US President Barack Obama has nominated Chuck Hagel as country’s next defense secretary, warming Israel.
Hagels’ nomination criticized in Israel as congress Republicans called him an anti-Israel due to Hagel’s ties with the Palestinians and his series of commitments on Iran, against Israel, deemed insufficiently supportive of the Jewish state.
He had said, as source said, “I’m not an Israeli senator. I’m a United States senator.”
“I support Israel, but my first interest is I take an oath of office to the Constitution of the United States, not to a president, not to a party, not to Israel,” he added.
Hagel’s Nomination comes with mix reaction, some Israel Diplomat are in its favour with hope to Israel making unwanted concessions. While some in the Jewish state worries about beginning of new wildfire with Washington.
The appointment announced by Obama in White House on Monday after discussion between Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who may get re-elected 22 January later this month.
In his second-term, Obama seeks to under serious roadblocks before his inauguration. He has also tape his counterterrorism adviser John Brennan for the Central Intelligence Agency post, deeming controversies for his second-term national security team.
The selection of former CIA Station Chief, Brennan has raised eyebrows as Brennan withdrew from top post in 2008 because of much reports of his role in the George W. Bush term’s enhanced interrogation techniques in the War on Terror.
Obama administration’s preemptive war against the Iranians instead of a diplomatic deal over Tehran’s nuclear crisis also raises Israel’s frustration.
