Official: Obama Will Make Bibi Pay After Elections

Israeli security officials say Pentagon’s decision to reduce number of US troops it will send to joint drill with Israel not related to growing tensions with Israel; others claim Washington saying ‘you will not drag us into Iran war’

Attila Somfalvi / Ynet News

Israeli security officials on Saturday tried to downplay the Pentagon’s decision to significantly scale back its participation in a joint military exercise with Israel next month, but some government officials said the decision came as a response to the growing tensions between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s office and the Obama administration.

“This is the Obama administration’s response to the dinner party Netanyahu held in (Mitt) Romney‘s honor,” a senior member of the political-security cabinet told Ynet, while another official said the Pentagon’s decision “isn’t boosting deterrence and is not making the Iranians sweat.

Patriot battery during previous drill in 2009 (Photo: EPA)

“Regardless of the exercise, the relations between Israel and the US have soured,” another minister said, while another added cynically that “our relationship has never been better.

“The US elections are in two months, and there is no doubt that President Barack Obama, if he is reelected, will make Netanyahu pay for his behavior,” said the security cabinet member. “It will not pass quietly.”

Other officials in Jerusalem said Washington is trying to send a message that Israel will not drag it into war, certainly not before the elections. The Americans were enraged by Israel’s repeated threats to launch a solo military attack on Iran’s nuclear sites, and top US General Martin Dempsey’s recent statement that he does not “want to be complicit” if Israel chooses to attack was carefully worded.

Officials said that while Jerusalem has received the message, the Americans’ conduct is leading Iran to believe that it is safe at least until the US elections.

continue at YNet News:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4275749,00.html

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