The US Administration expressed Friday worries about Israel’s increasing isolation in the region and advised the occupying entity to improve its relation with regional countries and renew peace talks with the Palestinians.

The US Administration expressed Friday worries about Israel’s increasing isolation in the region and advised the occupying entity to improve its relation with regional countries and renew peace talks with the Palestinians.

“US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said that Israel must work to end its increasing isolation in the region by repairing diplomatic ties with Egypt and Turkey and renewing peace efforts with the Palestinians,” AFP reported.

"Unfortunately, over the past year, we've seen Israel's isolation from its traditional security partners in the region grow, and the pursuit of a comprehensive Middle East peace has effectively been put on hold, he added.

However the US defense secretary considered that “Israel was not entirely to blame for its difficult position,” referring to an "international campaign designed to isolate the country.”

“Israel needs to lean forward on efforts to achieve peace with the Palestinians," Panetta added in a speech he delivered.

In parallel, Panetta pointed out that his “country will stay committed to Israel's security,” and vowed to “prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons,” ruling out the possibility of a military action against the Islamic Republic.

He favored sanctions against Iran rather than a military action, indicating that “a strike would only delay Iran’s nuclear project by one or two year.”

In contrast the US official assured that “Washington would ensure Israel continues to enjoy a clear military edge by providing the Jewish State with sophisticated missile defenses and new stealthy F-35 fighter jets.”