USA: Washington responds to Israeli defence minister's comments on the U.S. projecting weakness and leaving itself open to terrorism

Record ID: 398611

  • Title: USA: Washington responds to Israeli defence minister's comments on the U.S. projecting weakness and leaving itself open to terrorism
  • Date: 19th March 2014
  • Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C. UNITED STATES (MARCH 19, 2014) (STATE TV) JEN PSAKI, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN WALKS IN TO STATE DEPARTMENT PRESS CONFERENCE QUESTION BY JOURNALIST ON THE COMMENTS MADE BY THE ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER MOSHE YAALON (SOUNDBITE) (English) JEN PSAKI, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAYING: "Clearly his comments were not constructive Secretary Kerry sp
  • Embargoed: 3rd April 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAB114S5RYD2DI0GXB5B3SLQCNC
  • Story Text: U.S. State Department Spokesman Jen Psaki on Wednesday (March 19) said recent comments made by Israel's defence minister, Moshe Yaalon were 'confusing' and 'not constructive' after he accused the Obama administration of weakness and leaving itself open to terrorism.
    Psaki went on to say the Secretary of State John Kerry had called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the morning to voice his concern at the continuation of critical remarks from Yaalon as they ran counter to the very close relationship between the United States and Israel.
    In a speech at Tel Aviv University on Monday (March 17) Yaalon criticised American foreign policy for projecting "weakness" throughout the world.
    Psaki was quick to reinforce the fact that the Unites States was unwavering in its support of Israel and that she was confident that Yaalon's comments did not represent the Israeli government.
    "President Obama has provided an all time high level of assistance to Israel including critical Iron Dome and missile defence funding even during times of budget uncertainty to provide Israeli with unprecedented capabilities and options that help Israel better deal with regional threats and challenges, " she said.
    It was the latest in a series of critical remarks by Yaalon, who was forced to apologise in January after calling John Kerry, the US secretary of state, "obsessive and messianic."
  • Copyright Holder: STATE DEPARTMENT TV
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