As pointed out on Sunday in a radio interview with Israel Radio with Mideast expert Dr. Dore Gold, a former Israel ambassador to the United Nations, the relationship between Israel and the United States has changed under the Barak Obama administration, which consistently exhibits a sharp shift favoring the PA (Palestinian Authority) and Israel’s adversarikes. As the international media reports White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel shed a tear during a family bar mitzvah visit to the Kosel last week, it appears that the chief of staff and the president were planning to support the weekend UN vote that is aimed as sharply shifting the regional balance of power against Israel.

America has stated however that adherence to the non-nuclear proliferation treaty by Israel can only be realistic after comprehensive peace treaties are signed with Israel’s neighbors.

The official government response to the decision follows:

“This resolution is deeply flawed and hypocritical:  It ignores the realities of the Middle East and the real threats facing the region and the entire world.

“It singles out Israel, the Middle East’s only true democracy and the only country threatened with annihilation. Yet the terrorist regime in Iran, which is racing to develop nuclear weapons and which openly threatens to wipe Israel off the map, is not even mentioned in the resolution.

“The real problem with Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East does not relate to Israel but to those countries that have signed the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and brazenly violated it – Iraq under Sadam, Libya, Syria and Iran.

“That is why the resolution adopted by the NPT Review Conference not only fails to advance regional security but actually sets it back.

“As a non-signatory state of the NPT, Israel is not obligated by the decisions of this Conference, which has no authority over Israel.

“Given the distorted nature of this resolution, Israel will not be able to take part in its implementation.

“Regarding the practical consequences of this resolution for Israel, we take note of the important clarifications that have been made by the United States regarding its policy.

“The prime minister will discuss this issue with President Obama on his upcoming visit to Washington this Tuesday”.

The anti-Israel decision enjoyed the support of all 189 nations signed on the NPT Treaty, making a first reference to Israel’s nuclear facility since 1995, doing so in a comprehensive 28 page decision.

President Barak Obama did object to singling out Israel, and once again, spoke of a progressive process prior to demanding Israel disarm. America tried to soften the blow, issuing standard statement regarding Washington’s commitment to Israel’s security, as well as National Security Advisor James Jones promising the White House will not permit any steps to be taken against Israel that will compromise her security.

Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon added “There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza. If the flotilla had a genuine humanitarian goal, then its organizers should have transferred something for the abducted soldier Gilad Shalit as well.

“Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon referred to the flotilla in an interview today (Saturday, 29 May 2010), and stated that ‘This is a provocation intended to delegitimize Israel. There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza. If the flotilla had a genuine humanitarian goal, then its organizers should have transferred something for the abducted soldier Gilad Shalit as well. Their refusal to do so clearly indicates that humanitarian issues were not their goal. We will not allow the flotilla to enter Gaza, as this is an infringement of Israel’s sovereignty. We are organizing the information background, but information considerations are secondary to security and political considerations.’

“Deputy FM Ayalon referred to the boycott of Israeli products by the Palestinian Authority, and stated that ‘After Israel declared its acceptance of the two state solution, froze construction and removed roadblocks, the Palestinians are continuing their incitement against Israel. This is a rejection of mutual trust. It is impossible to talk peace on the one hand, while continuing with incitement on the other.’

“Regarding the situation in the Middle East, the Deputy Foreign Minister stated that ‘Israel is not escalating the situation. Iran is the only country who has an interest in escalating the situation in the region.’ He added further that ‘The continued smuggling of weapons to Hizbullah is a blatant violation of UN Resolution 1701’”.

Ayalon told Kol Chai Radio on Sunday afternoon that “there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” emphasizing at least 15,000 tons of humanitarian aid enters Gaza from Israel weekly because the embargo is intended to prevent the smuggling of weapons, not to prevent basic necessities from reaching the Hamas controlled  area.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)