Edited on Wed Aug-02-06 04:17 PM by QuestionAll...
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0608/01/ldt.01.htmlGILLERMAN: The solution is exactly what we're trying to do. We're trying to change the pattern of behavior and the culture of hatred. We're trying to do away with the terrorist organization which has taken over Lebanon, held it hostage for so many years and used it as a terror base against Israel. And that terror organization is just the proxy for Iran and Syria, who actually trying to destabilize not only our region but the whole world. So the solution is to eliminate terror, to fight Islamic fundamentalism. And we are doing it in our region, and I think that's the reason that many countries in the world, including some of our moderate neighbors, feel that we're fighting this war not just for ourselves but for the whole world. We're paying the price, but we're doing their work for them.
DOBBS: You're paying a price, the Lebanese are paying a price, Hezbollah is paying the price, and they're the ones to whom you've presented the bill. But the fact is, this campaign differs from no other. Trying to root out a culture of hatred -- there are those, as you well know, Ambassador, who say that you're creating more volunteers for Hezbollah by the civilian casualties that in Southern Lebanon.
The fact is, that the security of Israel seems just as jeopardized as at any other time in what has been a woeful, violent history. Is there not a way in which Israel, the United States, the principal parties, if you will, the six, can come together and say there should be a Palestinian state, that we should have security for Israel, and get it done rather than this unending violence and this endless talk?
GILLERMAN: Well, this way has been presented and offered to the Palestinians. It was actually given to them very generously by President Clinton and Prime Minister Barak. They could have by now had their own state, run their own affairs, cared about the welfare and standard of living of their own people.
DOBBS: I wish I could agree with you, Ambassador, that the Palestinians are the only fools in this terrible tragic, endless cycle of violence, but we're all complicit and we're all part of the violence because we haven't been either wise enough or intelligent enough or engaged enough or resolute enough to end this -- 58 years.
Einstein said the "definition of insanity is repeating the same actions and expecting a different result." Is there not a way here in which people could break through and say, we're going to come to terms with reality and make a better reality?
GILLERMAN: You know, Israel has had five prime ministers who offered the Palestinians their own state, who offered them practically all of the land. You know that we ...
DOBBS: Mr. Ambassador, I will concede that the Palestinians have been fools.
GILLERMAN: Palestinians have not missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
(CROSSTALK)
DOBBS: I understand. Let's call the Palestinians fools.
GILLERMAN: OK, they're not fools.
DOBBS: Let's call the Israelis the greatest guys, but what I'm saying to you is, in this I think we're all fools because the Palestinians, the Arabs, even Iran, all of us are real victims and potential victims of this. Why cannot intelligent people come to terms, led in part -- and I put great responsibility personally in this, my only view -- that the United States would tolerate this and not seek resolution. Surely there's a way.
GILLERMAN: There's a way. There's a very quick way. I mean, all Israel wants is peace. All our neighbors want, what the Palestinians want and the Hezbollah want is to destroy us. If they stop terror, if they stop hating us, if they start loving their children more than they hate us, if they stop ...
DOBBS: That's what Golda Meir once said.
GILLERMAN: That's Golda Meir, that's right. And if they stop this cultural hatred and incitement in the textbooks, raising more and more children who want to be suicide bombers, there would be peace overnight.
DOBBS: Ambassador Gillerman, we thank you for being here.
GILLERMAN: Thank you very much.
DOBBS: You don't leave me any more hopeful, but thank you.
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