'Mystified' US slams Israeli defense minister Ya'alon's criticism of Obama

[bemildred]

WASHINGTON -- The United States is using unprecedented language to condemn Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon after he continued weeks of criticism of US President Barack Obama, and members of his foreign policy team, on Tuesday.

“We were shocked by Moshe Ya’alon’s comments, which seriously call into question his commitment to Israel’s relationship with the United States," a senior administration official told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday night. "Moreover, this is part of a disturbing pattern in which the Defense Minister disparages the US Administration, and insults its most senior officials."

Ya'alon said on Tuesday that, in light of developments on crises in the Middle East, relations with China and with Russia over the annexation of Crimea, Obama's "image in the world is feebleness."

Ya'alon sensed "disappointment" in the world community, he said at Tel Aviv University.

http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Mystified-US-slams-Israeli-defense-minister-Yaalons-criticism-of-Obama-345809

[Jefferson23]

1. They want to hit Iran:

Senators and House members write to Obama: Be tough on Iran
Eight-three senators send letter calling on the U.S. to prevent Tehran from having nuclear weapons, ever; 395 members of House follow suit.
By Haaretz | Mar. 18, 2014 | 12:13 AM | 4
http://www.haaretz.com/news/world/1.580576

They are hawking it into far fetched land:

Missing jet, Iranian threats, prompt Israel to tighten air security
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/03/17/missing-jet-iranian-threats-prompt-israel-to-tighten-air-security/

[bemildred]

2. Lot's of gibbering coming from all quarters.

Hard to tell if they are excited at having a real semi-credible enemy to bloviate about, or sad about not getting an immediate war on. Believe it or not, I think it's going to get noisier now, we can at least use the dustup with Russia to gin up some patriotic fever. Both sides and all their allies. Lots of feathers to be soothed.

The appalling degradation of diplomacy in the 21st century vividly on display.

[Israeli]

17. Yup ....

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article38008.htm

March 19, 2014 "Information Clearing House - "Haaretz"- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon have ordered the army to continue preparing for a possible military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities at a cost of at least 10 billion shekels ($2.89 billion) this year, despite the talks between Iran and the West, according to recent statements by senior military officers.

The IDF representatives said the army had received a clear directive from government officials from the political echelon – meaning Netanyahu and Ya’alon – to continue readying for a possible independent strike by Israel on the Iranian nuclear sites, regardless of the talks now happening between Iran and the West, the three MKs said.

Ya’alon recently indicated during a speech at Tel Aviv University that his view has shifed and he is now likely to support a unilateral Israeli strike on Iran, in light of his assessment that the Obama administration will not do so.

“We think that the United States should be the one leading the campaign against Iran,” Ya’alon said this week. “But the U.S. has entered talks with them and unfortunately, in the haggling in the Persian bazaar, the Iranians were better. ... Therefore, on this matter, we have to behave as though we have nobody to look out for us but ourselves.”

[Scootaloo]

3. Ironically, that's a pretty feeble response...

"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," the official continued.

"We made him the sandwich the way he likes even opened his beer for him, and he still yelled at us!"

Someday, one US administration or another is going to wake up to the fact that Israel is no more our "friend" than Saudi Arabia or Pakistan. They take the checks and the free weapons and that's as far as the "relationship" goes.

So long as the US keeps bending as far as it can to accommodate Israel on all things, Israel's leaders are going to continue to see us as feeble.

[geek tragedy]

4. actually, telling the israelis that this guy is undermining the relationship

is a pretty sharp jab, in the vernacular of that particular relationship

it's saying if they keep this guy on, well then the relationship is undermined, and that will not be good for you

[shira]

8. It's not about undermining the relationship.... They're completely missing the point.

Yaalon's point is that the US is coming across internationally as weakened, and that perception of weakness endangers everyone and undermines US efforts with Iran.

[geek tragedy]

5. our friends the Israelis. Maybe they took the criticism of Putin personally given

the parallels.

[azurnoir]

6. but wait really it's the US that's out to get Ya'alon

The ongoing feud between Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon and the American administration continued escalating on Wednesday when a US official told Israeli media that Ya'alon was "determined to undermine US-Israel relations."

In response, sources close to the defense minister charged that some in the Obama administration were "trying to hurt (Ya'alon's) legitimacy and his great popularity."

The sources said Ya'alon was not someone who was willing to compromise on issues of security in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4501067,00.html

[bemildred]

7. We don't sound intimidated by his outburst.

I think you can say that.

[King_David]

9. Moshe Ya'alon is an idiot

And should be fired for this.

[azurnoir]

10. Ya'alon say he's sorry -remarks taken out of context

Ya’alon apologizes for remarks disparaging the US, again

http://www.timesofisrael.com/yaalon-apologizes-for-remarks-disparaging-the-us/

[bemildred]

11. It's like he just can't help himself.

Lot's of cognitive disconnect and dumbfoundedness going around these days. And always somebody elses fault.

[Jefferson23]

12. He keeps walking it back only after he makes the point of getting it out there for his

constituents to hear. The talk backs are interesting on some of these OP's.

[Jefferson23]

13. Kerry angered by Israeli minister's sharp criticism

WASHINGTON (AFP)

-- In a rare move, Secretary of State John Kerry protested Wednesday to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about strong criticism of US foreign policy by his outspoken defense minister.

In a telephone call, Kerry told Netanyahu the comments made by Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon were inconsistent with strong ties between Israel and the United States, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

"Clearly his comments were not constructive," Psaki told reporters, after Yaalon accused the US administration of showing weakness around the world, particularly on its policy with Iran and Ukraine.

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

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=683142

[King_David]

14. Maan ? LOL.

[Jefferson23]

15. March 21, Jen Psaki Spokesperson Daily Press Briefing

* Interesting, Psaki refers to the behavior as a pattern.

QUESTION: Can we go to the Palestinian-Israeli peace process?

MS. PSAKI: Sure.

QUESTION: Okay. Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni said that the key to the prison – meaning the release of the prisoners on the 29th – lies in Abbas’s hands, that he would have to give a commitment to continue in the negotiations, basically, post April 29th. Do you have a comment on that?

MS. PSAKI: Well, Said, as you know, this is an incredibly complicated issue, as is – as are many issues involved in the negotiations. We’re at a pivotal time, as we’ve said before, but I’m just not going to speak to every comment and analysis coming from both sides from the podium.

QUESTION: Now, the Palestinian negotiator insisted again that this was a separate deal struck with Secretary of State John Kerry on the 19th of July, even before the start of the current negotiations, that these prisoners would be released. Now, the last – the fourth tranche is the 29th of this month, not the 29th of next month.

MS. PSAKI: Again, we have seen three rounds of prisoners released. I’m not going to speak further to what was agreed to between parties. It’s a complicated issue. We’re obviously at an important time in the negotiations, but because of that I’m not going to speculate further.

QUESTION: Okay. There is a very thorough study done by a Palestinian think tank in the West Bank that says if the talks collapse and if the Palestinian Authority were to sort of dismantle and so on, that you will have chaos, violence, crime and so on, and the spread of, I mean, very, very bleak conditions. Do you do your own – do you conduct your own studies and analysis of what is likely to sort of be in the aftermath of a failed negotiations?

MS. PSAKI: Look, Said, our focus is on working towards an agreement between both parties. That’s where we put all of our efforts and energy.

QUESTION: Thank you.

MS. PSAKI: Do we have any more on that, or should we move on to a new topic?

QUESTION: I have --

MS. PSAKI: Okay. Go ahead, Matt.

QUESTION: -- one question about this. The Moshe Yaalon saga does not seem to be over. Have there been any further contacts since the – that you’re aware of since the – his phone call with Secretary Hagel and Secretary Kerry’s call with Prime Minister Netanyahu about this subject?

MS. PSAKI: Not that I’m aware of. I would note, of course, that naturally, our officials on the ground are in close contact with a range of Israeli officials every day. So I don’t have that level of detail. We are disappointed with the lack of an apology from Defense Minister Yaalon’s comments. His comments, as we’ve stated a couple times, don’t reflect the true nature of our relationship with Israel.

And as I noted yesterday, and certainly this hasn’t changed overnight, for the Secretary, while we’re focused on our engagements with Prime Minister Netanyahu, and Ambassador Indyk and our team are working closely with the negotiators on the ground, we still have concerns and he still has concerns about the pattern.

QUESTION: About the pattern from this official?

MS. PSAKI: Yes, exactly. Mm-hmm.

QUESTION: This specific – and when you say that you’re disappointed with the lack of an apology, had you actively sought an apology? Or not you personally, but on behalf of the Administration, did officials such as Secretary Kerry and Secretary Hagel specifically say an apology is warranted in this case?

MS. PSAKI: Well, I think they very clearly expressed their displeasure with the comments, and an apology would be a natural next step in response to that.

QUESTION: Okay. I have more on the same issue, but not on Yaalon.

QUESTION: Yeah. On Yaalon --

MS. PSAKI: Okay.

QUESTION: On the Yaalon issue, are you aware that when Prime Minister Netanyahu asked him to tone it down, actually, because he’s been doing this week after week, he basically told him to take a hike, more graphically, and told him that he will explain to the Americans what he means when he meets with you? So will you be receiving him to hear his explanation?

MS. PSAKI: I don’t know how anyone has that level of detail between private conversations between the prime minister and the defense minister, but I’d you point you to the Israelis on that.

QUESTION: Well, that’s according to the Israeli press. I mean, I’m not privy to their conversation.

MS. PSAKI: I understand that --

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2014/03/222962.htm#ISRAEL3

[bemildred]

16. An elaborate form of verbal shadow-boxing, in the fog, at night.

The main objective of which is not to be forced to say anything definite whatsoever.

[LeftishBrit]

18. Ya'alon is a complete twerp and pretty vile

What a thug. At least he didn't compare the President to a disease, which is his usual mode of argument. He called Peace Now a 'virus' and the 'Palestinian threat' a 'cancer'.

He needs to be sacked pronto; in fact, he should never been given a role in government in the first place. Ugh.

[Mosby]

19. according to this poll he is currently the most popular MK

which could explain his OTT comments.

http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/politics-and-military/politics/watch-moshe-yaalon-voted-most-popular-mk-4003

Pretty small group though with a high margin of error.