US Fears ’’Israel’’ Increasingly Isolated in Middle East
US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Sunday that "the Arab spring has left "Israel" increasingly isolated in the Middle East and that its military might could not make up for a weakened diplomatic position.
Speaking to reporters aboard his plane bound for the Zionist entity as part of a Middle East tour, Panetta stressed that "it is crucial for "Israel" to shore up its relations with Egypt and other countries in the region that had proved valuable partners in the past."
"There's not much question in my mind that they maintain military edge. But the question you have to ask is it enough to maintain a military edge, if you're isolating yourself in the diplomatic arena?" Panetta asked.
"At this dramatic time in the Middle East, when there have been so many changes, it's not a good situation for "Israel" to become increasingly isolated. And that's what's happening," he said.
Emphasizing the "importance to do everything possible to try to help them reestablish relations with countries like Turkey and with Egypt," Panetta added that "he thinks that it's important to try to do whatever they can to try to improve those relations."
A spokesman for Panetta, George Little, said the Pentagon chief viewed ""Israel's" isolation as the product of its own actions as well as events outside of its control, including Iran's support for militants hostile to "Israel"."
"One thing that's been made clear, it's been made clear by the US president, it's been made clear by the secretary of state, is that you're not going to achieve Middle East peace by trying to slam dunk it in the UN," he claimed.
"The only way you're going to achieve it is by negotiations," Panetta said.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama. org
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