Posted on 10/02/2011 5:48:06 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned Sunday that Israel was at risk of becoming isolated and more vulnerable if it did not take steps to repair ties with neighboring countries and restart negotiations with the Palestinians.
The U.S. remains committed to helping Israel maintain its "qualitative military edge" in the Middle East, Mr. Panetta said. But he added that genuine security would not come through military hardware, but by returning to peace negotiations.
"The question you have to ask is: 'Is it enough to maintain a military edge if you are isolating yourself in the diplomatic arena?'" he said. "Real security can only be achieved by a strong diplomatic efforts as well as a strong effort to protect your military strength."
Mr. Panetta commented while en route to Israel for a visit starting Monday. While there, he will try to restart direct negotiations between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority. He is scheduled to meet with both Israeli and Palestinian officials.
Mr. Panetta, the former CIA director and a onetime White House official, said the U.S. wants to give the Israelis confidence that they can "take risks for peace" and that they will have "room to negotiate."
Mr. Panetta is also scheduled to travel to Egypt to meet with officials there, and said he would try to help improve communications and cooperation between Cairo and Jerusalem.
Israel has strained to maintain ties to neighboring countries with which it once had strong working relationships. Turkey, which once had close bonds to Israel, has grown more distant over the issue of the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza. Israel's relations with Egypt have also deteriorated, culminating in a recent attack on the Israeli embassy by protestors in Cairo.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
panetta’s a jerk.
God thinks otherwise.
Doesn’t Leon have an Obama fundraiser or something he can go to? He needs to leave this stuff to the adults. He’s in over his head.
Another Soros puppet.
Right Leon, because negotiating with the Arab terrorist squatters has worked so well in the past. / sarc
Thank God for The Samson Option.
Isolation? What should Israel do to get the Islamists to love them, mass suicide? Wasn’t it Obama who supported teh rebels in Egypt and Libya, both dominated by Islamists? Get a clue, Pannetta.
“panetta advises Israelis on the proper size rail car to climb into.”
He who sticks his finger in Gods eye is asking for a major slapdown. Israel knows what it needs to do. It doesn’t need a halfbaked terrorist loving moron sticking his nose in where it doesn’t belong.
Mark
Amen.
This “peace process” is completely absurd. How do you negotiate with someone whose position is that you should be dead ASAP? Somehow I don’t think it’s a compromise to let them kill you at age 50 if you are currently 20.
This from a WND blog by Aaron Klein of WABC Radio as relayed to me from a Tea Party Patriot chapter site. Shows the level of damage control shenanigans they had to embark on.
The Obama administration told the Palestinian Authority it cannot significantly help advance a Palestinian state until after the 2012 presidential elections, a top PA official told KleinOnline.
The official, however, said the U.S. will press for a Palestinian state quickly if President Obama is reelected.
“The main message we received from the U.S. is that nothing will happen in a serious way (toward a Palestinian state) before the 2012 elections,” said the official.
“Obama will not accept the Palestinian request of a state at the (United Nations) Security Council and cannot help on the ground for now,” said the official.
“We were told to wait for Obama’s reelection, and that before then nothing serious will happen for a state,” the official continued. “But after the reelection, the U.S. said the schedule will be short to reach a Palestinian state.”
Obama’s policies toward Israel have been highlighted in local and national campaigns, with many Democrats fearing voter turnoff due to the perception the president is anti-Israel.
Obama’s treatment of Israel was a significant issue in the recent election of Republican Bob Turner to former Congressman Anthony Weiner’s seat in a district that had not elected a GOP candidate since 1923.
Also, presidential contenders like Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann have been strongly criticizing Obama on Israel.
“The question you have to ask is: ‘Is it enough to maintain a military edge if you are isolating yourself in the diplomatic arena?’” he said. “Real security can only be achieved by a strong diplomatic efforts as well as a strong effort to protect your military strength.”*******
How can negotiating with a party that refuses to recognize your right to exist result in “real security”.
Israel has to be preparing for all out war as it’s certainly coming.
A Ron Paul campaign event ?
First, Panetta kills our Heros of Navy Seal team six and now he’s telling Israel to committ suicide. I think it’s time he’s tried for treason.
I'm sure 4th century ideas mixed with radical hatred will produce the same striking success Israel has produced.../s
Better to be an ally with a nation whom God loves, than against them.
Israel has been isolated from the arab nations from day -1, and always will be. The only reason they stopped being jerks was because their behinds were royally kicked, and it’s the same thing again and again.
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