Israel Becoming Increasingly Isolated, Warns Panetta

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned Sunday that Israel has to focus on improving relations with its neighbors in the region.

“At this dramatic time in the middle east when there have been so many changes, it is not a good situation for Israel to become increasingly isolated,” Panetta told reporters aboard a plane en-route to Israel. “That’s what’s happening.”

In a similar vein, the Secretary addressed calls from hardliners within the Israeli government for a unilateral strike against Iran, advising Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pursue a broader strategy for confronting Iran.

“The most effective way to deal with Iran is not on a unilateral basis. The best way to deal with the issues there is to unify an effort to confront Iran directly that they have to change their ways,” Panetta said.

Panetta also cited restarting Mideast peace talks as another vital concern, noting that neither Israel nor the Palestinians had anything to lose by engaging in negotiations.

“No one is going to tell them exactly what agreements they have to make, no one is going to tell them exactly what they have to give up,” Panetta explained. “That is all part of the negotiating process.”

This week, Panetta is traveling to Israel and Egypt before heading to Brussels for the NATO Ministers of Defense Conference.