World Jewish News

Maj. Gen. (res.) Eyal Ben-Reuven. (photo credit:Courtesy)

Zionist Union candidate aims to be warrior for peace

Maj. Gen. (res.) Eyal Ben-Reuven entered politics in order to help the Zionist Union reach a peace agreement with the Palestinians whose security provisions he could guarantee, Ben-Reuven said Tuesday in an interview with The Jerusalem Post.
Ben-Reuven, 60, became the final candidate to be brought to the Labor-Hatnua joint list by Hatnua head Tzipi Livni. He will enter the Knesset if the Zionist Union wins 24 seats, which some polls predict will happen and others do not.
"When met with Livni, I saw we are on the same wavelength," he said. "We both believe we need to pursue the peace process with eyes wide open."
Ben-Reuven initially joined Meretz a year ago after participating in several left-wing initiatives and organizations like the Geneva Initiative. He said he left for the Zionist Union, because Meretz''s positions were too pro-Palestinian.
"I entered the political fray after mulling at length whether I was ready," he said. "I decided I will enter but I must maintain my values, which I have presented for years to my soldiers: modesty, credibility, and staying on their level while setting a personal example."
The day after he joined the Zionist Union list, he led party leader Isaac Herzog and Livni on a tour of the northern border. He became the highest ranking security figure on the Zionist Union list, passing MK Omer Bar-Lev, who is a colonel.
Ben-Reuven served in the Yom Kippur War and both Lebanon wars. He still serves as a reserve deputy commander in the Northern Command.
"I have dealt with war for 25 years," he said. "Now I want to be a warrior on a different battleground. I want to be a warrior for a peace agreement. I intend to be a leader of the initiative to find any possible path to reach an agreement, first with the Palestinians, then with other countries in the region. I can''t guarantee there''ll be peace tomorrow, but we must try."
Ben-Reuven warned that Israel was going in the wrong direction toward one state that he believes will either not be democratic or not Jewish.
"I have met with Palestinian leaders, but I am not naïve," he said. "Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas is making many mistakes. But he is what there is."

By GIL HOFFMAN

JPost.com