President Obama’s new defense secretary, Leon Panetta, has bought into the myth that Israeli inflexibility is the source of the Palestinian conflict. He is publicly saying that the ball is in Israel’s court, and it is now the Jewish state’s responsibility to advance the peace process. He warns that it is becoming more isolated, and Israel must be a better partner in the region. In other words, Israel is to blame.
On Sunday, Panetta said, “[T]he question you have to ask: Is it enough to maintain a military edge if you’re isolating yourself in the diplomatic arena? Real security can only be achieved by both a strong diplomatic effort as well as a strong effort to project your military strength.”
In what the Associated Press called an “edgy warning,” he said that Israel must try to rescue its relations with Turkey and Egypt. Turkish Prime Minister Erdoganinterpreted Panetta’s statement to mean that the U.S. was taking Turkey’s side in its confrontation with Israel. Playing off of Panetta’s words, Erdogan said, “Israel has chosen isolation by losing a friend like Turkey.” Erdogan has reduced Turkey’s ties to Israel because of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s refusal to apologize for the controversial Gaza flotilla raid last year. Panetta also said that the U.S. should not cut the amount of taxpayer money given to the Palestinian Authority to retaliate for its provocative bid for U.N. membership.
“There is a need and an opportunity for bold action on both sides to move towards a negotiated two-state solution,” Panetta said during his press conference with Defense Minister Ehud Barak. He urged both sides to restart negotiations, without acknowledging that Israel has always been willing to negotiate. On Sunday, Israel said it wanted to restart direct negotiations, just as Panetta insisted. As a matter of fact, Netanyahu offered to immediately meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during his speech at the U.N. on September 23. Read the rest on:
by infolivetvenglish on Oct 4, 2011
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta called on Israel to negotiate with the Palestinians and restore ties with Egypt and Turkey, and warned it was becoming increasingly isolated in the Middle East.
Panetta made the comments to reporters traveling on his plane as he headed for Israel Sunday night.
On Monday he met with Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak, where he criticized Congress's decision to freeze funds to the Palestinians in response to its refusal to engage in direct talks with Israel and instead submit a request for statehood recognition.
In a joint press conference with Barak, Panetta said now is not the time to suspend the transfer of funds adding both Israel and the Palestinians gain from the aid transfer.
Panetta is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and later with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Panetta made the comments to reporters traveling on his plane as he headed for Israel Sunday night.
On Monday he met with Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak, where he criticized Congress's decision to freeze funds to the Palestinians in response to its refusal to engage in direct talks with Israel and instead submit a request for statehood recognition.
In a joint press conference with Barak, Panetta said now is not the time to suspend the transfer of funds adding both Israel and the Palestinians gain from the aid transfer.
Panetta is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and later with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
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