"In recent years, Iran has become a dominant force in the struggle against Daesh (ISIS). The coalition of Assad, Russia, and Hezbollah has placed Iran on the side of the good guys. Also in Iraq, Iranian forces and pro-Iranian Shiite militias are fighting on the same side with American forces. Iranian influence is becoming a tangible threat to the moderate Shiite states. For the first time, a rare situation of conjoining interests has been created between Israel and the moderate countries," explained Pardo.Pardo endorsed the classic economic-based vision of Israel's destiny when he asked participants of the Netanya College conference, "Will we have the presence of mind to integrate for the first time in the region? It is important to remember that youth doesn't last forever and opportunity doesn't always return. One morning we will wake up and see Iran neighboring the Gulf states, and then it will be too late. Unfortunately, clandestine ties under the radar are temporary, the key to integrating into the region lies in economic ties, movement between countries and companies, and all this will not happen unless the Palestinian issue is resolved.
"I looked at my seven-year-old granddaughter on the weekend and asked myself what the State of Israel will look like in a decade or two. What kind of state are we leaving to the coming generations? Day to day my worries grow, as one who served in the security system close to 40 years. Are our deeds in the spirit of the Zionist vision?" READ MORE
