Petraeus: “Clearly tensions in these issues have an enormous effect on the strategic context in CENTCOM's area of responsibility,”

Petraeus's prepared testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee, here

".... Insufficient progress toward a comprehensive Middle East peace. The

enduring hostilities between Israel and some of its neighbors present distinct

challenges to our ability to advance our interests in the AOR. Israeli-Palestinian

tensions often flare into violence and large-scale armed confrontations. The

conflict foments anti-American sentiment, due to a perception of U.S. favoritism

for Israel. Arab anger over the Palestinian question limits the strength and depth

of U.S. partnerships with governments and peoples in the AOR and weakens the

legitimacy of moderate regimes in the Arab world. Meanwhile, al-Qaeda and

other militant groups exploit that anger to mobilize support. The conflict also

gives Iran influence in the Arab world through its clients, Lebanese Hizballah and

Hamas...."

Gen. David Petraeus weighed in cautiously to the U.S.-Israel dispute today, telling Senators that he “absolutely” backs the efforts of U.S. Middle East peace envoy George Mitchell to re-launch Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, and that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict challenges the ability of the United States to advance its interests in the region.

“I keep a very close eye on what goes on” on the Israeli-Palestinian issue, though it’s not officially part of Centcom’s area of responsibility, Petraeus told the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday “because of its impact on that part of Centcom that is the Arab world......

“Isn’t the issue not the issue of settlements as much as it is the existence of the state of Israel,” McCain said in the long run up to his question. “Its neighbors with some exceptions have dedicated themselves to the extermination of Israel …. So maybe you could put it all into the larger context of what needs to be done to reduce tensions on the U.S.’s closest ally and friend in many respects. And what needs to be done to defuse” tensions.

McCain then threw in a softball question that eased Petraeus’ discussion of the matter, by asking Petraeus, and isn’t it true that you greatly support Sen. Mitchell’s efforts.

“Absolutely true,” a relieved sounding Petraeus said emphatically.

Later, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) asked Petraeus if he was making contingency plans for a military conflict with Iran, though Lieberman acknowledged it was not the preferred option and that the U.S. would try sanctions first.

“I want to reinforce the fact that previously you said in exercise of your responsibility at Centcom, you are working on actual military plans with regard to Iran,” Lieberman said.

Petraeus responded, “Sir, again, that is probably best for a closed session. As you know, we get paid to prepare for [all sorts of] contingencies. It would be irresponsible [not to.] I try to be responsible.”

“I know how responsible you are,” Lieberman said. “So I assume that means you are working on plans. Let me go to Iraq.”

In his prepared testimony, Petraeus listed the Israeli-Arab conflict as a first-order “cross cutting challenge to security and stability” in the Centcom area of responsibility [AOR].....

“Additionally, progress on the Israel-Syria peace track could disrupt Iran’s lines of support to Hamas and Hizballah,” he wrote. “Moreover, our development of a cooperative Regional Security Architecture, which includes a regional network of air and missile defense systems as well as hardening and protecting our partners’ critical infrastructure, can help dissuade aggressive Iranian behavior.”