Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said last night that he does not believe that there is presently an opportunity for a dramatic breakthrough toward a solution of the Middle East Arab-Israeli conflict.
“This is a period in which only limited objectives can be reached” in the Mideast, Kissinger told more than 600 people attending the annual dinner of the American Friends of Haifa University at the Pierre Hotel here. He noted that Israel is in the midst of an economic crisis and is being governed by a coalition government, and that various elements in the Arab world are divided and warring. He said that in this uncertain situation in the Mideast, no comprehensive solution is likely to be achieved.
But Kissinger, who received an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy from Haifa University last night, said that limited agreements are important. As an example, he cited the agreement reached between Israel and Syria on the Golan Heights after the Yom Kippur War on troops disengagement between the two countries, an agreement that Kissinger masterminded. He said that agreement has been working satisfactorily for the last 10 years.
Kissinger also called for “prolonged and profound dialogue” between Israel and the U.S. to help reach a solution in the Mideast. He said that he believed that a strong America is essential for the free world and for Israel.
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