Jul. 22, 2004
Q&A with President Moshe Katsav

Yisrael Ohayon, Msida, Malta: Dear President Kazav, When do you plan to visit the Maltese Jewish community?

President Katsav: I see the strengthening of the relationship between Israel and Diaspora Jewish communities as an important part of my job. I receive delegations from communities across the world and take an interest in Jewish institutions abroad. Most of my international visits are held within an official framework, upon receiving official invitations from the heads of state. I was pleased to host president De Marco of Malta, and would also be happy to visit the island as a guest of the president and meet with the Maltese Jewish community.

Mordi Beenstoc, Manchester, UK: How will your upcoming trip to Australia be affected by New Zealand’s recent arrest and trial of two alleged Mossad agents?

President Katsav:I was invited by the Australian government for an official visit in 2005. At this point no visit to New Zealand is planned.

Leonie Ben-Simon, Melbourne, Australia: Do you spend time learning Torah and with whom?

President Katsav: Yes. I devote an hour weekly to Talmud study with Rabbi Beniyahu Shmueli.

Mireille Mechoullam, Sunny Isles Beach, FL : What good is it to destroy the home of a terrorist’s family? Homes can be rebuilt. Why doesn’t Israel just expel the terrorist’s family once and for all?

President Katsav: The destruction of the houses of terrorists whose hands are bloodied by their crimes is meant to deter further terrorist actions. Israeli security forces use this method only after they have concluded that it works to deter terrorist-murderers. Any decision related to this matter is subject to critical judgment. Israel does not banish the families of murderers except for in cases when the family directly assisted the terrorist in carrying out his crime and when this can be proven in a court of law.

Robert Leffel, Phoenix, AZ : In your opinion, what will be the fate of the Golan Heights? Will Israel give it up in exchange for a peace treaty with Syria?

Readers sending similar questions: Peter Reitzes, Brooklyn

President Katsav: According to law, the Golan Heights is officially part of the state of Israel since its annexation. A change in the status of the Golan would only happen if Israel and Syria reached an official agreement following negotiations.

Lee Kelberg, Virginia Beach, VA : Do you think that New Zealand’ s demands for apology are excessive and unusual?

President Katsav: We apologize for the crisis. We respect the law and government of New Zealand. Israel would like to restore its relationship with NZ, and we will work to straighten out the problems as much as possible through diplomatic channels. I am convinced that the government of NZ is interested in maintaining a friendly relationship, and I believe that through cooperation we will solve any disagreement.

Morris Habbaz, Memphis, TN : Will Israel ever open an embassy in Iraq?

Readers sending in similar questions David Linden, Modiin

President Katsav: At the moment it is not practical. When the situation in Iraq stabilizes, we hope that there will be negotiations between Israel and Iraq that will lead to peace and diplomatic relations. In the meantime, there is regretfully no stable regime in Iraq, and opening an Israeli embassy in Iraq is not possible. Israel is strongly interested in developing relations with all of its neighbors, and I hope and believe that the day will come when Israel can establish embassies in all Arab countries.

Gabriel Khorramian, San Francisco, CA : How do you feel the Sephardic communities of Israel have progressed since the establishment of Israel to today?

President Katsav: The state of Israel, the state of the Jewish people, has absorbed immigrants from over 70 countries of origin and has succeeded in creating a common and multicultural society. People from all backgrounds integrate in Israeli society, while managing to preserve the unique heritages. I am happy to see the integration and merging of so many Diaspora cultures within Israeli society. The current tensions between Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews are not as severe as they were in the early days of the state of Israel.

Isaac Arman, San Jose, CA : Coming from immigrant family, what first steps do you recommend that new immigrants take when they arrive in Israel?

President Katsav: Integration today is much easier than it was in the past. Learning Hebrew is doubtless the first and primary thing that one should do to adjust to living in Israel. However, beyond this, I recommend forging a deep self-knowledge, because Aliyah is a historical challenge to every Jew: to realize what has been the dream of the Jewish people for so many generations. Every immigrant is fulfilling a historical mission and participating in the building and development of the state of Israel. I also recommend keeping in continuous contact with the Jewish Agency.

Behnam Beniamin, Seattle: Salaam Mr. President. As a Non-Jewish Iranian, I am very proud of you. I would like to know if I will be welcomed if I want to visit or live in Israel. I am a US citizen now. What do you think about the future of Israeli and Iranian relations, and would you consider visiting Iran?

Readers sending similar questions: Hassan Shahi, Toronto Mohammad Hadi, Tehran Nader Rastegar, Atlanta Jeffery Jones, Lawndale Zeev Vinokurov, Melbourne Zhubin Zarin, Los Angeles Kenneth Tompkins, Toronto

President Katsav: I think that most of the population of Iran is not hostile to Israel, and would readily accept peaceful relations and even friendship with Israel. The two countries, Israel and Iran, have no shared border, and no conflicts of interests. The government of Iran has always taken the extremist line against Israel, but I can’t believe that that is the stance of the Iranian people. I am convinced that the day will come where the ties of friendship and peaceful relations will bind Iran and Israel once again. With regards to the Arab nation: They are under the influence of hateful incitement by religious and political leaders. I believe that the day we achieve a tenable agreement with the Palestinians will be the day we achieve a normalization of relations between the Israeli people, and the Arab people. I would be very pleased to visit Iran once again. I miss the Iran’s spectacular views and the Iranian culture. More than anything else, I wish I could visit the village of Yezed where I was born. Let me also take this opportunity to invite you to Israel, once this is possible.

Ellen Marlette, Cohasset, MA, USA: Mr. President: Why are the promotional and motivational print materials produced by the government to showcase Israel for English speakers, particularly in the USA, so inadequate and poorly produced?

Readers sending similar questions: Abraham Louw, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa Boris Lubetzky, Auckland

President Katsav: Israel is facing a fierce political and diplomatic public relations campaign headed by the some Arab nations who are still unwilling to accept Israel’s right to exist. There are also hostile parties with economic and other interests working against us. I hope there will be an improvement in Israel’s public relations campaigns. The reality in which Israel finds itself forces it to take the necessary steps to protect its citizens. We have gone a long way towards making peaceful gestures to the Palestinians in the last decade. However, in our relations with them, we have fallen into a deep crisis, even though the diplomatic positions between Israel and the Palestinians have come so far since 1967.

Mick Geisler, New York: Mr. President: It is well known that there are elements within the Arab-Israeli community that have been involved in terrorism. How can Israel balance its character as a democratic, Jewish state that offers equality to all its citizens with the clear security threat posed by some in the Arab sector?

Readers sending similar questions: James Reuben, London Efrayim Nudman, New York

President Katsav: Most Israeli-Arab citizens are loyal and law-abiding. There is a minority that does not observe the law, and some even harm state security. Israeli Arabs have equal rights, and we take care to observe the principles of democracy. But we must also take care to prevent harming state security. The safety of our citizens’ lives and the security of the State do not counter the principles of democracy.

Shoshannah Ben-Ari, Albany, Oregon: Why isn’t something done about the terrible way that new immigrants are treated by public employees in the Interior Ministry and other Israeli public institutions? Making aliyah is stressful enough, without being treated rudely and disrespectfully, and having every little thing made extremely difficult by these people. I thought the State of Israel welcomed Jews? I did not feel welcome.

Readers sending similar questions: Uche Enechi, Port Harcourt Al Feld, Miami Reuven Rosenthal, Jerusalem Sam Tayar, Montreal Matt Hoffman, Boston

President Katsav: I am sorry to hear you feel that way. My bureau is always open to investigating complaints. Please forward me the information. We encourage Aliyah, and the State of Israel is the homeland of the Jewish nation. I believe the Israeli public must show more understanding and tolerance towards itself and towards its leaders in all institutions. We are a nation that absorbs immigration from dozens of countries in the Diaspora, and each community has its own uniqueness and character. Israel’s prime objective regarding Jews in the Diaspora is Aliyah. After that comes providing Jewish children with a Jewish education so that every Jewish grandchild will remain a Jew. It is very important to maintain and strengthen ties between the State of Israel and Judaism.

Am Johal, Haifa: Do you think the Citizenship Law which denies the right of residents of the West Bank and Gaza Israeli Citizenship through marriage is discriminatory?

President Katsav: Every step Israel takes on the security front is subject to legal scrutiny. This matter is under the examination of the government and the Supreme Court.

Reuven Rosenthal, Jerusalem: What do you think needs to be done in order to reduce social and religious tensions within Israeli society?

President Katsav: Israel’s values and the Israeli education system must provide the younger generation with Jewish cultural values and a deep knowledge of our heritage. The basic tenets of Judaism and its values are inherent in our national experience and unrelated to whether one is religious or not. We must be more consideration and openness for different positions and be more tolerant.

Michael Kolker, Seattle: Mr. President, it seems that everywhere I go I am meeting Jews who have left Israel to live in the United States and are very happy to have left Israel. How do you explain the large numbers of Israelis who have left Israel and how can you encourage Americans to make aliyah when it seems that so many Israelis are moving to America. What can Israel do to keep its citizens and encourage those who have left to return?

President Katsav: Israel was founded by pioneers, fighters and visionaries who arrived here because of their moral values, their love of Zion and a sense of national-historical calling. We are a free, democratic state, and some Israelis have chosen to leave the country, I hope, not permanently, and that they will return.

Jacob Homapour, New Jersey: Mr. President, what has Israel done for the release of Mr. Pollard ?

President Katsav: We are in dialogue with the US administration regarding this subject. I myself have raised the issue with the US president. I hope Jonathan Pollard will be released as soon as possible after serving such a long prison term.