Chuck Freilich

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November 11, 2008

"A Parting Word of Thanks"

Op-Ed, The Jerusalem Post

By Chuck Freilich, Senior Fellow, International Security Program

"Today we know that Saddam Hussein did not have WMD, but to those of us in the US and Israeli governments at the time, who were sincerely convinced that he retained a residual program, it was an analytical reality. We were very wrong, but we were not irresponsible, nor malevolent. Israel, in case you have forgotten, took the threat very seriously and distributed gas masks, deployed forces and asked the US for antimissile defenses."

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November 2008

"The United States, Israel, and Iran: Defusing an 'Existential' Threat"

Magazine or Newspaper Article, Arms Control Today

By Chuck Freilich, Senior Fellow, International Security Program

"Iran is an existential threat to Israel. This apocalyptic warning call has become a mantra continually repeated by virtually all Israeli leaders and defense officials and has been adopted by much of the U.S. national security establishment. President George W. Bush even warned that Iran’s declared intention of destroying Israel could lead to World War III.

There is no doubt that Iran poses a severe threat to Israel, not only in the nuclear field, but what kind of danger does its nuclear program constitute? Is Israel’s future in imminent danger if Iran goes nuclear? The answer is probably not. Although somewhat reassuring, this response is less than satisfying...."

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September 1, 2008

"US-Iranian Tango"

Op-Ed, The Jerusalem Post

By Chuck Freilich, Senior Fellow, International Security Program

"...Engagement with Iran does not constitute appeasement, nor a slippery slope leading to further concessions. It can be these things if mishandled, but there is no reason for it to be anything other than a coherent, integrated policy. A policy based solely on sticks, without carrots, will surely fail. Engagement, however, should be conducted from a position of strength, with a concomitant attempt to increase pressure, such as heightened restrictions on international trade, banking and investments...."

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September-October 2008

"The Right Return"

Magazine or Newspaper Article, The American Interest, Toolbox, issue 1, volume 4

By Chuck Freilich, Senior Fellow, International Security Program

Former Deputy Head of the Israeli National Security Council Chuck Freilich outlines a bold proposal to re-invigorate the Israeli-Palestinian peace process in an action memorandum to the next President of the United States.

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August 4, 2008

"After Olmert"

Op-Ed, Human Events

By Chuck Freilich, Senior Fellow, International Security Program

"...In mid September, Olmert's Kadima party will hold primaries to elect his successor as party head, until which time he will stay on as premier. The two leading candidates are, Tzipi Livni, the current foreign minister and clear frontrunner among the public, and Shaul Mofaz, a former chief of staff and defense minister, now minister of transportation, the frontrunner among the party rank and file, who actually vote in the primaries...."

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July 8, 2008

"Peace with Syria?"

Op-Ed, Human Events

By Chuck Freilich, Senior Fellow, International Security Program

"...While it is clear that withdrawal is the price of peace, disagreement over the Golan's precise delineation is what led to the talks' failure in the past. Syria demands a return to the 1967 lines, Israel to the 1923 mandatory border.

Under the 1923 demarcation, the recognized basis for all Mideast negotiations, the Golan ends just meters east of the Jordan River and Sea of Galilee. Between 1948 and 1967, however, Syria encroached upon Israeli territory, with two enclaves along the Jordan and a strip on the lake’s northeastern shore. The 1967 lines would thus give Syria more than 100% of the internationally recognized Golan, a claim to the lake's water and end full Israeli access around it...."

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June 25, 2008

"A Disastrous Attack on Iran?"

Op-Ed, The Jerusalem Post

By Chuck Freilich, Senior Fellow, International Security Program

"...Only if the US proves to both domestic and world opinion that it has exhausted all diplomatic possibilities, will it gain support for major economic sanctions, let alone future military action. Iran will probably reject the offer, as it has all others, but we will only know if the option is pursued and it is a vital way station on the road to stronger measures. Talking to Iran does not imply acquiescence, or appeasement."

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March 2008

"Six Ways Not to Deal with Hamas"

Magazine or Newspaper Article, Foreign Policy

By Chuck Freilich, Senior Fellow, International Security Program

How do you stop a foe whose tolerance for pain exceeds your willingness to inflict it?

Senior Fellow Chuck Freilich examines each of the alternatives.

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February 20, 2008

"Disavowing the Iran NIE: Smoke Screens or Smoking Guns?"

Op-Ed, Human Events

By Chuck Freilich, Senior Fellow, International Security Program

"US policymakers, too, will have to give increasing thought to the options for living with a nuclear Iran, as well as to Israel's considerations. How the US engages with Israel and others regarding the NIE, will have a major effect on crucial decisions they will have to make in the coming months, as well as the long term prospects for containing Iran's nukes."

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February 18, 2008

"A Post-Annapolis Breakthrough Proposal"

Op-Ed, The Jerusalem Post

By Chuck Freilich, Senior Fellow, International Security Program

"TO OVERCOME Palestinian skepticism, Israel would commit to a timetable for resettlement and a true settlement freeze in those areas to be resettled, contingent on Palestinian security measures. If packaged as Israeli concessions to Abu Mazen, this proposal would constitute an historic step that even Hamas would have trouble denying and, unlike the ill-fated measures now under discussion, would dramatically demonstrate the efficacy of the negotiated path Abbas represents."