As he reaffirmed his country’s commitment to Israel, United States Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned on Sunday that the Zionist entity was becoming increasingly isolated.

As he reaffirmed his country’s commitment to Israel, United States Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned on Sunday that the Zionist entity was becoming increasingly isolated.

Panetta, who arrived in the occupied territories on Monday morning for the first time since becoming Pentagon chief, said U.S. security commitments should enable Israel to take “risks for peace”.

“It's pretty clear, at this dramatic time in the Middle East when there have been so many changes, that it is not a good situation for Israel to become increasingly isolated. And that is what has happened", Panetta told reporters on his plane.

 
"The important thing there is to again reaffirm our strong security relationship with Israel, to make clear that we will protect their qualitative military edge," Panetta said. "As they take risks for peace, we will be able to provide the security that they will need in order to ensure that they can have the room hopefully to negotiate".

The U.S. Defense Secretary said he was confident that the Zionist entity had maintained its military superiority in the region, however, he wondered: “but the question you have to ask is - is it enough to maintain a military edge if you are isolating yourself diplomatically”?
"Real security can only be achieved by both a strong diplomatic effort as well as a strong effort to protect your military strength," he said.

Panetta will hold separate meetings with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss bilateral defense relations as well as major security issues.