The following excerpts are from an interview on the flotilla clash with Syrian historian Soheil Zakkar, which aired on Syrian TV on May 31, 2010.
Soheil Zakkar: Israel, which purports to be a democratic and secular state, and so on, is, in fact, a Talmudic state. A rabbi could be an army officer or a high-ranking official. When he issues a religious ruling, it is considered to be sacred, because according to Talmudic thought, a rabbi receives divine inspiration, and consequently, his rulings have divine legitimacy.
[…]
An entity, which is based on aggressive religious foundations, cannot stop.
Interviewer: Until when?
Soheil Zakkar: Until it is toppled completely, until there is another Battle of Hittin.
Interviewer: A confrontation is inevitable?
Soheil Zakkar: Yes, it is inevitable, and any talk about peace is self-deception. Israel is a malignant disease in an advanced stage. If it accepts peace, the disease will go into remission.
[…]
The masses should get rid of all the leaders who do not follow their peoples’ will, and should wage an Intifada and return to bombing operations on the domestic front – whether they are called martyrdom operations or whatever.