Obama Downgrades US-Israeli Alliance

Photo: jpost

(Washington Beacon) Asked who is the closest ally of the United States in the Middle East after the president’s comments, White House press secretary Jay Carney said Israel is the closest U.S. ally in the Middle East during a Monday press briefing.

As the United Nations General Assembly gets underway and leaders from around the world begin to congregate in New York City, President Obama seemingly downgraded Israel’s traditional status as the closest U.S. ally in the Middle East. In a “60 Minutes” interview Sunday night, Obama simply called Israel “one of” America’s closest allies in the region.

Responding to a question about Israel’s request that he explain his “red lines” on the Iranian nuclear program, Obama said, “I am going to block out any noise that’s out there.” He continued, saying that despite the “noise,” he is “in close consultation with the Israelis” because “they’re one of our closest allies in the region.”

Obama did not elaborate on the other countries he considers close allies in a region that includes Syria, Egypt, and Turkey, among others.

In the past, Obama has identified Turkey’s Islamist leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as the Middle East leader to whom he feels closest, and media reports have said that Obama has placed calls to Erdogan more than any other world leader except British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Obama will not have an opportunity to discuss Israel’s status as a U.S. ally with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who will be in New York this week, because Obama declined a request from Netanyahu for a meeting. Read full story...

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