[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: Mr. Peri genuinely believes that Israel should
retreat to impossible borders and risk a terror state in our bedroom as some
kind of bizarre pay-off for our neighbors. As if our neighbors actually
really put a priority on the Palestinians. What credentials does Mr. Peri
bring to the plate?: he favored exchanging the Golan for a piece of paper.
He favored turning the Jerusalem area into a patchwork quilt of authorities
based on the assumption that by some miracle the Palestinians would behave
themselves. And more. This, by the way, is that foreigners plunk down
money for projects to give a high profile here for "ex-brass for
concessions" are wasting their money. We respect and appreciate what the
ex-brass did in their service to the state, but their policy recommendations
vis-à-vis Arab-Israeli affairs have little - if any - impact on those
Israelis who don't already agree with them.]

"The Future for Space is in Nanosatellites"
Yaakov Peri, the former Head of ISA who recently stepped down as Minister of
Science, Technology & Space, in a special interview on the eve of 2015
Amir Rapaport | 3/03/2015
http://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/content/future-space-nanosatellites

I entered politics after various positions I had held in the defense
establishment and the business world," says Yaakov Peri in an interview upon
his stepping down as Minister of Science, Technology & Space in the
government recently demobilized pursuant to the announcement of the early
elections.

Peri is one of the most prominent security and business figures in Israel:
having served as Head of ISA until the 1990s, he headed several leading
corporations in the communications and financial sectors. Then, he entered
politics as a member of the "Yesh Atid" party.

"I decided to enter politics because I found the human and political
assemblage that suited me," says Peri. "I felt it was time that from the
vantage point of my age and experience, I could attempt to contribute and
change some priorities. When they suggested I accept the Ministry of
Science, Technology & Space I thought it was a worthy mission. I found a
ministry that until then had not received the attention and resources
Israeli science, technology and space are worthy of.

"In the last eighteen months we managed to significantly improve the
Ministry's connections with the entire international research system and
promote a long list of subjects".

Including cyberspace?

"In the field of cyberspace we cooperated closely with the National Cyber
Bureau at the Prime Minister's Office and with various research institutions
and also financed infrastructure research projects – we issued many appeals
regarding cyberspace. We financed the projects directly by the Ministry as
well as through the Bureau. This is definitely one of the highest priority
issues.

"The State of Israel is one of the global leaders as far as understanding
all of the aspects of cyberspace is concerned."

What is Israel's international status in the space field?

"Israel is one of the world's eight most advanced countries in the space
field. We are one of the leaders in satellite manufacturing, and we also
possess launching capabilities, although we sometimes enlist the help of
other countries in order to launch. We have some of the world's best
capabilities in satellite control and monitoring. We are world leaders in
the field of space-borne electro-optical surveillance systems not only with
regard to military applications but also for other uses."

Do you think the future for space is in nanosatellites?

"Absolutely. Israel is a world leader in the field of nanotechnology. In the
coming years we will launch numerous miniature nanosatellites possessing
some amazing capabilities. We have academic and industrial institutions (IAI
and Rafael, for example) that are highly advanced in this field. The State
of Israel has budgeted the civilian space agency relatively generously. The
agency maintains cooperative alliances with most of the world's space
agencies. We are involved in joint projects with some European space
agencies, for example Italy and France. In the context of some of these
projects, I hope that in the coming years we will launch satellites."

What applications were the nanosatellites intended for?

"Mainly for communication and for uses that I call civilian in such fields
as agriculture, earthquakes, spotting of sinkholes in the ground, water
issues and many other issues."

Miniature satellites are also used for military applications…

"Indeed, but that is the responsibility of the Ministry of Defense. IMOD
cooperates with the Ministry of Science, too, but that particular subject is
confidential."

Regional Settlement

With regard to the political issue, Peri argues that the major changes that
have taken place in the Middle East have led to a situation where the
resolution of the issue between Israel and the Palestinians must be a part
of a regional settlement that would include Jordan, Saudi Arabia and
possibly the Gulf countries as well.

"In my opinion, Israel should initiate or join a regional diplomatic
initiative that would include Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, most of the Gulf
countries (even before the new alliance formed between Qatar and Egypt) and
Jordan. The initiative will be based on a formula that would eventually
accomplish several goals – notably the restoration and demilitarization of
the Gaza Strip and an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict – and in that
regional initiative, we should incorporate the negotiations with the
Palestinians. This will make it easier for them to sit down and talk to us,
as it would provide them with political and economic backing. Today, the
State of Israel carries the Gaza Strip on its back more than any Arab
country, excluding Qatar."

Is Israel's position at the outset of 2015, compared to previous years, more
difficult?

"Time is running out. As the months and years go by, the diplomatic space of
the State of Israel is shrinking with regard to two aspects – the
Palestinians and some of the Arab countries attack us on the international
arena – the UN institutions, the International Court of Justice in The
Hague, and win a lot of sympathy while Israel's image and international
status are deteriorating. At the same time, studies by haters of Israel
indicate that Israel is among the most hated countries in the world, along
with North Korea and Iran.

"Admittedly, we are a 'nation dwelling alone', but we are dependent on the
world and must improve our international status, as otherwise foreign
investments will stop. The technological locomotive of Israel would
encounter difficulties as no one will want to do business with us. In my
view, pursuant to Operation Protective Edge an opportunity emerged to break
out of the diplomatic siege, an opportunity emerged for regional alliances,
but Israel failed to exploit it.

"I also know for certain that there is willingness for a regional alliance
on the part of the Egyptians, the Saudis and the Jordanians, and Israel
should take the first few steps. We will be forced to pay for it by
compromising on the Palestinian issue – but a regional settlement will be
able to accommodate that issue, too".

Do you regard the fighting in the context of Operation Protective Edge in
the summer of 2014 as a formative regional event?

"Very much so. The fact that the State of Israel was under a missile attack
for two months is highly significant. Admittedly, thanks to the Iron Dome
system we succeeded in preventing destruction and loss of life – but that
would not last forever. Hamas in the south and Hezbollah in the north are
strengthening – technologically, in terms of their procurement and the
amount and performance of their missiles. We have a deterrence problem of
the first magnitude.

"They deter us and we deter them. Dealing with the military power of Hamas
was not a simple undertaking. Our ability to subdue a non-regular military
organization is problematic. The defense concept of the State of Israel
should be revised in a direction where we will no longer witness wars
between states. Instead, it will be a war between the State of Israel and
such terrorist organizations as Hezbollah and ISIS."