Interview with Ephraim Sneh

The Pulse interviewed Brig. Gen. (ret.) Ephraim Sneh. He is a former Member of Knesset, Deputy Defense Minister and Minister of Transportation.

Pulse: How do you think the US government should be responding to the events in Iran?

Sneh: I think that the one thing that must be avoided by the Americans at this critical time is talking about the proposed dialogue with the Iranian regime. In today's circumstances, it would be a terrible mistake, and would be a huge blow to the democracy-seeking opposition, which is opposing the regime.  It would frustrate and discourage the masses who are demonstrating in the streets of Iranian cities, risking their lives.

Pulse: Do you oppose the idea of the US-Iranian dialogue?

Sneh: I thought from the outset that this is a waste of time. But I respect President Obama's decision to try. Now I am simply saying that this is definitely not the time to advance it.

Pulse: Should the US be supporting the opposition?

Sneh: I do not think that the US should embrace the opposition in any formal way. But it should be made very clear that the US morally supports what the opposition is doing.  And not only the US, but this support should come from all western democracies. The very worst thing to do now would be to discourage those who have taken to the streets, who are risking their lives, risking arrest and torture.  This is the time for the western world to express support for the courageous opposition movement demonstrating for change in Iran today. There is no reason why the opposition in Iran does not deserve the same support that was given to the revolutions in Georgia and Ukraine.

Pulse: What do you think will happen?

Sneh: My own forecast is that I would be surprised if the regime would collapse. Because the mechanisms of repressions at the hands of the regime, the revolutionary Guards and the Basij (the religious police), are strong enough and brutal enough to crush the opposition. Only if the Iranian military would step in on the side of the opposition, then it might have a chance in the power struggle taking place today. But it is more likely that the opposition will be crushed, and I believe that the extent of the brutality that the regime will use in order to achieve this will prove to the west, in an unquestionable way, exactly what its real character is. It may also serve to bring about the disillusionment of any naïve belief that this regime can be a partner. But at the end of the day, these demonstrations will not bring about the collapse of the regime because the regime will never voluntarily hand over its power. That could only happen via revolution. Just to remind you that the Iranian nation is the only one in the Middle East which twice changed regime by popular revolution, and not by a military coup. Maybe what we are seeing now is the beginning of the third time.

Pulse: So what happens to the opposition?

Sneh: We have to remember that Moussavi does not represent the dreams of those seeking change in Iran. But since he was the only presidential candidate who was allowed to run and represented the only available opposition to Ahmadinejad, he was warmly endorsed by the people.  It was when their hope for change was destroyed by the rigged elections that their fury broke out. These demonstrations are very different than those held in July of 1999.  At that time, only the students took part.  Now, this is well beyond the students and the demonstrators are coming from across Iranian society. 

Ephraim Sneh, former Deputy Defense Minister and Minister of Transportation, left the Labor Party and resigned from the Knesset in May 2008 to launch the Strong Israel party.  Ephraim Sneh served as a career officer in the IDF until 1987, retiring at the rank of Brigadier-General. He began his military career as a Medical Officer in the Paratroops Brigade, and in 1974, became Chief Medical Officer of the Paratroops and Infantry Corps. He served as commander of the medical teams during the Entebbe Rescue Operation in 1976. In 1980, Ephraim Sneh was promoted to Chief Medical Officer of the IDF Northern Command, and the following year, became Commander of the Security Zone in South Lebanon. He served as Head of the Civil Administration of the West Bank from 1985-1987. Elected to the Knesset in 1982, Sneh served as Minister of Health (1993-1996), Deputy Minister of Defense (1999-2001), and Minister of Transportation (2001-2002).In March 2006, he was re-elected to the Knesset, serving as Chairman of the Labor Parliamentary Faction, and in October 2006, was appointed Deputy Minister of Defense. In May 2008, he left the Labor Party and resigned from the Knesset to launch the Strong Israel party.  Dr. Sneh has been one of the most influential voices on issues including the need for Israel's military superiority, the existential dangers posed by rogue states like Iran, and the strategic value of peaceful co-existence with the Palestinians. Ephraim Sneh is a frequent analyst on international news programs. His articles have appeared in publications such as The New York Times and The Christian Science Monitor.  Sneh has traveled widely throughout the United States, speaking before American Jewish groups such AIPAC, the American Jewish Committee, and the Anti-Defamation League; think-tanks such as the Aspen Institute and the Washington Institute for Near East Policy; and college campuses across the country.