Diplomat warns terrorists using Israel for tests

2003-01-25 The Oklahoman

An Israeli diplomat gave a chilling warning for Americans and other potential victims of terrorism during her visit Friday to Oklahoma City.

"We Israelis know that the terrorists consider Israel as the laboratory for terrorism," said Yael Ravia-Zadok, consul general of Israel to the southwest United States. "The methods they use against Israel today will be used against others in different regions of the world tomorrow."

Ravia-Zadok, stationed in Houston for the next three years, was named to her post in August. She oversees U.S.- Israel relations with Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas.

In an interview with The Oklahoman on her first visit to the state, she said the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks gave people a perspective of life in Israel.

"In Israel, you feel on one hand a wonderful, dynamic society that has wonderful cultural life with movies and theaters and opera and museums," she said. "On the other hand we have to deal with the daily threat of terror."

Before arriving in the United States, Ravia-Zadok spent six years in Israel with her husband and three children. Before that she served as Israel's consul to Brazil and as deputy director of the South American Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

She said something as simple as sending her children to school is a decision that must be considered on a daily basis.

"We Israelis took the spiritual decision of not surrendering to terror," she said. "We keep our routine, we keep our daily life. We keep sending our children to school and we keep going to sit in restaurants because we won't let the terror dictate our lives.

"The main message that we can deliver or we can share with our American friends is that we can't let the terror win. The world is different, the threats are different, we are dealing with mass- destructive weapons and capabilities that are in the hands of lunatics and tyrants."

"We share with the American nation common values of being in a democracy, believing in freedom, believing in peace," she said. "After Sept. 11, we share with the American nation the struggle against terror."

Ravia-Zadok said she hopes to further improve relations between the two countries during her tenure. Improvements in commerce and scientific exchange are areas she plans to emphasize, she said.

"If we will not stop the terror today, in Israel and that region, we will have to deal with it and we'll see it spreading all over. Those that deny or ignore the need to strangle terrorism today may be sorry tomorrow."