Clinton says Israel risks losing support on Iran
* Clinton says Israel must be open to Palestinian talks
[When did she win Israeli elections?]* She insists U.S. funds will not go to Hamas
[Of course not! We believe her, too. And them. Oh yeah.]* Secretary of state hints at some flexibility on funds
[Meaning Israel must accept a “Palestinian” state, but as usual, none of them have to accept Israel. Nice and flexible and all.]WASHINGTON, April 23 (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton cautioned Israel’s right-wing government on Thursday that it risked losing Arab support for fighting any threats from Iran if it shuns Palestinian peace talks.
Signaling U.S. impatience with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reticence over peace talks, Clinton said Arab nations had made clear to her that Israel must be committed to the Palestinian peace process if it wants help countering Iran.
“For Israel to get the kind of strong support it is looking for vis-a-vis Iran, it can’t stay on the sidelines with respect to the Palestinians and the peace efforts. They go hand in hand,” she told the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee.
Israel sees a nuclear-armed threat as a mortal threat.
Why in the world?
But New York Democratic Rep. Nita Lowey, who has previously put holds on money earmarked for the Palestinians, questioned what she said was some “flexibility” in the Obama administration’s approach.
Clinton reiterated that the Obama administration expected any new government that included Hamas to meet three conditions — to recognize Israel, renounce violence and sign on to previous Palestinian peace accords.
But Clinton hinted that some flexibility might be needed, pointing to U.S. funding for Lebanon, whose government includes the militant group Hezbollah.
Israel needs to bow down… Islamists? Notsamuch.
