Speaker 1: It's Night Side with Dan Ray. I'm w Eazy Boston Video.
Speaker 2: Welcome back everyone. It's ten oh seven here on w
Speaker 2: BZ and Boston. My name is Dan Ray, and we
Speaker 2: are about to get a late update from the Consul
Speaker 2: General of Israel to New England, Benjamin Sharoni, also known
Speaker 2: as Benny Benny Sharoni, Consul General. Welcome to Night's Side,
Speaker 2: first appearance with us here.
Speaker 3: Welcome, Thank you, Thank you, Dan. Good evening, Good evening
Speaker 3: to you, good evening to the listeners. Thank you very
Speaker 3: much for the kind invitation. It's great to be with
Speaker 3: you tonight.
Speaker 2: Well, you have a what people should understand is you
Speaker 2: represent the government of Israel here in New England. You're
Speaker 2: a Consul General. You are in the office of the
Speaker 2: Minister Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Israel, and you have
Speaker 2: a a long background, a long career as a diplomat.
Speaker 2: Tell us a little bit about yourself. How does someone
Speaker 2: end up as a member of the diplomatic corps in Israel?
Speaker 3: Thank you, it's a great question. I'm a career diplomat.
Speaker 3: I've been with is Ready Foreign Ministry twenty one years now,
Speaker 3: and it happened that when I was younger. I went
Speaker 3: to the university and when I did my master degree,
Speaker 3: I was looking for something interesting and I saw the
Speaker 3: television university had just open the registration for master degree
Speaker 3: in diplomatic studies. I didn't know that much about diplomacy
Speaker 3: back then. For me, it was a combination of many
Speaker 3: things that I like to enjoy, history, geography, politics, economy.
Speaker 3: So I joined and then I met other people and
Speaker 3: I learned more from them about this ready foreign ministry
Speaker 3: and what is the way if one wants to be accepted,
Speaker 3: what's to be admitted. I applied and went through the
Speaker 3: process and the rest is history.
Speaker 2: Well, if you had an interesting career, because obviously were
Speaker 2: you worked in Cairo, Egypt for a while as a
Speaker 2: political affairs officer. You're then with a deputy chief of
Speaker 2: mission in Hungary and as we say, Buddha Pesche, I
Speaker 2: was in Budapest a few years ago and learned that
Speaker 2: the city was bisected by the Danube River. On one
Speaker 2: side of the city was called Buddha and the other
Speaker 2: side was called Pesh which you knew, but it was.
Speaker 2: It was a really interesting historic city to visit. You
Speaker 2: have spent a lot of time in Jerusalem, you were
Speaker 2: posted for five years in Washington at the Israeli Embassy
Speaker 2: in Washington, d C. You went back and served as
Speaker 2: the Director of Arms Control in Jerusalem, and now you're
Speaker 2: the Consul general and you've been here just just about
Speaker 2: six months. So tell us your impressions of New England
Speaker 2: at this point. And you know you spent a lot
Speaker 2: of time in Boston, but you also have six states
Speaker 2: for which you are responsible. What's your impressions of New England?
Speaker 2: Is this the longest Well, you were in Washington, but
Speaker 2: we don't really consider Washington part of the country because
Speaker 2: it's capital the country. New England's really a section of America.
Speaker 2: I'm just curious your your impressions of our region.
Speaker 3: I love being here, to be sally honest. And when
Speaker 3: the time came for my family and I to choose
Speaker 3: our next diplomatic posting abroad New England and Boston, Kingstons,
Speaker 3: it was no brilliant. It was very clear for us
Speaker 3: that this is where we would like to be. We visited.
Speaker 3: In the years that that we used to live and
Speaker 3: work in Washington, d C. We had opportunity to travel
Speaker 3: mainly in the East Coast, and I remember the first
Speaker 3: time that we visited as a family in New England
Speaker 3: with start in Rhode Island, was back in twenty eighteen.
Speaker 3: Then we came back a year later for a big
Speaker 3: trip all over New England and with potass and I
Speaker 3: remember my wife and I speaking back at the time
Speaker 3: and saying, look, if we're going to come back to
Speaker 3: the United States for another diplomatic to let that be
Speaker 3: this part of America. So we felt back then that
Speaker 3: this is a wonderful place, and we still think that
Speaker 3: is the case. And actually it was becoming more and
Speaker 3: more convinced, you know, the more the more time that
Speaker 3: we spent here to me, this part of America, this
Speaker 3: part of the United States, offers a wonderful combination. On
Speaker 3: one hand, it has a very strong leg deep rooted
Speaker 3: in American history. Is this is the birthplace of the
Speaker 3: American Revolution, the birthplace of modern America, the Boston Tea Party,
Speaker 3: you know, many things that now United States began here.
Speaker 3: But at the same time, it has another leg, which
Speaker 3: is all about moderna and future and technology and innovation
Speaker 3: and the world best universities. And I found that combination
Speaker 3: to be unique and fascinating at the same time. So
Speaker 3: we really loving our time here. We enjoy being here
Speaker 3: in New England.
Speaker 2: And have you have you hit all six states so far?
Speaker 2: I know that the winter time in Vermont, New Hampshire
Speaker 2: and Maine sometimes can be a little challenging. Have you
Speaker 2: have you had a chance, I know part of your
Speaker 2: responsibilities to get in touch with the political leaders. I
Speaker 2: know you've met with Governor Healey. Have you met the
Speaker 2: other governors here in New England as well?
Speaker 3: So I met thus far free I think out of
Speaker 3: the six governors, we are now working on finalizing the
Speaker 3: list and scheduling meeting with the governors that I haven't
Speaker 3: met thus far. I in the last five and a
Speaker 3: half months already they visited five out of the six
Speaker 3: in Indland state, most of them more than once. And
Speaker 3: I'm looking forward also to conclude the last state which
Speaker 3: I haven't visited. Basketball. I'm not going to reveal which
Speaker 3: one in order not who'll find anyone.
Speaker 2: A dip on that.
Speaker 3: They're all my favorite? You know which one?
Speaker 2: Therefore, of course, well, I understand when we get back,
Speaker 2: mister Consul General, I want to talk about what is
Speaker 2: going on in Israel. We have followed this story from Afar,
Speaker 2: but we've covered the Middle East. Here on Nightside, I
Speaker 2: think you'll find my audience is a fairly a very
Speaker 2: sophisticated audience when it comes to world affairs, and I
Speaker 2: would encourage them if they have questions for you or
Speaker 2: want to offer some comfort or some support. I'm sure
Speaker 2: you would appreciate that. We'll open up phone lines. But
Speaker 2: when we get back, I'd like to talk with you
Speaker 2: about the latest. I know that this ceasefire is still
Speaker 2: in its earliest stages, and I just would like to
Speaker 2: make our audience aware of what is happening, what will
Speaker 2: be happening this coming weekend, and where this might lead.
Speaker 2: And we can talk obviously about how we got here
Speaker 2: after this horrific four hundred and now more than four
Speaker 2: hundred and seventy days of captivity for those who are
Speaker 2: still being held hostage in gossip. My name's Dan Ray.
Speaker 2: This is the Night Side. We're talking with the Consul
Speaker 2: General of Israel to New England, Benjamin Benny SHARONI will
Speaker 2: be taking phone calls, so you want to get on
Speaker 2: quickly six one seven, two five four ten thirty or
Speaker 2: six one seven, nine three one ten thirty. We're going
Speaker 2: to learn a lot about what's going on in the
Speaker 2: Middle East in the next part of the program, So
Speaker 2: please stay with us and feel free to join the conversation.
Speaker 2: I wish I was smart enough to ask every question
Speaker 2: that's on everyone's mind, So whatever questions you have, feel
Speaker 2: free to join us. Coming back on Nightside.
Speaker 1: Now back to Dan live from the Window World Nightside
Speaker 1: Studios on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 2: With me is the Israel's Consul General to New England
Speaker 2: and Console General SHARONI. We have reached a ceasefire, and
Speaker 2: I think it's important for everybody to understand that this
Speaker 2: is not necessarily a lasting piece or the end of
Speaker 2: the conflict. From what you know, and you know a
Speaker 2: lot more than about this than any of us. How
Speaker 2: optimistic are you that that, in this very complex world
Speaker 2: of conflict in the Middle East, that this ceasefire might
Speaker 2: actually hold.
Speaker 3: I was started by saying that, you know, when we
Speaker 3: sew the whole nation was glued to the television screen
Speaker 3: last Sunday, you know, witnessing the return of Roydon and Emily,
Speaker 3: of the hostages that have been held by hamasters By
Speaker 3: for almost four hundred and seventy days. And that was
Speaker 3: you know a little bit of happiness in a long
Speaker 3: sixteen months of a nation that has been struggling with
Speaker 3: a very dramatic event. There is a lot of hope
Speaker 3: among the Israeli people, and there's a lot of desire
Speaker 3: to see the completion of the deal when all its phases,
Speaker 3: and the hope that by the end of the day
Speaker 3: we have the ability to see everyone, all of the
Speaker 3: hostages coming back home. It's not a matter of being
Speaker 3: optimistic or pessimistic. It's a matter of other things that
Speaker 3: you know, must must happen. It's a reflection of the
Speaker 3: commitment of Israel, you know, to our people to bring
Speaker 3: the hostages back.
Speaker 2: It has to be just to set the stage here,
Speaker 2: there were three women, young women released last week, one
Speaker 2: of whom had been a member of the IDEF. This
Speaker 2: Saturday or Sunday, I believe three more hostages are to
Speaker 2: be released. And I think you mentioned to me yesterday
Speaker 2: that the identities of the three who will be released
Speaker 2: this weekend will be disclosed sometime on Saturday, and at
Speaker 2: the same time, somewhere anywhere between fifty and ninety Hamas
Speaker 2: prisoners will also be released. That seems a little disproportionate
Speaker 2: to us as Americans. That for three people, the Hamas
Speaker 2: is getting back anywhere from fifty sixty maybe in some
Speaker 2: cases up to seventy or eighty fighters. That is what
Speaker 2: historically Israel has done because obviously they value the lives
Speaker 2: of their citizens tremendously. How long will this sort of
Speaker 2: small release by Hamas three a week continue. I know
Speaker 2: the ceasefire is for six weeks, but you know, if
Speaker 2: it's just three a week, that means after six weeks,
Speaker 2: if the ceasefire isn't continued, only eighteen hostages will have
Speaker 2: been released. And I always thought the commitment was thirty
Speaker 2: three from Hamas. Can you reconcile that apparent discrepancy?
Speaker 3: Yeah, So the deal is a gradual one that has
Speaker 3: three phases the free The first play is the one
Speaker 3: that involves release of thirty three of the hostages in
Speaker 3: a gradual manner. And three were released or the first
Speaker 3: the first day, and then we're expecting another four, I believe,
Speaker 3: although these come is coming weaker, and then we are
Speaker 3: we're waiting for the names to be released by Hamas,
Speaker 3: maybe as early as tomorrow. Again, I think it's a group.
Speaker 3: The first day is a gradual one and where every
Speaker 3: seventh day we have expected to see another three of
Speaker 3: the hostages coming back. The deal speaks about bringing back
Speaker 3: the live ones. First. We know, unfortunately that some of
Speaker 3: the hostages are no longer with us, but the deal
Speaker 3: includes also returning that the bodies of those who are
Speaker 3: deceased althody. Unfortunately, that's the first day, the first phase. Again,
Speaker 3: it's thirty three hostages, and that will involve also releasing
Speaker 3: from the Israeli side more than seven hundred terrorists, including
Speaker 3: some that have Israeli blood on their hands, were responsible
Speaker 3: for horrible murders, plus another more than thousand Palestinians from
Speaker 3: Gaza who are detained during the defense of October seven.
Speaker 3: It's a very heavy price. I think the one is
Speaker 3: going to argue against that. Uh but but but it's
Speaker 3: a reflection of the moral obligation to do everything that
Speaker 3: we can in order to bring all of the hostages back.
Speaker 2: Have there and again, our attention here in the country,
Speaker 2: in this country has been on the inauguration, on the
Speaker 2: wildfires in California, on the blizzard in Louisiana. You know,
Speaker 2: our attention span in this country is pretty parapatetic. I mean,
Speaker 2: we we move from a big story to the next
Speaker 2: day to the next day have there How can can
Speaker 2: the ceasefire hold realistically or will there be sporadic violations
Speaker 2: which both sides will be able to look past if
Speaker 2: if someone you know on the Hama side, uh, you know,
Speaker 2: decides to try to disrupt things, that just seems to
Speaker 2: me to be a very complex achievement to realize that
Speaker 2: that all guns would be would be silent for six
Speaker 2: full weeks.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I agree that, you know, there are a lot
Speaker 3: of challenges with with with regard to the implementation of
Speaker 3: that of that DL. Well, there's a strong determination of
Speaker 3: this really, so I began to do the utmost in
Speaker 3: order to bring to the release of the hostages, and
Speaker 3: we want to see that happen. Of course as well
Speaker 3: is very you know, looking very carefully to making sure
Speaker 3: that everything every commitment that is being taken by by
Speaker 3: other sides the ceasfire agreement needs to be fully implemented.
Speaker 3: And we did, you know, so some delays on the
Speaker 3: the early days on the first day, those turned out
Speaker 3: by the end of the day to be of a
Speaker 3: technical nature that didn't stop the release of the first
Speaker 3: three hostages. U uh, And I you know, we cannot
Speaker 3: exclude that there will be further delays down the road,
Speaker 3: but the desire is definitely to see the implementation of
Speaker 3: the first phase and seeing during the first phase the
Speaker 3: thirty three coming back.
Speaker 2: Is the top leadership of Hamas. They are outside of
Speaker 2: Gaza As I understand it, they are. They're in relative
Speaker 2: comfort and cutter, correct. So uh, that's where the top
Speaker 2: what the existing whatever is left of the leadership of
Speaker 2: Hamas is, Is that correct?
Speaker 3: So? Some some some. They have a very interesting structure
Speaker 3: where they have an external leadership that sits outside of
Speaker 3: Gaza Street, but they also have internal apparatuses that within Gaza,
Speaker 3: and I think up to today, even though after the
Speaker 3: vast majority of the leadership has been taken out of
Speaker 3: the equation, still there are some leadership focus leadership centers
Speaker 3: within Gaza and as far as I can tell, decisions
Speaker 3: on their side is being taken between the external players
Speaker 3: and the ones who are inside Gad Street.
Speaker 2: When we get back, I want to talk about the
Speaker 2: efforts by our government to move this process along. It
Speaker 2: came at an interesting time where we were transitioning from
Speaker 2: the Biden administration to the Trump administration, and from where
Speaker 2: I'm sitting, it seems as if both administrations contributed to
Speaker 2: the success of this arrangement. It's too bad that it
Speaker 2: took four hundred and seventy days, but better to get
Speaker 2: it done at for seventy than to continue. So when
Speaker 2: we get back, I'd like to just ask you to
Speaker 2: sort of tell us were there some key moments from
Speaker 2: the State of Israel's perspective that made this deal work?
Speaker 2: And then I do want to talk talk about is
Speaker 2: it possible in the long run that after all that
Speaker 2: Israel has gone through and the success in terms of
Speaker 2: eliminating leadership of Hespollah, an Iranian leader, the departure of
Speaker 2: Asad from Syria, and of course the really the dissolution
Speaker 2: of Hamas, is it possible possible that for the next
Speaker 2: few years, once if this ceasefire holds, that we actually
Speaker 2: could have something that resembles peace in the Middle East.
Speaker 2: So that'll be my next question. Coming up. On the
Speaker 2: other side of the news break, my guest is the
Speaker 2: Consul General of Israel to New England, Benny Benjamin Sharoni.
Speaker 2: Benny Sharoni has been with us for six months here
Speaker 2: in New England. Very forthcoming. If you have any questions
Speaker 2: about what's going on in the Middle East. You were
Speaker 2: more than welcome to join the conversation. Six one, seven, two, five,
Speaker 2: four ten thirty six one seven, nine, three, one ten thirty.
Speaker 2: My name is Dan Ray. This is Nightside. It is
Speaker 2: not often that we get a guest of mister Sharoni's stature,
Speaker 2: Console General sharoni stature, so please take advantage of speaking
Speaker 2: directly with someone who knows that part of the world
Speaker 2: much better than any one of us could ever imagine.
Speaker 2: We'll be back on Nightside right after this.
Speaker 1: You're on the Night Side with Dan Ray on w BZ,
Speaker 1: Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2: My guest is the Israeli Console General to New England,
Speaker 2: Benny Sharoni. I ended the last segment asking you to comment,
Speaker 2: if you will, on what role the US might have
Speaker 2: played in the final days of these negotiations, which ultimately
Speaker 2: resulted in a ceasefire, just you know, before one administration
Speaker 2: left and then another arrived.
Speaker 3: So I will say that the United States have been
Speaker 3: actively involved since since October seventh, since day one of
Speaker 3: this horrible last sixteen months and years, was quick to
Speaker 3: use its assets, both military assets and diplomatic assets. You know,
Speaker 3: make clear that it's present and it's willing to back
Speaker 3: up and support as well from day one, and we
Speaker 3: all know and we all understand that the situation would
Speaker 3: have looked completely different without US active involvement. Now, I
Speaker 3: think the years administration had at a lot of effort,
Speaker 3: you know, during those last sixteen months, with an ongoing
Speaker 3: attempts to broker agreement which will bring to the release
Speaker 3: of the hostages. And in this regard, in this point
Speaker 3: of time, I think we sew efforts from both the
Speaker 3: outgoing Biden administration and becoming Trump administration, and that along
Speaker 3: with other reasons is the fact that we are now
Speaker 3: into the Sits Fire agreement and seeing finally some release
Speaker 3: of the hostages. So it's a combined effort and US
Speaker 3: have been active all along the way. And I should
Speaker 3: say that the people of Israel are a seemly thankful
Speaker 3: for the United States and a leadership for the ongoing
Speaker 3: involvement and support, including the efforts to be to the
Speaker 3: release of the hostages.
Speaker 2: From we're up sitting and I'm not a Middle East expert,
Speaker 2: but I followed it pretty closely going all the way
Speaker 2: back to the to the nineteen sixty seven war, in
Speaker 2: the Sixth Day War, I was born the same year
Speaker 2: that the state of Israel was founded, so Israel is
Speaker 2: a couple of months older than I am, and I
Speaker 2: feel a great kindred spirit towards Israel. My dad fought
Speaker 2: during World War two and all we taught us as
Speaker 2: children to always support Israel so that what happened re
Speaker 2: leading up to World War II could never happen again anywhere. Now.
Speaker 2: From my perspective, and if I'm wrong, correct me, please,
Speaker 2: it seems to me that this might be one of
Speaker 2: those moments in history when the tide could potentially turn
Speaker 2: in the Middle East. There will always be groups and
Speaker 2: individuals in the Middle East who cannot countenance the existence
Speaker 2: of a Jewish state. But it just seems to me
Speaker 2: that the departure of Asad Iran having been weakened, the
Speaker 2: success of the Israel Defense Forces in conjunction with the
Speaker 2: United States last spring from those horrific including ballistic missile
Speaker 2: attacks from Iran, the successful defense of Israel. What has
Speaker 2: happened to Hamas, what has happened to Hesbelah? Even today,
Speaker 2: I believe that hoodies Uh said that they were going
Speaker 2: to I think engage in some form of a ceasefire.
Speaker 2: Our conditions uniquely positive for maybe some years here of
Speaker 2: reconstruction and reconciliation possible in the Middle East? Have we
Speaker 2: reached one of those magic moments, mister Consul General, or
Speaker 2: am I just being too too polygyannish their look?
Speaker 3: I'm coming from a land of the profits. That's one
Speaker 3: point that you don't want to be be a profit
Speaker 3: when it comes to Middle East politics. I agree with you. You know,
Speaker 3: the situation do offer some prospects, and it looks as if, finally,
Speaker 3: after a couple of good decades that the whole region
Speaker 3: was under subject to many interference from Iran network of proxies,
Speaker 3: we are finally at a much better position. From an
Speaker 3: Israeli perspective, we have been surrounded by years, during years
Speaker 3: by by a network of Iran in process. This is
Speaker 3: like an octicus with with hands with tentacles all around us,
Speaker 3: with Hispala in Lebanon, their support for a sad, murderous
Speaker 3: regime in Syria, Hamas and uh In Guds, the hoodies
Speaker 3: in Yen and Iranian involvement in Iraq, and true yes,
Speaker 3: nowadays I think when you look at the Northern Front
Speaker 3: and you see his ballad defeated and the situation the
Speaker 3: seats fire there, which hopefully will will last, although we
Speaker 3: are more than willing to respond with both to any violation.
Speaker 3: You see how Hamas is now much weaker, and I
Speaker 3: think the run in journalist of the serious blow over
Speaker 3: the last couple of months. So he do offer a
Speaker 3: couple of good prospects for the future of the Middle East,
Speaker 3: but that you know, there are still things that that
Speaker 3: needs to be done. And I think I just I
Speaker 3: want to highlight this is today. It's Iran is important
Speaker 3: factor Dell, because we still continue to see Iran's ambitions
Speaker 3: on the nuclear front, on the original front, and those
Speaker 3: needs to be addressed before the whole region can move
Speaker 3: into a much stable situation. And and also Hamas. Hamas
Speaker 3: suffered the serious blow. But we have to bear in
Speaker 3: mind that the rule of Hamas of a no pathway
Speaker 3: for Please, it's only a continuation of conflict, suffering instability
Speaker 3: for both the Palestines and the Israeli The removal, the
Speaker 3: complete removal of Homans, it's not really an Israeli interest,
Speaker 3: it's a regional necessity without Hamas, only without commands that
Speaker 3: could be rebuilt us. It's only that without Hamas gus
Speaker 3: in israelis would begin to envision a different future. So
Speaker 3: that that's that's definitely the and that's something that will
Speaker 3: need to be addressed, not just by Israel, but also
Speaker 3: by the international community, because we do have an opportunity here.
Speaker 2: Where where could Hamas relocate to? You know, if if
Speaker 2: they were to leave Gaza, and I'm not sure they
Speaker 2: were willingly leave Gaza, but if they were to leave Gaza,
Speaker 2: is there a safe haven for Hamas somewhere else in
Speaker 2: the Middle East with removed from removed physically from Israel.
Speaker 3: Yeah, So Hamas leadership through the years found shelter and
Speaker 3: establish headquarters in different Middle Eastern state but also established
Speaker 3: presidence in not just in the Middle East, also in
Speaker 3: Asia in other places. Our hope is that there's not
Speaker 3: going to be a single country that would be willing
Speaker 3: to accept this group, this murtherers terroist group and allow
Speaker 3: them to re emerge. And I think it is not
Speaker 3: just you know, Israel, but I think it is it
Speaker 3: is up collectively, you know, the the international community to
Speaker 3: put pressure on state UH not to allow them to
Speaker 3: absorb or to host Hamas leadership and allows them to
Speaker 3: continue to UH to work from from any any given
Speaker 3: to it.
Speaker 2: Theory is it is it realistic to think that they
Speaker 2: would be willing to leave Gaza and basically you know,
Speaker 2: settle in several countries, you know, and and for them
Speaker 2: to separate their leadership. How do you convince them to
Speaker 2: do that? I mean, it's that seems to be a
Speaker 2: task for diplomats who would be extraordinary. I mean, what
Speaker 2: what is would what would be the interest for them
Speaker 2: too to leave UH and and to and to split
Speaker 2: up their organization.
Speaker 3: Uh, it's a wonderful question, and I think you're touching,
Speaker 3: you know, some of the challenges there. I would say
Speaker 3: though that the most genius among them were already eliminated
Speaker 3: and taken again out of the equation. The majority of
Speaker 3: mask pop leadership is no longer well, no longer not
Speaker 3: seeing Woll not death and not others. Yes, there is
Speaker 3: a like second, second level and third level and knew
Speaker 3: who are who are emerging, But this is not the
Speaker 3: same harms that used to know in terms of internal
Speaker 3: strength comparing to whether the situation before October seventh. So
Speaker 3: part of the challenges is, you know, use a lot
Speaker 3: of pressure, use a lot of diplomatic and other tools
Speaker 3: in order to make sure that those who actually left
Speaker 3: of har mass leadership will not have the ability to
Speaker 3: rebuild Hamas and let Homas re emerge. Now is one
Speaker 3: hundred percent determined to not allow Hamas get back and
Speaker 3: rebuild its capability and have again the potential to threaten
Speaker 3: as well or to contemplate and God forbid to perform
Speaker 3: things like what happened on the field of seven.
Speaker 2: Why why not? This is a question out of left field,
Speaker 2: And I'll lend then we'll go to a break, and
Speaker 2: then we'll get some phone calls. Why not allow them
Speaker 2: to move lock, stock and barrel to some place like
Speaker 2: Yemen where they're far away from Israel.
Speaker 3: Uh?
Speaker 2: And if they do start to move out of Yemen,
Speaker 2: they can be dealt with at that time.
Speaker 3: Or is that?
Speaker 2: And then am I just whistling past the graveyard as
Speaker 2: we would say here in America? And that's unrealistic. I'm
Speaker 2: just saying, put them in a country where where they
Speaker 2: might have to compete with some other bad guys, and
Speaker 2: let the bad guys skill each other off, if you
Speaker 2: know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3: Yeah, Well, I'm a little.
Speaker 2: Tedious when I say this, but I just didn't know
Speaker 2: if it might might be it's just a thought go ahead.
Speaker 3: I'm sorry, you know, we're without getting to be whether
Speaker 3: this is you know, a possibility or not. The fact
Speaker 3: I think this is not going to solve the problem,
Speaker 3: you know, as long as Hamas Hamas, you know, has
Speaker 3: a very clear agenda, and you know part of Hamas' agenda,
Speaker 3: I mean, you know, it's stipulated clearly in the mandate
Speaker 3: to bring to the complete destruction of the status Israel.
Speaker 3: And they will continue to do that even if they're
Speaker 3: not going to be you know, in God, even if
Speaker 3: they're going to be in someplace else, they will continue
Speaker 3: to work, they in or it in order to bring
Speaker 3: to the instruction of Israel. Now we're not going to
Speaker 3: let them, you know, let them do that. We're not
Speaker 3: going to let them know, let that happen. But but
Speaker 3: if if you're just relocating the whole problem to some
Speaker 3: someplace else, I don't think it's going to solve the problem.
Speaker 3: It will take you know, they got a serious blow
Speaker 3: from as well, and I think it is now the
Speaker 3: time for you know, a global frond that will assert
Speaker 3: a lot of diplomatic pressure also, not just some Hamas
Speaker 3: because some of them, you know, it's not that you know,
Speaker 3: many countries speak with them or anything, but just to
Speaker 3: establish a global front, well most of the countries of
Speaker 3: the world, hopefully all of them as well. We're not
Speaker 3: willing to accept you.
Speaker 2: Yeah, My guest is the Consul General of Israel to
Speaker 2: New England, Benjamin Benny. Sure, we will get the phone
Speaker 2: calls if you want to get in down right now
Speaker 2: six one seven, two, five, four ten thirty or six
Speaker 2: one seven nine thirty. Will be right back on night Side.
Speaker 1: Now back to Dan Ray live from the Window World
Speaker 1: Nights Sin Studios. I'm WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 2: My guest is is Israel's Consul General to New England.
Speaker 2: Benny Sharon, Benjamin Benny, Sharon. Let me go to David
Speaker 2: in San Francisco. David, you are next on Nightside.
Speaker 4: With taking my call and counselor Sharon Sharon SARONI yeah, okay,
Speaker 4: thank you. I want to thank you. I want to
Speaker 4: just compliment you and uh and on your your courage
Speaker 4: and your hard work of getting this, uh this resolved,
Speaker 4: because you must have the hardest diplomatic job on Earth,
Speaker 4: I mean, and uh, I just want to well, first
Speaker 4: welcome you to the United States and UH and UH
Speaker 4: God bless you and in your efforts and UH counselor.
Speaker 4: As a complete outsider, I've been following this UH situation
Speaker 4: for forty years. I'll be eighty half my life. And
Speaker 4: first I'd like to have your thoughts and as an outsider,
Speaker 4: the only solution, I say, permanent solution is a two
Speaker 4: space solution. Could you please give me your thoughts on that.
Speaker 3: So, thank you very much, David, and I hope everything
Speaker 3: is okay in San Francisco, and I want to thank
Speaker 3: you for your kind words and blessing. If I agree,
Speaker 3: it's a job, but for us, it's a necessity.
Speaker 2: And this is.
Speaker 3: Something that it's not just a job. It's something that
Speaker 3: I truly believe in. And this is what gives me
Speaker 3: the power and the energy and the motivation to continue
Speaker 3: to do do that. Well, you know, solutions, Yeah, we
Speaker 3: would all like to see, you know, a permanent solution
Speaker 3: hopefully will get there a certain point. But that that's
Speaker 3: not easy. That's easier said than done because in order
Speaker 3: to do that, there are a couple of elements that
Speaker 3: needs to be addressed, including Iran, including hamas and other elements.
Speaker 3: Though in the equation that I just highlighted, that there
Speaker 3: are others, and it also involves having a legitimate partner. Well,
Speaker 3: the Israel can can you know, fit together and discuss
Speaker 3: the future of our region and our neighbors, And that
Speaker 3: unfortunately hasn't been the case over the last couple of years.
Speaker 3: So the future is there. That it also calls for
Speaker 3: the right partners and the right circumstances to allow us,
Speaker 3: all of us, to move forward.
Speaker 4: Thanks Sir David, appreciate you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2: So so I know that there many of the political
Speaker 2: leaders in the United States talk constantly about a two
Speaker 2: state solution. I remind my listeners whenever we talk about
Speaker 2: a two state solution that the nation of Israel is
Speaker 2: approximately the same size as the state of New Jersey.
Speaker 2: And how realistic is it that Israel should be expected
Speaker 2: to give up a certain portion of their limited geography
Speaker 2: in effect to buy peace. I mean, I know that
Speaker 2: that a two state solution of difference has been offered
Speaker 2: and Hamas has always said no, But is it conceivable
Speaker 2: that a two state solution is even possible within this
Speaker 2: small geographic area.
Speaker 3: So I'll tell you from an Israeli perspective, The question
Speaker 3: where we're asking also for looking at you know, potential
Speaker 3: you know, future settlements and arrangements, is whether such arrangement,
Speaker 3: so any kind of future deal will be enough in
Speaker 3: order to provide Israel safety and security. You know Israel
Speaker 3: demonstrator that is willing to give up on some territories.
Speaker 3: That this is something that we did back in nineteen
Speaker 3: seventy nine with a disagreement with Egypt. We completely withdrew
Speaker 3: from from Gaza two decades ago, and with a desire
Speaker 3: to find a deal that will provide also the Israelies
Speaker 3: the safety and security and existence that we all hoping
Speaker 3: to get. Now. Unfortunately, what we get in exchange is
Speaker 3: just motivle more threats, more attacks, and you know, things
Speaker 3: like October seven, and that doesn't really create a lot
Speaker 3: of desire and appetite among Israelis to go to a
Speaker 3: future hypothetical. Tests of our lessons demonstrate thus far is
Speaker 3: that this is what we get by the end of
Speaker 3: the day. So I don't think that it's really ruled
Speaker 3: out any future solution. But when when we are sitting
Speaker 3: down and discussing the future of the Middle East, it
Speaker 3: is our responsibility as a state and as the leadership
Speaker 3: of the state to ensure our people that in any
Speaker 3: future agreement that involves not just our relations with with
Speaker 3: our immediate neighbors, but the entirety of the Middle East,
Speaker 3: the people of Israel can live in safe and secure
Speaker 3: with good relations with their neighbor And you know, we
Speaker 3: I was well the time that while I was serving
Speaker 3: in Washington, the Abrima Courts were signed, and I was
Speaker 3: there on the loans of the White House. The date
Speaker 3: was signed, a very historical moment, and to me, this
Speaker 3: is a demonstration of when you when you reach a
Speaker 3: deal that works for everyone involved, well that deally lentlemented
Speaker 3: and the deal brings you know, many good things and
Speaker 3: a lot of hope for everyone is involved. To us,
Speaker 3: that was a very strong demonstration of things that you
Speaker 3: know might actually work.
Speaker 2: But again, yeah, yeah, let us hope that one by
Speaker 2: one some of the other nations in the Middle East,
Speaker 2: including Saudi Arabia, can join the Abraham Accords. Obviously, the
Speaker 2: administration that that initiated them has now returned to the
Speaker 2: White House, and I'm optimistic about that, and the larger
Speaker 2: the group who have signed on to the Abraham Accords,
Speaker 2: I think there would be direct relationship to the possibility
Speaker 2: of a lasting peace. Uh, mister Consul General would just
Speaker 2: flat out a time. We could have done five hours.
Speaker 2: And I hope I can get you in the not
Speaker 2: too distant future and uh and talk with more of
Speaker 2: my listeners. I dominated the questions tonight, but they were
Speaker 2: questions I think that that my listeners wanted to wanted
Speaker 2: to hear answers to. I just thank you for your
Speaker 2: time and uh, and I thank you, Thank God for
Speaker 2: the state of Israel, and thank you so much, my friend,
Speaker 2: and I look forward to meeting you at some point
Speaker 2: in the not to distant future.
Speaker 3: Yeah, thank you very much for this kind invitation. It
Speaker 3: has been my honor and I truly enjoyed our conversation.
Speaker 3: I want to thank you for doing that and for
Speaker 3: hosting and for your hard work. And I'm also looking
Speaker 3: forward for more opportunities to speak with you, to speak
Speaker 3: with your with your audience, and come back again and
Speaker 3: discuss a whole scope of issues, including the challenging ones
Speaker 3: but also a good one.
Speaker 2: Yes, we will. Hopefully there will be more good than
Speaker 2: dad going forward.
Speaker 3: Uh.
Speaker 2: Even the worst of events can come some hope here
Speaker 2: here God, So General, thank you so much for your time,
Speaker 2: and we will talk again in the not to distant future.
Speaker 3: Thank you, my friend, thank you, thank you, thank you,
Speaker 3: and good night, thank you.
Speaker 2: All Right, the eleven o'clock news awaits, and I'm not
Speaker 2: sure we're going to do on the other side, but
Speaker 2: I'll be there for you, coming back on nightside.