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IPFS News Link • Israel

Israel Criticizes U.S. “Weakness” on Ukraine, Syria

• http://www.prisonplanet.com, Kurt Nimmo

Israel’s defense minister, Moshe Ya’alon, used the State Department orchestrated unraveling of Ukraine and the failure of the United States to confront Russia militarily to criticize the “weakness” of the Obama administration. He said because the U.S. has not pursued the role of world policeman more aggressively it is inviting terrorism.
 
“If you sit and wait at home, the terrorism will come again,” Ya’alon said during a speech at Tel Aviv University. “This is a war of civilizations. If your image is feebleness, it doesn’t pay in the world. Nobody will replace the United States as global policeman. I hope the United States comes to its senses. If it doesn’t, it will challenge the world order, and the United States is the one that will suffer.”
 

2 Comments in Response to

Comment by J E Andreasen
Entered on:

Another analysis... 

I'm Shocked, Shocked by the US Reported:

“We were shocked by Moshe Ya'alon’s comments, which seriously call into question his commitment to Israel’s relationship with the United States,” the official said. “Moreover, this is part of a disturbing pattern in which the defense minister disparages the U.S. administration, and insults its most senior officials. Given the unprecedented commitment that this administration has made to Israel’s security, we are mystified why the defense minister seems intent on undermining the relationship.”
What did the Minister say?  He spoke
harsh criticism leveled...at the Obama administration in an address at Tel Aviv University, reported in Haaretz on Tuesday. Ya'alon said the United States “shows weakness” in various arenas around the world – including Ukraine – and that its allies in the Middle East are disappointed. Ya'alon said that because it is “sitting at home," America is opening itself up to terror attacks “and the United States will suffer.”
What's so shocking in Yaalon's correct analysis, being repeated by many media commentators?

Who is undermining whom in this relationship?

Who is displaying less-than-required commitment?
Comment by J E Andreasen
Entered on:
The dance of diplomacy... Ya'alon to Hagel: I Did Not Intend to Insult the U.S. Defense Minister speaks to Defense Secretary Hagel, clarifies his remarks on Iran were not meant to insult the United States.   By Elad Benari First Publish: 3/19/2014, 11:57 PM
Moshe Ya'alon and Chuck Hagel Moshe Ya'alon and Chuck Hagel Flash 90

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon spoke to U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Wednesday evening and clarified that his remarks regarding the "soft" approach of the West toward the possibility of a nuclear Iran were not meant to insult the United States.

A statement from Ya’alon’s office said that in a telephone conversation with Hagel, Ya’alon said that “there was no intent to criticize or hurt the United States or our relationship”.

“There is an utmost importance to the strategic relationship between our two countries, as well as the personal relationship and mutual interests,” Ya’alon told his American counterpart.

“I appreciate the relationship at between Israel and the United States in general and the security systems in particular. I have a deep appreciation for the relationship between our countries and for you personally,” he continued. “I greatly appreciated these relations as Chief of Staff and I appreciate them today as Defense Minister. I have a total commitment to these relations and to the cooperation between Israel and the United States.”

According to the Defense Ministry’s statement, Hagel thanked Ya’alon for his remarks and said that he was aware that some of his remarks had been taken out of context.

“I appreciate our personal relationship and the relationship between our two countries, and I appreciate your comments regarding your commitment to these relations,” Hagel said.

The conversation between the two men came after the United States harshly criticized Ya’alon for the remarks, which it viewed as an attempt to harm the relations between the U.S. and Israel.

In fact, Secretary of State John Kerry personally protested to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu over Ya'alon's strong criticism.

In a telephone call, Kerry told Netanyahu Wednesday that the comments made by Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon are inconsistent with reality, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

"Clearly his comments were not constructive," Psaki told reporters.

"Secretary Kerry spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu this morning and protested to him his concerns about these comments," she said, adding that the U.S. has an "unshakeable commitment" to Israel's security.

"It is certainly confusing to us why Defense Minister Ya'alon would continue his pattern of making comments that don't accurately represent the scope of our close partnership on a range of security issues and on the enduring partnership between the United States and Israel," Psaki added.

It is not Ya'alon's first diatribe against the administration of President Barack Obama and Kerry himself.

In January, the State Department denounced as "offensive" comments made by the defense minister accusing Kerry of being "obsessive" and "messianic" with his push for Middle East peace.

Ya'alon was later forced to apologize to the top U.S. diplomat, who has been trying to hammer out a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA).

 


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