The Washington Post published an article by the Israeli Ambassador to the US, Michael Oren, headlined "Israel does not stand alone." The author admits that both Democratic and Republican parties are expressing the idea that Israel is isolated due to the deterioration of its relations with Turkey and Egypt, but says the remarks are exaggerated. "Despite repeated Palestinian efforts to isolate us, Israel is not alone. And we have a great many friends, especially in the United States, who we know would not want to imply that Israel stands alone in a dangerous region. Prime Minister Netanyahu remains committed to resuming peace talks with the Palestinians anywhere, any time, without preconditions, while insisting on the security arrangements vital to Israel’s survival. Meanwhile, we will continue to stretch out our hand for peace to all Middle Eastern peoples," the author says.
The New York Times published an article devoted to the US-Iran scandal concerning the attempt assassination of the Saudi Ambassador to Iran. Previously, US officials accused the Iranian government of plotting to kill the Saudi Ambassador to Iran. On Wednesday Iran's top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said that the alleged plot was concocted in Washington to distract Americans from their own economic problems. US politicians and press were sceptical about the American accusations, the author asserts. At the same time, he admits, Saudi Arabia, which is deeply suspicious of Iran, suggested that it accepted the American accusations as fact, and Britain said it was taking the accusations seriously.
The Los Angeles Times also published an article devoted to the recent crisis in US-Iranian relations. In the article entitled ''U.S. considers sanctions on Iran's central bank" the LA Times author expresses an opinion that "such a move, in response to the alleged assassination plot on a Saudi envoy, could severely damage Iran's economy". "Some Iranian officials have said they would consider it an act of war," the journalist adds.
Turkish news agency Hurriyet Daily News published an article headlined "EU report important despite scepticism." The author of the article, Simih Idiz, believes that even thought the report points out that Turkish-EU membership talks are currently at a standstill, with little prospect of being revived soon, the EU has already influenced Turkey in a great way. According to Idiz, Brussels has showed Turks that their country has several important problems that must be solved. The Kurdish problem is one of them.
