, "Why did you say
that?" or, "Why didn't you say that?"
On the other hand if you go beyond
the mere expression of opínion to the
point of doing something which affects
the security of Israel, then you are fallen
clown upon real hard.
Q.
Do you feel the majority of the
Arab people would really be happier
if Israel ceased to exist?
A.
We're not asking that the Israelis
should cease to exist as a political entity.
All we ask is that they should wíthdraw
from the territory occupied in 1967 in
order to give us an opportunity to exist.
It isn't a case of them not existing.
Q .
How can Israel win the confi–
dence of her Arab neighbors?
A.
By expressing a willingness to with–
draw from all the territories. 1 think
it's also a case of how we can win the
confidence of the lsraelis.
Q .
Egyptian President Sad at was
quoted as saying: There will be no
peace with Israel for this generation
or the next generation, and that Egypt
is willing to sacrifice a million
soldiers to accomplish her objectives
against Israel: ls there no other way
to resolve the present confrontation
except by war and bloodshed?
A.
These remarks were made on two
different occasions. However, President
Sadat has also said: We are ready for
a peaceful settlement with Israel, pro–
vided that the Israelis are willing to
withdraw from the territories whicb
they
occupy
-
all the territories which
they occupied in 1967. I don't know
why people don't remember what he
said in that context while they insist on
repeating what he is reported to have
said about war. Real peace is an evolv–
ing process. It isn't something which
happens overnight. Even when we have
a peace treaty it takes time for people
to get to know eacb other. We have
lived together for years and years, thou–
sands of years if you like, throughout
our tradition. Our relations have been
good. The fact that we've had wars
over the last fifty years has not been
enough to spoil this backlog of good
The
PLAIN TRUTH
will which we have towards the Jews.
Although peace may not result in
absolutely normal relations overnight -
it may take sorne time to overcome the
last fifty years of conflict - neverthe–
less in time, it will take place, and this
probably is what Sadat meant - that
real peace will take time because it's an
evolving process. I doo't think he meant
we have to go on shooting each other
for another fifty years.
Q .
Would it
be
easier if the United
States and Russia were not involved
in the problems between the Jews and
the Arabs?
A.
I think it would be easier, but it's
very very unrealistic to think tbat they
would ever be uninvolved.
Q.
Many Israelis say that if the
Israeli government and the Arab
governments could sit clown at tbe
same table and discuss their dif–
ferences, peace would be a lot quicker
in coming.
13
A.
I would be inclined to dispute that.
Unless you begin from internationally
acceptable prernise aod from a premise
which you know both sides will more or
less accept, sitting together will not
achieve anything. You will only sit
together and lose yourselves in heated
arguments and leave the table and
achieve very little!
Q .
Do you feel that the same pres–
sures that were used to force Israel to
withdraw from the Sinai
in
1956
could be used to force her withdrawal
from the occupied territories now?
A.
I very much hope that the with–
drawal will come about from a con–
viction that the Israelis will have -
that withdrawing from the territories
will be in the interest of peace and in
the interest of the world generally.
Whether the Russians and the Ameri–
cans would agree to impose sucb a solu–
tion on the Israelis is something wbich
I don't know. O
"lf war breaks out again between Israel
and the Arabs, it's going to be a more
severe one, a tougher one, and
1
think a
longer one than the Six Day War."
-
Ezer Weizman ,
member of
lsrael
1
s opposition
Gahal party
EZER WEIZMAN was born in Israel.
A military man most of his life, Mr.
W eizman fought with the Royal Air
Force in W orld W ar 11, then played
a major role in building the fledgling
Israelí Air Force. W eizman held the
post of Commander of the Aír Force
fron~
1956 to 1966. He subsequently
served for three years as second in
command in the Chief of Staff. He
served briefly as Minister of Trans–
port from 1969-70 until bis party
pulled out of the National Unity
Government coalítion. Now a leadíng
lsraeli politician, Mr. W eizman con–
tinues to represent the opposition
Gahal party in the Israelí Knesset.
Q.
In your view, what do you think
will occur in the Middle East during
the next five years?
A.
First of all, I sincerely hope the
Arabs will come to their senses and
stop threatening us so tbat we will not
be forced into another battle. You must
realize that if war breaks out again
between Israel and tbe Arabs, it's going
to be a more severe one, a tougher one,
and 1 think a Ionger one than the Six
Day War. Also
it
rnight again change
the looks of the Middle East as the Six
Day War did. Therefore, I fust of all
hope that in the next fi.ve years we can
prevent war.
The situation could then contioue as
at the present, one of no war but no
peace. 1 hope of course that the Arabs