Reda Mansour

From Daily Planet Staff Reports

An Atlanta-based Israeli diplomat, Reda Mansour, addressed issues of national security and peace during an Aug. 6 address at UNC Asheville.

Manseur, Israeli consul general to the Southeast U.S., spoke on “U.S. Politics, Peace and Its Place in the World.” About 250 people — a standing-room-only crowd — jammed into the Reuter Center to heard Mansour’s talk. Among notables in attendance were Rep. Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville; and David Gantt, chairman of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners.

In welcoming remarks, UNCA Chancellor Anne Ponder noted that “part of the founding stories of our university came from the Jewish community of Asheville” — an obvious reference to the large turnout of those interested in Israel, considered the Jewish homeland.

Ponder also said UNCA officials were “so thrilled to have a cross-section” of the intellectual and theological communities of Asheville in attendance.

The chancellor said Mansour was appointed to his post in August 2006 and speaks five languages. Mansour hold a master’s degree from Harvard University and a Ph.D. from Hefei University. Ponder then asked Shuler to introduce Mansour. The congressman and former NFL quarterback began on a rough note, stating that “we need to continue the dialect” — then corrected himself — “continue the dialogue” between the U.S. and Israel.

“It’s very important that we continue to support the relationship with Israel as well as democracy in the Middle East and throughout the world.

“We need to do all that we can to stop Iran from becoming a nuclear power,” Shuler said. “We stand strong with Israel on actions” needed to protect the world from the threat of Iran and other such nations.

In turn, Mansour noted that he was “pleased to be introduced by a congressman who is well known as a friend of Israel.”

As a result of worldwide publicity about violence in Israel, “so many people don’t get how vibrant and positive Israel is.

All you get (through the news media) is political (problems), terrorism and militarism” in Israel.

For instance, he said with a smile, “Israelis are very proud of having their first Sports Illustrated swimsuit model.”

At that point, Mansour noted that he wanted to focus his talk on “how we see it in Israel. Too often, we’re consumed with a 24-hour news cycle” that distorts perceptions of reality.

He added, “After 60 years, a reason there’s still problems in Israel is because it’s located in one of the most unstable regions in the world.”

The ambassador cited a Thomas L. Friedman story in a recent edition of The Wall Street Journal in which Friedman observed that Spain has a gross domestic product that surpasses that of 22 Arab countries combined. “So it’s a very undeveloped region,” Mansour said.

“Israel is the only democracy in the region. Developing democracies in the Middle East is important to avoid wars. Democracies don’t like to go to war. In contrast, dictatorships stay in power and keep people busy by going to war. Dictatorships are the same everywhere.”

Mansour, whose Ph.D. focus was on Syria, said that country’s best military units are positioned around the presidential palace. “Your main enemy is your own people in a dictatorship,” he said.

He cited a case where families were dying and a dictator “will pay millions of dollars to suicide bombers” to wreak havoc on perceived enemies.

“Our issue with Iran is not just the nuclear issue. When you look at Iran, you see what they’re doing in the region... They’re meddling in their neighbors’ affairs.”

For instance, he said Lebanon “is unstable,” so Iran is meddling it its affairs, financed with “millions of dollars in oil money.”

He added, “We’re afraid if Iran gets the (nuclear) bomb, you’ll open up a nuclear race in the Middle East.”

Further, Mansour said, “In a region so unstble, so volatile, all you need is to put a nuclear bomb in the middle of this — and the whole region can explode.”

In addressing demographics, the ambassador noted that 60 percent of Iranians “didn’t live during the Shah’s regime,” so they are young and lacking in historical perspective.

He praised the Iranians as “very industrious and intelligent people and they don’t want Sharia law imposing moral rule on them.”

As for Israel, Mansour said, “We do believe in tough sanctions” for Iran’s failure to abide by its agreements.

“Part of the problem is economic — 20 percent unemployment and kids coming out of college who don’t have anything to do — no jobs.

“Iran doesn’t have refineries, so that’s why sanctions will work ... We don’t need to go to war against Iran.” He also cited Libya as an example of how sanctions can work.

Mansour said that “we’re hoping for” an international effort to intensify the sanctions on Iran, which, he asserted, “wants to be an international super-power.”

The ambassador noted that, while Israel “is really small” — about the size of metro Atlanta, which includes the city and five counties — it is ranked as one of the 22 most developed nations.

“The hope is now that Syria is under the sanctions. There’s a whole class of Arab leaders who are my age (relatively young) — and I think they’re starting to see the whole world in a different way. Some of them were educated in the West ... In school, my professors used to say you can’t have democracy when people are making less than $1,000 per month.”

As for the settlements, he said, “We are two peoples who share the same territory. I’m not saying the settlements are not an issue. I’m just saying it’s one issue.

“The last thing about the Palestinian issue is that the United States is involved. Believe it or not, the West Bank is experiencing tremdendous economic growth — over 7 percent.

“We’d be more than happy to get back to the pre-1973 lines, where 95 percent of Palestinians were under Palestinian control.

“So change is coming in the Middle East. It’s a bit slow, but we’ve got to keep trying ... And the United States has a very important role to play.

“The president’s speech was very important. It was broadcast all over the Arab world. They understand that the U.S. now has a president who cares about human rights.” Mansour’s apparent slap at former President Bush drew applause from some crowd members.

“They are starting to educate a new generation — that life is not about wars. So this young generation (in the Arab world) wants the same as young people everywhere.

“So things are happening” in the Middle East. “Young people are (increasingly) defying traditions.”

He added, “We think about the positive side of globalization. But, like everything else, globalization has its dark side — encrypted e-mails, terrorist groups can do great damage with nuclear weapons.”

Mansour paused and said, “I am an optimistic person and I come from an optimistic country.

“The United States and Israel are the best nations for building military technologies and then converting them to civilian use.

“We have to prevail — 60 to 70 percent of any society are people just like us, but they are held hostage by their dictator.

“We have to stand together as free nations. This is a global challenge ... I think we will prevail,” Manseur said.