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The Gaza Flotilla and U.S.-Israel Relations

(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Matthew Levitt, David Makovsky, and Jeffrey White - The Obama administration's efforts during the past couple of months to reach out to the Netanyahu government were derided by many as a "charm offensive" or public relations move. Yet there is nothing like a crisis to put the U.S.-Israel relationship to a genuine test. The fact is the administration did not rush to judgment on the flotilla tragedy, seeing it as a security-related issue. A White House statement made clear that the U.S. would not jump on a bandwagon condemning Israel, and a subsequent State Department release made clear that Israel - not the international community - needed to launch an investigation. The statements by the Obama administration fell short of what was wanted by Turkey and Arab states.
2010-06-02 09:11:45
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