A powerful Middle Eastern axis of Sunni states has taken form in the region, which “does not view Israel as a sworn enemy,” and has successfully kept extremist jihadi terrorism at bay, Maj.-Gen. Amos Gilad, Director of the Political-Military Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Defense, stated on Sunday.

Amos Gilad – Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) by Hanay

Gilad described Egyptian Defense Minister General General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as a new leader “that history will remember,” noting that he is combating the Muslim Brotherhood, a “movement that envelopes the region.” The Brotherhood has not swerved from its ideological commitment to Israel’s destruction and to toppling all of the region’s regimes, he said.

“When [Hamas Prime Minister Ismail] Haniyeh set a meeting with Morsi, he was symbolically received immediately,” Gilad said. “Hamas is officially part of the Muslim Brotherhood. Their self confidence was huge when Morsi was in power.” Now, he noted, Hamas has been left without a single ally in the region.

Had the Muslim Brotherhood succeeded in its plot for regional domination, a ring of hostility would have been formed around Israel, Gilad noted. From the perspective of Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, there are two threats to his country: Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood.

This was reflected in the billions of dollars donated to Egypt by Saudi Arabia and the UAE after Sissi took power, Gilad argued.

“Sisi didn’t act against them [the Muslim Brotherhood] on behalf of the West or Israel, but only for the good of Egypt. He simply saw that Egypt was falling into the abyss, in terms of repression and the economy… He wishes to save Egypt,” Gilad said.

Jordan, for its part, excels at counter-terrorism due to its own interest to combat radical Islamist interests. As a result, there are no terrorist attacks in Jordan, or attacks from Jordan on Israel, Gilad said. “Their existence as an independent kingdom is impressive,” he added.

“All of the Kingdoms, from Saudi Arabia to Bahrain are surviving [the period of Middle Eastern turmoil]. Not one faces an existential danger,” he said.

“This axis is very heavy-weight. I recommend viewing Egypt as the leader of the Arab world, and I disagree with those who don’t see it this way. There is a mass of 87 million Egyptians who are one nation, with a 5,000 year history,” Gilad said.

“I’m identifying a serious fight against terrorism in Sinai. It’s an impressive fight against al-Qaida organizations,” he continued.

Gilad said that despite many threats, Syria has refrained from sponsoring terrorist attacks against Israel due to Israeli deterrence.

“The reasons [this isn’t happening] are clear,” he said.

Hezbollah too is deterred by Israel, and there has even been a decrease in its attempt to carry out low-signature attacks abroad, though the threat has not vanished, Gilad added.

Israeli deterrence would be harmed should Iran become a nuclear state, or obtain the image of a nuclear-armed state, he warned.

View original Jerusalem Post publication at: http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Amos-Gilad-Strong-Arab-Sunni-bloc-doesnt-see-Israel-as-enemy-325553