Minister: Dagan hurt Israel's deterrence
Ministers slam ex-Mossad chief for violating Israel's ambiguity policy with Iran remarks
Dagan addressed a series of hot button topics during a conference at Tel Aviv University on Wednesday night, including the conflict with Iran, the peace talks with the Palestinians, the Saudi peace initiative and the deal to release captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.
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"It is the duty of former senior officials to express their opinions and positions, even if it is occasionally unpopular," he said.
A senior Cabinet minister, who did not want to be identified, dismissed Dagan's remarks on Iran, saying that he does not believe that Dagan's status as former Mossad chief makes his opinion "more binding or less risky than any other."
"There isn't anyone who said 'We're about to attack in Iran,' and then said, 'Don't attack.' We have a strategy of ambiguity," the minister said. "He is yelling 'the emperor has no clothes,' and he can't do that. We don't do that."
The minister also addressed foreign reports on Israel's bombing of a Syrian nuclear reactor:
"When they attacked in Syria, weren't there scenarios that the situation with Syria and Iran would escalate? And still, they made the decision and nothing happened. The same thing happened with Iraq as well. There isn't just one opinion that's right. It's like his opinion on Gilad Shalit. I don't understand his interest not to keep things vague."
Dagan said in his speech that "returning a soldier at all costs is something the state cannot withstand."
'Dagan a real Zionist'
Dagan said on Wednesday that Israel should have accepted the "Saudi Peace Initiative" because it does not deal with core issues such as the refugees. The Cabinet member said that with this statement Dagan "placed himself on the left side of political map. He does not want to go into politics, but it's impossible to understand his statements unless they are a preparation for something."
"…Dagan is hurting Israel's deterrence, and its power to deter," the minister said. "Our enemies now think that Israel is weak, and it might fall apart like in 1973. It's a very bad thing. His statements cause our enemies to look at Israel and see the most senior official in Israel saying that Israel is powerless...and shouldn't attack Iran. Israel never said that it will attack Iran. We maintained the ambiguity."
Minister Yossi Peled expressed wariness of Dagan's statements as well.
"I am concerned about all the talk, and it doesn't matter who is talking, I'm not going to name names," he said. "One of the advantages we have with ambiguity is that it's not necessary to explain or give details. I would have preferred his statement not to have been made."
However, Peled noted that Dagan "is a serious, measured and responsible man, a real Zionist. They better listen to him. Israel needs to say that it would do everything to ensure its existence."
Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar said in a radio interview that he expected more restraint from a man in Dagan's position.
"I would have expected a different approach when it comes to the liberty that a man in his position takes in expressing himself on such a topic in public," he said. "We are a democratic state. I see from his words that Meir Dagan speaks with all his heart. He wants the best for the State of Israel as he sees it. I think that he should have acted with more restraint. That's my opinion."
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