BICOM

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underscored the strength of Israel’s relations with the United States after Washington sharply criticised comments made this week by Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon.

Speaking at the Knesset, Netanyahu emphasised that the US remains Israel’s greatest ally, illustrating the point by adding “We also appreciate the very high security and intelligence cooperation, including during the incident with the Iranian arms ship [which the Israel Navy seized earlier this month].”

Netanyahu’s statement came after a backlash from Washington officials over comments made earlier in the week by Ya’alon during a speech at Tel Aviv University, in which he suggested that the United States is projecting an image of “feebleness” to the world. Ya’alon also said that the US had been outmanoeuvred diplomatically by Iran and added, “I hope the United States comes to its senses. If it doesn’t, it will challenge the world order, and the United States… will suffer.”

His comments drew an angry response from US officials. The Jerusalem Post says that an unnamed senior administration figure was “shocked” by Ya’alon’s speech. Two months ago, Ya’alon issued an apology after he was reported to have called US Secretary of State John Kerry “messianic” and “obsessive” over his efforts to broker peace. Kerry yesterday spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu by phone to discuss Ya’alon’s latest comments. US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki termed them “confusing” but emphasised Kerry does not believe they “represent the view of the government of Israel.”

Later in the day, Ya’alon phoned his American counterpart Chuck Hagel to apologise. Ya’alon stressed that he meant no defiance, criticism or intention to hurt the United States or Israel’s relations with Washington and emphasised the importance of strategic relations between the two countries. Ya’alon’s comments also produced a flurry of coverage and comment in the Israeli media, with Yediot Ahronot’s Sima Kadmon saying “either the defence minister knows something that we don’t or, how shall we put this delicately, he is simply a fool.”