Treaty is bad news for Israel

FORMER Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has heaped scorn on a proposal by US President Donald Trump for a mutual defence treaty be tween the US and Israel, saying bluntly: “I don’t want Trump to be responsible for my security.’’

During a meeting with Australian journalists in Tel Aviv, Mr Olmert, who served as Israeli PM between 2006 and 2009, was adamant such a treaty would place Israel in a precarious position when deciding how to protect its citizens. In the lead-up to last week’s Israeli elections, Mr Trump said he had discussed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “the possibility of moving forward with a Mutual Defence Treaty, between the US and Israel, that would further anchor the tremendous alliance between our two countries”.

“I look forward to continuing those discussions after the Israeli elections when we meet at the United Nations later this month!” Mr Trump tweeted.

But Mr Olmert (pictured) said the comment was designed to help Mr Netanyahu in the election — which is now deadlocked — and a defence treaty between the countries was not wanted by Israel.

“The last thing we need is a military treaty between Israel and America which would cost the total independence of the state of Israel in deciding about our security affairs,’’ he said.

“Every time we want to do something we will have to get the approval of our military ally, otherwise, the Americans will not be committed to us because this is the nature of such a treaty.’’

Mr Olmert gave an example of his decision to destroy an atomic reactor in Syria during his term in office as something that might not have been carried out under a treaty.

“I was absolutely determined from day one, from the first second when I got the military intelligence, that we would destroy it,’’ he said.

But he said then-US President George W. Bush was against the move.

“Now, if we had a military alliance, a treaty (in place), I’d have to accept the command of my partner ... which, in itself, is a big problem,” he said.