Israeli diplomat warns of Iranian nuclear strength

Sallai Meridor, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, warned of Iran’s growing nuclear threat in a lecture entitled “U.S.-Israeli Relations and the Middle East Peace Process,” which was held before a packed audience in Robertson Hall yesterday.

Meridor began by referring to the many challenges Israel and the United States will face in the 21st century, when there will be a “sense of global village.” He spoke primarily on the threat of radical Islam and Iran’s development of nuclear capabilities.

The United States and Israel should work on “[preventing] Iran from becoming nuclear,” Meridor said. “If they continue in this path [of developing nuclear capacity] ... the outcome would be devastating.”

Peace efforts in the region are dependent on whether Iran becomes the superpower of the Middle East, Meridor said. 

He warned that “if one should assume Iran has the bomb, one can assume that more and more Arab countries are heading in this direction.”

Among the challenges that the United States and Israel will face, Meridor noted a “growing wave of radical religiosity and Islam.” 

He said that the leaders fueling this trend “are teaching hatred. They are translating frustration and disappointment ... to hate and violence [instead of to soul searching] ... They believe that if they die, they get a better life.”

Besides outlining the challenges faced by Israeli foreign policy, Meridor addressed the positive aspect of a strong U.S.-Israeli relationship.

Speaking on behalf of Israel, Meridor said, “Israel is ready to make very significant compromises ... [and is] willing to negotiate.”

He added, however, that any country willing to make peace with Israel “will have to respect our security needs and our special connection to Jerusalem.”

Regarding his meeting with President Tilghman earlier in the day, Meridor spoke of the “proud relationship” between Princeton and Israel.

“This is all going to be in the hands of the young people [around the world],” he said. 

He also cited American support for the Israeli cause.

“Even I was surprised about American love ... and care for Israel,” he said. “If you look at what America is facing today and what Israel is facing today, you will hardly find differences.” 

The talk helped to clarify audience members’ questions about the future of Israeli international relations.

“[The lecture] was very illuminating about where Israel wants to go in its new developments concerning its foreign policy,” Sean Emmer ’11 said.

Starting as an adviser to Israel’s ministries of defense and foreign affairs, Meridor later served as the treasurer of the Jewish Agency for Israel and the World Zionist Organization (WZO) and the head of the Settlement Division of the WZO. He was then promoted to chairman of the Jewish Agency and the WZO from 1999-2005.

As chairman, Meridor focused his efforts on dealing with the younger generation of Jews around the world. The organization helped create initiatives such as the Masa national effort, which brings 20,000 young adults per year from the diaspora for a yearlong formative experience in Israel. 

Meridor, born and educated in Jerusalem, received his B.A. degree at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and served as an intelligence officer in the Israel Defense Forces. He now lives in Kfar Adumim with his wife and three daughters.