(Ynet News) Shimon Shiffer - Secretary of State John Kerry has almost completely adopted the Palestinian stance, and that is the background for the harsh statements made by Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon in private conversations with sources in the U.S. The outline of the agreement the U.S. is suggesting may end in a security disaster for Israel, but if we insist on our vital interests they will see us as responsible for the talks' failure. The defense minister argues that in practice there are no negotiations taking place right now, because Abbas refuses to recognize Israel as the Jewish nation state, refuses to give up on the right of return, and refuses to sign an agreement which will bring all claims to an end. This truth may be painful, but someone has to say it - and that's what Ya'alon did. Like the late Ariel Sharon, Ya'alon also belongs to the group of officers who fought courageously and risked their lives for our continued existence here, and he does not need anyone to defend his statements regarding security issues. If he asserts that technological means will not stop terrorist cells from crossing the Jordan River or getting organized in Nablus, it's difficult to doubt him.
2014-01-16 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive