Barak's advisor: The future demands us to change old approaches

Zvi Shtauber, Chief Foreign Policy Advisor of Israeli Prime Minister Barak, said that a full peace with Israel's Arab neighbors provides for the long term interests of Israel.

Shtauber on Sunday said that "If we are to exercise our responsibility for the future," then there will be a high price, adding that if the peace talks fail, the same questions that are faced now by Israel will be faced again, only with more blood and lives having been lost.

Shtauber stressed that the process of building peace is a long term investment for Israel focusing on changing the old basic approaches for protecting Israel. He said that Iran despite the recent elections is trying to build a (nuclear) bomb, and that would influence the balance of power, and that Iraq further complicates this balance.

Asking if the Israelis will lead by hope and a vision of the future or with fears, he said "We must make a choice."