| المستخلص: |
Director of the Middle East Studies Center, Mr. Jawad Al-Hamad conducted a telephone interview with Egyptian strategic military expert, General Tal'at Musalam on 17, July, 2006. The interview dealt with nature of the confrontation between Israel and HizbAllah in the north, and between Israel and Hamas and other Palestinian resistance factions, in the south; and whether such confrontation was tactical or had a strategic dimension. The extended dialogue investigated the reasons for the escalation and its impact on Israel itself and its new government. Other questions dealt with the potentials of both parties in the war and the extensive use of aerial bombardment by Israel in the light of international and regional dismay, of the issue of widening the so-called land war and of other military considerations. The issue of people’s endurance in the confrontation and role of the resistance and performance proved very topical for analytical debate. The dialogue, also a discussed a possible widening of the confrontation, its regional extent, and impact of surprises Israel met in Gaza and south Lebanon. It was believed that the spiraling confrontation will now force Israel to reconsider its strategies and its ability to open a wider regional front would be hindered. In addition, the telephone encounter focused on the nature of the present confrontation within the Arab-Israeli context, future prospects, its regional dimensions and a review of military strategies by Israel. Finally, the dialogue dealt with the international side of the confrontation, international policies to the Israeli aggression, and of possible American retreat in the face of strategic change in the Arab-Israeli balance.
|
