Gabi Ashkenazi in Washington to talk ...IRAN

Laura Rosen in the Cable, here

Ashkenazi is scheduled to meet with national security advisor Gen. James L. Jones, special advisor Dennis Ross, and top military ...."Netanyahu brought up Iran," the Israeli diplomat told Foreign Policy. "He told her itwas the be all and end all. And [he said] that there is a reverse link: If [Washington] wants anything to move on the Palestinian front, we need to take head on the Iranian threat, diplomatically, with sanctions, and beyond that."

Clinton responded, "I am aware of that," the Israeli diplomat relayed.leaders ....

"For the last eight years, the U.S. has been pretty adamant on settlement expansion, rhetorically," the Israeli diplomat continued. "Nothing happens on policy. ... My point is, in terms of U.S. policy, it's either a modified or more polished version of what you and I already know from the last 15 years."

"I think she is under pressure," the Israeli diplomat observed. "One side is pressing her to go forward on the Palestinian issue," the Israeli diplomat observed. But for "the other side," he said, referring to professional Middle East observers, "let's face it, the Palestinian issue is about maintenance, not breakthrough."