In the wake of the Taliban's rapid takeover of Afghanistan this week, Israeli officials revealed to Israel Hayom on Tuesday that in 2013, the US tried to convince Israel to adopt its "Afghan model" by having US-trained Palestinian forces provide Israeli security.
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The officials told Israel Hayom that then-Secretary of State John Kerry even tried to convince then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to go to Afghanistan and see first hand the supposed success in building the military there.
At the time, Kerry was working on pushing Israel and the Palestinian Authority closer to a deal on the future of Judea and Samaria. These efforts saw him engage in frequent shuttle diplomacy in the region.
According to Israel Hayom's sources, he tried to convince Netanyahu and then-Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon that under any peace deal, Israel could rely on US-trained Palestinian forces that would provide for its security in Judea and Samaria, as well as in the Jordan Valley. Another idea floated was having NATO or US forces provide security there.
Netanyahu flatly rejected the notion that Israel could rely on foreign forces, but Kerry would not give up and suggested that the prime minister go with him on a secret visit to Afghanistan and observe the Afghan armed forces up close. Kerry hoped the visit would convince Netanyahu that it is possible to rely on local forces to provide security if they get proper training.
But Netanyahu could not be persuaded. He politely – but firmly – shot down this idea, citing his principled stance that Israel must not rely on foreign forces for its security.
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