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New Israel Face

Midwest consul general has an agenda.

Alan Hitsky
Associate Editor

On the Palestinian issue, Gil called
Gaza "one of Israel's worst experiences
in dealing with the Palestinians. There
areer Israeli diplomat Orli Gil
is not one Israeli soldier or one Israeli
has only been in the Midwest
civilian in Gaza, but the rockets keep
for two months, but she
being fired" into Israel.
already has a two-part agenda: Warn the
During questions and the remainder
world about the threat posed by Iran
of her remarks, Gil commented briefly
and get people to see and understand
on a variety of topics.
the real Israel.
Asked which U.S. presiden-
Gil, who has been with the
tial candidate would be best
Israel Ministry of Foreign
for Israel, she responded: "You
Affairs for 22 years, was
should vote for whoever would
introduced to the Detroit
make America stronger. Both
news media last week at an
candidates are capable" and
event hosted by the Jewish
strong supporters of Israel, but a
Community Relations Council
strong America is the best ally of
of Metropolitan Detroit.
Israel.
Orli Gil
Home base for Gil's typi-
Asked when Israel would con-
cally three-year assignment is
sider attacking Iranian nuclear
Chicago.
installations, she emphasized that
Gil stressed that the threat being
Israel would explore all other options
posed by Iran "is the only strategic
first.
threat Israel is facing right now Iran
As far as peace talks with the
stands behind all the radical forces in
Palestinians go, she believes strengthen-
the Middle Ease She expects that Iran
ing the Palestinian Authority is the best
will have enough enriched uranium by
way to achieve peace. "I believe a major-
the end of 2009 to make its first nuclear ity of Palestinian society wants peace,
weapon and that it is already adapting
as does Israeli society. I want to see a
rockets to carry nuclear warheads.
thriving Palestinian state next to Israel
The Iranian threat goes well beyond
— the two-state solution."
Israel, according to Gil: The free flow of
But, "we won't compromise our secu-
energy from the Gulf is essential to the
rity," she added. "We can't put up with
world."
suicide bombers being raised on the
The Iranian people suffer with a poor other side of our border.
economy — "They even had to import
"We have to let the Palestinian soci-
wheat this year from the Great Satan
ety mature into a peaceful society. We
[the U.S.]" — and while Iran is one of
haven't been so great with our own
the largest oil-producing nations, it has
society ... We shouldn't tell them how
little refining capacity.
to do theirs."
Gil told the Detroit area reporters that
Commenting on last week's election
recent support from Russia has boosted of Tzipi Livni to head Israel's Kadima
the falling internal popularity and
Party and possibly be the country's next
world legitimacy of Iranian President
prime minister, Gil, said, "I wish her
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. At the same
every luck in the world, but I don't envy
time, Iran continues to be the largest
her."
supporter of terrorism and radicalism,
Married and the mother of three, Gil
especially with Hezbollah in Lebanon
was born in Rishon l'Zion, served in the
and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli air force and earned a university
degree in English and Hebrew literature.
Syria, Hezbollah
She joined the Ministry for Foreign
The Syrians, while trying to develop
Affairs in 1986, and previously served
closer ties with Western nations, are
outside Israel as the deputy chief of
doing a "double play" by remaining
mission at the Israel embassy in Oslo
the conduit for Iranian support for
(1990-1993) and as consul for academic
Hezbollah in Lebanon. "The Syrians are
affairs for the U.S. at the consulate in
doing everything they can;' she said, to
New York (1999-2003).
continue their control of Lebanon and
For the past four years, she worked in
maintain their pressure on Israel.
Jerusalem in the ministry's department

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October 2 • 2008

for United Nations specialized organiza-
tions, including UNESCO and the World
Health Organization.

Strong U.N.
Last week in Detroit, Gil called for a
strong United Nations, but one that
does not believe that the Palestinians
are the only people in the world who
have problems.
"We [Israelis] are not saints:' she
said. "Not everything we do is fine."
But the United Nations must remem-
ber that there are other problems in
the world, in Darfur, in Southeast
Asia, in Africa, and that not all
Palestinian problems are the fault of
Israel.
She emphasized that the world must
see the real Israel — a land of science
and technological advancement that
is hosting and visiting Third World
countries to improve lives. In this way,
she said, "Israel is now becoming part
of the world community."

❑

Answering
Israel's Critics

The Charge
Addressing the U.N. General
Assembly last week, the Iranian
leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
called Zionists "murderers," claiming
they dominate the world monetary
system, are deceitful and manipulate
Americans.

The Answer
Not since the Nazi regime fell more
than 60 years ago has a nation's
leader taken the world stage to spout
such anti-Semitism. An international
group of politicians, led by former
Canadian justice minister Irwin
Cotler, is calling for charges of incite-
ment to genocide to be laid against
Ahmadinejad.

- Allan Gale, Jewish Community Relations

Council
of Metropolitan Detroit

© Jewish Renaissance Media, Oct. 2, 2008