Ha'aretz: No, but I read the book

"I asked myself whether I was keeping the reader on the edge of his chair on every page."
-- Michael Oren on his book Six Days of War.

He was.

Oren sighs and then laughs when asked if he sees a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict: "A solution to the conflict ... It took a lot longer to resolve the European conflict. Less than 200 years ago, the standard situation between two states was one of war, and until 60 years ago, the Europeans slaughtered one another. But I am optimistic that democracy can lay down roots in the Middle East. The society in Syria is closed and undeveloped, and that is such an unnatural situation that it will not be able to last forever. The Arab world, in general, is a failed region that produces nothing except oil, and even that with the aid of the West. There is no reason why a talented and capable nation should be stuck because of failed social organization."

So we have something to look forward to?

"We are not talking about hundreds of years for a solution," Oren says reassuringly, "a lot less."

10:34:18 PM  comment []