(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The director of the Berlin-based political think-tank Transform, Ahmed Badawi did 'not rule out' a future war, if the Israeli side does not manage to solve its conflict with the Palestinians.
'The Israelis need to understand. They cannot keep all territories and have a normal relationship with any country in the region. It simply won't happen because of popular pressure. And because of so many factors. At one point, if the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not solved peacefully, it will be solved by war, even after 50 years. Even after 100 years,' he said.
'The balance of power is shifting and it will continue to shift and if at any time the Arabs realize that they can take on Israel militarily, they will do it, if the conflict with the Palestinians is not solved. And even if they don't want to do, I assure you that the Palestinians will make sure they would go for it,' Badawi added.
Asked whether the West was either unable or unwilling to pressure Israel to make compromises on the Palestinian issue, the Egyptian political expert replied, 'I don't know.'
Badawi voiced deep frustration over the close ties between western countries and Israel.
'I don't understand this special relationship between Israel and the West that goes against some of the very basic values that the West adheres to.
Why would the West go against some of its most cherished values for the sake of Israel. I have no idea,' he said.
Badawi made clear the ongoing denial of the Palestinian people's right for self-determination was simply no longer acceptable.
'It's getting totally unacceptable what is happening in this situation. This cannot continue. We are talking about 21st century. People who are being denied the right for self-determination with the flimsiest of excuses,' he said.
'I don't understand how the world can accept something like this from a country like Israel which should have a very morally driven foreign policy given their history,' added Badawi.
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