Dr. Moshe Arens spoke with Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) on Wednesday morning, expressing his opposition to the new White House policy, dictating to Israel regarding a number of key issues.
Arens acknowledged that America has pressure and even directed Israel in the past, but today�s situation of seeking to direct policy is �unacceptable�.
�We have a small difficult problem. America is Israel�s major ally but the current situation is unacceptable, with the White house giving direct orders to Israel regarding internal policy�.
�While we mustn�t regard the America�s demands flippantly�, he added, �we are also an independent nation, not a banana republic, and we are not compelled to comply with all of the policy decisions of the White House�.
The former senior minister stressed that if there is a dialogue, there is what to talk about but the current format, directing Israel to adhere to American policy decisions is unacceptable. �The only ones the government must listen to is the Israeli electorate on Election Day�. Arens stressed Israel must not compromise national interests.
Dr. Arens has served as Israeli ambassador to the USA as well as foreign minister and defense minister.
(Yechiel Spira � YWN Israel)
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Obama thinks is Israel is GM and AIG, whose arms he is twisting, firing and hiring CEO’s etc. I hope that Israel won’t be forced to declare Chapter 11 chas v’shalom.