Israeli Embassy representative Mark Regev defended Israel last night in the School of Law and said Israel deserves international support as the sole democratic state the Middle East.
‘Israel has built a strong and vibrant democracy,’ he said.
Regev, speaking as part of the Boston University Students for Israel’s ‘Student Leadership Israel Forum,’ addressed an invitation-only audience of approximately 35 students and faculty during the event. Boston City Councilor Mike Ross (Back Bay/Fenway) also spoke at the event.
Among other distinctions from other Middle Eastern countries, Regev said Israel allows an active and critical press and an open political system.
‘When Israel makes a mistake, it’s not just on the cover of the New York Times,’ Regev said. ‘You’ll see it in the Israeli papers, too.’
Comparable political freedom does not exist in Israel’s neighboring areas and countries, specifically the areas under the control of the Palestinian Authority, Regev said. Describing appearances of Palestinians in their press, Regev said he had ‘never yet heard one criticize Mr. Arafat.’
Regev also offered his opinion on the root of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He said Palestinian leaders, rather than Israeli leaders, are responsible for the conflict continuing as long as it has.
‘We have to have a Palestinian leadership that’s committed to its own people,’ he said.
The failure of the nation’s leadership to either lead or control the Palestinian populace is the fundamental obstacle to the peace process, according to Regev.
Israel will never be able to reach lasting peace with the current Palestinian leadership because ‘we’ll never compromise with someone we don’t trust,’ Regev said.
Regev cited numerous instances in which the Palestinian Authority had failed to live up to the conditions of previous peace agreements between the two peoples, notably the 2000 Camp David negotiations.
Additionally, Regev criticized Palestinian leaders for failing to make a serious effort at curbing terrorism and suicide bombings.
‘Everyone believes that they can do it if they want to do it,’ Regev said. ‘When you name soccer teams after suicide bombers, what are you saying about suicide bombers?’
Regev also dismissed recent attempted ‘reform’ within the Palestinian Authority, pointing specifically to Yasser Arafat’s appointment of a new prime minister. He said a new prime minister will not significantly affect the current power structure, which he called an authoritarian dictatorship.
Regev pointed to Iraq’s government as an example of superficial government structures.
‘Iraq has a prime minister,’ Regev said. ‘Does anyone know the name of the Iraqi prime minister? I don’t. He’s not a player.’
Nevertheless, Regev said he was optimistic for the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations. Palestinians are standing up against the current leadership, he said.
‘The Palestinians are saying, ‘We want accountable government; we want efficient government,” Regev said.
Student response to Regev’s response was enthusiastic.
‘I thought he was a very powerful speaker,’ said Micah Brosbe, a College of Arts and Sciences freshman. ‘He knew what he was talking about … he answered people’s questions thoroughly.’
After his speech, Regev fielded questions from students eager to question his stance on various aspects of American, Israeli and international policy. Questions focused mainly on possible solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as the proper role for the United States and the United Nations in the conflict.
Regev responded cautiously to a student question about a proposed ‘road map’ to peace in the region. He said he believes the only feasible goal will be a solution where both Israelis and Palestinians get a state.
However, he said the Palestinian leadership must agree to a an ‘iron-clad’ cease-fire before both sides can come to any peaceful resolution.
‘[The Palestinian leadership has] to deal with what we call the infrastructure of terrorism,’ Regev said.
Unless Palestinians agree to crack down on terrorists themselves, he said Israel could not agree to a cease-fire because it would provide a chance for terrorists to recuperate.
‘We want from the Palestinian leadership 100 percent effort,’ Regev said. ‘[They] have to have a zero-tolerance policy.’
BUSI member Jillian Levovitz said the purpose of the event was to provide ‘education, awareness and relationship building.’ Beyond discussing the issue of Israel, the forum served to bring student leaders from across campus together, Levovitz said.
BUSI member Lazar Berman said the group also hoped to create a ‘sense of a leadership community’ at BU.
During his comments, Ross commended the group for organizing the event and encouraging a community of leaders on campus.
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