Israel Matzav: Yaalon forced to apologize again

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Yaalon forced to apologize again

For the second time in recent weeks (the picture is from the first time), Defense Minister Moshe "Boogie" Yaalon has been forced to apologize to the Obama administration.

In a phone conversation with US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on Wednesday night, Ya'alon said that his comments "were not intended to express opposition, criticism or offense to the United States," adding that maintaining strong ties with the United States is Israel's utmost priority.

Ya'alon expressed his appreciation for the close relationship Israel shares with the United States, and emphasized his full commitment to cooperation between the two nations.

Hagel thanked Ya'alon for his clarification, acknowledging that some of the comments may have been taken out of context.

Meanwhile, we have some more details about what Yaalon said.

Ya’alon was quoted by Haaretz as saying at a Tel Aviv University event on Monday that America’s aid to Israel needed to be “seen in proportion,” and that it was not a one-way street.

“It isn’t a favor America is doing, it’s in their interest,” he said. “They get quality intelligence and technology.

We invented [the] Iron Dome [anti-rocket system]. The wings of the F-35 stealth fighter – we invented. We invented the Arrow [anti-ballistic missile system].”

Ya’alon’s comments and other remarks he made critical of US foreign policy triggered withering criticism from a senior US official.

Ya’alon, in his speech at Tel Aviv University, said that in light of the US’s policies in the Middle East, with China and with Russia, it has developed an image in the world of “feebleness.”

“The moderate Sunni camp in the area expected the United States to support it, and to be firm, like Russia’s support for the Shi’ite axis,” Ya’alon said. “I heard voices of disappointment in the region. I was in Singapore and heard disappointment about China getting stronger and the US getting weaker. Look what’s happening in Ukraine, where the United States is demonstrating weakness, unfortunately.”

Ya’alon criticized the US for showing weakness globally.

“If you sit and wait at home, the terrorism will come again,” he said. “Even if you hunker down, it will come.

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.”

On Iran, Ya’alon said that “comfortable Westerners prefer to put off confrontation. If possible to next year, or the next president. But in the end it will blow up.” The US was being out-negotiated by Iran, and that “on this matter we have to behave as though we have nobody to look out for us, but ourselves,” he said.

Is Yaalon really saying anything that conservatives in the US have not said? Does anyone doubt what Yaalon really thinks? I didn't think so. Maybe we should put Charles Krauthammer in charge of our hasbara so that we can stop apologizing.

Labels: Barack Hussein Obama, Binyamin Netanyahu, John Kerry, Moshe Yaalon, outrageous apologies