JERUSALEM, June 1 (UPI) -- Israel has gradually been turning into a "burden" on the United States since the end of the Cold War, the head of the Israeli secret service said Tuesday.
Meir Dagan, chief of the Mossad, addressed the Knesset's Foreign Aid and Defense Committee, The Jerusalem Post reported. He said the Obama administration has concluded neither Israel nor the Palestinian Authority is ready for a peace agreement.
"Israel is gradually turning from an asset to the United States to a burden," he said.
Col. Itzik Turgeman reported to the committee of the Knesset, or lower house of Parliament, on Monday's confrontation between Israeli commandos and a flotilla of peace activists headed to Gaza. He said the activists ignored warnings to turn back and rejected an offer to transport the aid supplies they were carrying to Gaza overland.
Turgeman said commandos boarded five of the ships without incident. But the confrontation turned violent on the sixth, and nine people were killed.
He said those on the boat ambushed the commandos and had clubs and other weapons. He said at least two of the dead had guns.
