Washington Institute discusses the future of democracy in the Middle East

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy held its Soref Symposium today. The panel consisted of former Israeli minister Natan Sharansky, former Israeli ambassador to the U.S. and chief Israeli negotiator with Syria Itamar Rabinovich, former CIA director James Woolsey and Dennis Ross of the Washington Institute.

Sharansky said that in order for the U.S. to be successful in the Middle East it must follow its own principles, comparing its assertion of principles during the cold war, to the kind of principles needed now in the region. The two values he said he felt were most important to Israel’s cause were democracy and a strong national state.

Rabinovich said that as a country the U.S. must determine pillars that can be used to sustain a strong, positive relationship in the 21st century. He said that these pillars need to encapsulate values and interests shared by the U.S. and Israel. Also, Rabinovich said that the main threat to democracy in the Middle East and to America is Iran and radical terrorist groups.

Former CIA director Woolsey said that the major problem facing the U.S. and Israel is the threat of two prominent and wealthy totalitarian regimes, the Wahabi family in Saudi Arabia and the modern Shiite movement since 1979. He said that the only way to limit the power of these regimes was to end American dependence on foreign oil.

Ross discussed that the best way to create lasting public policy is to make it relate to American values, which our people will most passionately respond to. He also said that the movement to delegitimize Israel is the newest form of anti-Semitism, and that Israel is faced with the same enemies that the U.S. is faced with.