U.S. warns of Israeli Isolation

As the Reuters reports the U.S. defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned on Sunday that Israel is becoming increasingly isolated in the Middle East and said U.S. security commitments should enable it to take "risks for peace."

Mr. Panetta commented while en route to Israel for a visit starting Monday. While there, he will try to restart direct negotiations between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority. He is scheduled to meet with both Israeli and Palestinian officials.

Mr. Panetta, the former CIA director and a onetime White House official, said the U.S. wants to give the Israelis confidence that they can "take risks for peace" and that they will have "room to negotiate."

Mr. Panetta is also scheduled to travel to Egypt to meet with officials there, and said he would try to help improve communications and cooperation between Cairo and Jerusalem.

Israel has agreed to participate in negotiations but the Palestinians have so far declined, saying Israel must first halt its expansion of settlements in occupied territory. Israel recently announced it would add 1,100 new homes to a settlement near Jerusalem.