To: work4ever who wrote (34126 ) 11/11/2012 8:23:54 AM From: Emile Vidrine 3 Recommendations Read Replies (1) | Respond to Former CIA chief David Petraeus enrages the Israel lobby and leads to FBI investigation. (ADL has powerful resources within FBI bureaucracy.)testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee which included this observation about one of the “challenges to security and stability” faced by the United States: The enduring hostilities between Israel and some of its neighbors present distinct challenges to our ability to advance our interests in the AOR [Area of Operations]. Israeli-Palestinian tensions often flare into violence and large-scale armed confrontations. The conflict foments anti-American sentiment, due to a perception of U.S. favoritism for Israel . Arab anger over the Palestinian question limits the strength and depth of U.S. partnerships with governments and peoples in the AOR and weakens the legitimacy of moderate regimes in the Arab world. Meanwhile, al-Qaeda and other militant groups exploit that anger to mobilize support. The conflict also gives Iran influence in the Arab world through its clients, Lebanese Hizballah and Hamas. Abe Foxman , National Director of the Anti-Defamation League , one of the leading American Zionist lobby groups, was so alarmed he issued a statement condemning Petraeus’ testimony, asserting in part of it: Gen. Petraeus has simply erred in linking the challenges faced by the U.S. and coalition forces in the region to a solution of the Israeli-Arab conflict, and blaming extremist activities on the absence of peace and the perceived U.S. favoritism for Israel. This linkage is dangerous and counterproductive. What Foxman and other Israel lobbyists understood correctly was that Petraeus was articulating a view that is increasingly common within the US establishment, but is an absolute taboo when it comes to stating it publicly: that US “interests” and Israeli “interests” are not identical, and that Israel might be a strategic burden, rather than an asset to the United States.Mossad chief Meir Dagan , told a Knesset committee that, “Israel is gradually turning from an asset to the United States to a burden.”Obama threw Israel under the bus .
