The United States has advised Israel that it would like to suspend the strategic dialogue that is carried on between top Pentagon officials and the Israel Defense Ministry.
The U.S. has explained that the suspension is due to the illness of senior members of the American team. But Israeli sources believe that the U.S. fears that a continuation of the meetings may present a roadblock to the fast developing military cooperation between the U.S. and Egypt as well as with other Arab countries.
The talks have been held every three months with the U.S. team headed by Assistant Secretary of Defense Andrew Marshall and the Israeli group headed by Deputy Defense Minister Mordechai Zipori. The discussions were of a strategic nature rather than tactical. The Israeli government has officially refused to comment on the suspension.
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