Ayalon on flotilla: Turkey, not Israel, must apologize

Deputy FM answers your questions on Hizbullah’s game plan, NGO's sponsored from abroad, and Latin America’s recognition of a Palestinian state.

By DEBORAH DANAN
20 questions 58 (photo credit: courtsey)
20 questions 58
(photo credit: courtsey)
What is Hizbullah trying to achieve? Is the Israeli left a danger to the country? Do you regret the 'low chair' incident with Turkey’s ambassador?
This week’s 20 Questions hosts Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon. A man of many hats, Ayalon was formerly the chief foreign policy adviser to former prime minister Ariel Sharon, ambassador to the US for 4 years, and chairman of Nefesh B'Nefesh.
Ayalon answered candidly on a range of subjects including the situation in Lebanon, investigating left wing organizations and improving Israel’s hasbara efforts. 
Regarding the Gaza disengagement, Ayalon saysthat given the hindsight we now have, Israel would not have made thedecision. Not only did the Palestinians not use the withdrawal as agame-changer, since 2005 even more rockets have been fired on southernIsrael.
While Ayalon strongly supports theJewish nature of Israel’s democracy, he urges that steps be taken tocurb the religious rigidity of the state. The DFM maintains that inmatters such as marriage and conversion, pluralism must be introducedand Israeli citizenry must include Reform and Conservative Jews.
Do you have a burning question for Danny Ayalon andmissed the 20 Questions deadline? Don’t worry, you can submit aquestion to him via his web site.
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