Israeli minister says US and EU do not understand the Middle East

Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon has criticised US and EU policies in the Middle East and accused both of “not understanding” the region. According to Maariv newspaper on Sunday, Ya’alon – who launched a personal attack on US Secretary of State John Kerry last week – also criticised the US suggestion that Israel could use electronic surveillance equipment to defend the Jordan Valley instead of maintaining a permanent military presence there.

While he “strongly supports” the use of “technological developments” in Israel’s defence, Ya’alon stressed that they cannot be “substitutes for the physical presence” of soldiers. “The Jordan Valley is vital to the security of Israel,” the minister told the Jewish Statesmanship Centre in Jerusalem, “and we cannot assent to third parties being there in our stead.” Security in the Jordan Valley, he insisted, must remain in Israeli hands for an “extended period”.

US Secretary of State John Kerry proposed a security arrangement for the Jordan Valley, a crucial part of the proposed State of Palestine, whereby there would be no physical Israeli presence. He said that international forces would be there but Israel has rejected the proposal.

Ya’alon followed up his verbal attack on Kerry by accusing the US and EU of favouring the Palestinians over the Israelis. He said that their policy on the issue is “misguided”. The Defence Minister appears to have forgotten that the US gives Israel $8.5 million of military aid every day; it gives no military aid to the Palestinians.