[IMRA: This is not a parody] Radio Interview with Israel Foreign Minister
Shimon Peres on the Voice of Israel, 12 September 2001

[IMRA: This is not someone's idea of a sinister way to ridicule FM Shimon
Peres. The translation supplied by the Foreign Ministry is accurate. Peres
continues to maintain his condescending attitude towards the Palestinians,
certain that they are only making a "mistake" and patiently waiting for them
as yet another chance is given to them to come to their senses and mouth a
few declarations ["declare" not "act"]. One certainly hopes - for the sake
of the world - that the U.S. doesn't follow the Peres philosophy and try to
reason with Bin Laden and give him a chance to strike again before taking
action against him]

Information Division, Israel Foreign Ministry - Jerusalem

FM Peres: In my opinion, the United States has to lead the fight
against terrorism. Israel does not have to be in the frontline of
the battle. Israel should not place itself in the center of
events, when this time, the focus is a danger second only to the
nuclear threat, almost as bad as Pearl Harbor. I am confident
that the US is capable of waging this war successfully. We will
do our part, in proportion, because it is clear that this war
involves the entire world.

Our hearts are truly with the United States today, with the
thousands of families whose eyes are wet with tears. We will do
whatever we can, whatever we are asked, wholeheartedly,
unhesitatingly. However, let us not put ourselves at the
forefront of things.

Q: Isn't there a danger, Mr. Peres, that after a few days, after
this terrible shock, the Americans will come and say that this
has happened to them because the US was so supportive and
identified with the State of Israel?

FM Peres: There are always dangers. But I don't think that the US
will give in because someone says something this or that. It
wouldn't surrender its freedom of action or hesitate as to whose
side it is on. The way I see it, this attack was not only on the
United States - it was an attack on civilization, on democracy,
on our way of life, which is not the law of the jungle. The
United States has in the past stood up for the cause of freedom
and humanity, and it will do so now as well. There is no choice,
since, essentially, a few crazy individuals can decide to destroy
the lives of tens of thousands of people. For example, in the
United States, in Oklahoma City, there was an act of horrendous
terrorism, in which 181 were killed --

Q: That was domestic terrorism --

FM Peres: There is no such thing as domestic terrorism or foreign
terrorism. There is terrorism -- it is carried out by the insane
and is global in nature.

Q: This insanity is so global that we have seen Palestinians in
East Jerusalem and elsewhere celebrating by throwing candies --

FM Peres: They don't understand what they're doing. They don't
understand that, sooner or later, we will take this weapon away
from them. We have to go country by country, very systematically,
identify those which support and host terrorism and declare them
to be terrorist states. Orderly and very systematic work is
necessary -- without compassion, without ambiguity, and without
concessions. All of the world's clerics must be approached -
rabbis, qadis, priests - and asked to take a stand and make clear
declarations against these heinous suicide terrorists. It was
suicide terrorists who got on these planes, killed the pilots and
cause indescribable carnage. The world's moral leaders must take
a clear stand on this issue.

Q: If the Palestinians are still engaged in terrorism, aren't
there conclusions that have to be made with regard to our
relationship with them?

FM Peres: I think the Palestinians, not us, should reach some
conclusions of their own. It's like having to quit smoking. You
get to the point where you either stop, or fall victim to lung
cancer. It's the same with the Palestinians. They should have
made a statement last night that they are renouncing terrorism.
The whole world will stand against them if they fail to do so.
Many people can now understand not only the meaning of terrorism,
but also the meaning of suicide terrorism. This is a whole new
form of terrorism the likes of which we have never known.

Q: And when the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian
terrorist groups all take part in terrorism against Israel, some
say 'There's no reason to speak with them for now, its not
possible to talk with them, since they're on the other side' --

FM Peres: It could be that, if they continue [their terrorism],
then there really is no reason to speak with them. But they
themselves say that they want to stop the terrorism. That's what
we're talking with them about.

You see, up until now, the entire world was organized into armies
and enemies. Today, the classic armies remain, yet the classic
enemies have practically vanished. In their place, there are now
new threats which we were unknown to us -- primary among them is
the threat of terrorism. Strategy, tactics and organized forces
have yet to be developed against terrorism. The fundamental and
true conclusion is that a strategy must be developed, and
military and security organizations must be established which
will prevent terrorism.

This also clarifies to quite a few people why there is no choice
but to take preventative actions, since once these insane people
are airborne with knives, they constitute a global threat.
Comprehensive conclusions must also be reached regarding the
funding of terrorism, its sources, sponsorship, support, and
other aspects. There must be a systematic approach. Just as
conventional armies have been built, so too an army for the war
against terrorism must be built. But with one difference. This
army must be global in nature, since terrorism can appear
anywhere, even if it isn't invited or known to be present.

Q: Another question which we dealt with extensively before the
attacks in the United States was your upcoming meeting with
Arafat. Is it still on the agenda?

FM Peres: Arafat was told yesterday that this is an opportunity
for him to abandon the world of terrorism. This is the true test.
He cannot hold on to both at the same time -- to be engaged in
terrorism while at the same time being accepted internationally.
No one can. Yesterday, in the United States, this choice was made
clear cut, and no room for compromise now remains. I hope the
Palestinians reach the proper conclusion.

Q: And until then?

FM Peres: There is no 'until then'. Yesterday, the countdown
began - the countdown to an end to terrorism. If the terrorism
stops, we will enter into negotiations. We are not interested in
violence for its own sake. We are interested in an end to the
violence in order to renew our contacts.

Q: So, in the meantime, the new policy is that there will be no
dialogue, even about ending the violence, but rather, there must
first be an end to the violence and only then a beginning of the
dialogue?

FM Peres: I didn't say that. I said that the Palestinians
themselves have an opportunity to pursue a new policy. If they
want to talk about how to end the violence, we are ready to help
them end the violence. We are not giving anyone the 'cold
shoulder'. But the Palestinians must declare that they are giving
a comprehensive 'cold shoulder' to terrorism in all its forms.