'The IDF is coming back to the neighborhood,' the head of the Israel Defense Forces' new Regional Cooperation Department told Newsweek.
In the wake of a historic conference in which Morocco became the first Arab or Muslim country to send an official military delegation to Israel, a senior Israel Defense Forces officer has revealed toThe officer, who requested to be referred to as Major T., serves as head of the IDF Regional Cooperation Department established a year ago to foster military ties between Israel and countries in the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Mediterranean. Since then, Major T.
He said it was important to show how"we can work together and Israel is coming back and the IDF is coming back to the neighborhood." And this effort was not limited to the countries that have gone public with their relationship with Israel. Even as the Israeli-Palestinian feud has continually erupted into violence and Jewish settlements expanded in recent years on territory considered by the international community to be occupied by Israel, however, Arab countries have increasingly reconsidered their boycott.
"I know there are political issues and I know several of these countries, they say some things in public, it's one of the sensitivities that we have to work around and work with. But I think we all understand, behind closed doors, where our interests are and how we can work together to fulfill these things."