'Israel usually Ground Zero for terror, not Boston'
Former US ambassador to Israel Indyk says Internet facilitates extremism, describes Boston attack as "shock to the system."
By JPOST.COM STAFFBoston blast 370(photo credit: REUTERS/Dan Lampariello)
Former US ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk described the Boston terror attack as a shock to the system, remarking that “Israel is usually Ground Zero for terrorism” in an interview on Channel 2’s Meet the Press program on Saturday evening.“It’s strange that I’m here...and now it’s happening back home,” he said. “Home grown terrorism is a very scary thing... to imagine that they are in our beds.”Indyk added that while people turn to extremist actions for a range of motives, the Internet facilitates “moving to an extreme point,” providing readily available extremist ideologies.The former ambassador opined that the attack would not have any affect on United States policy in the Middle East, saying he believes that people draw a distinction between having to fight terrorism and avoiding ground wars.“[US President Barak] Obama’s use of drones has led the US public to believe they have an easy way of dealing with it,” he added.Turning to US involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Indyk said that the “onus is on [Secretary of State John] Kerry.”While he does not agree with Kerry’s recently stated opinion that opportunity for peace is “going out the window,” Indyk said he is glad that secretary of state sees the situation in this way, as it inspires him to act.Indyk also expressed the opinion that Obama is skeptical, but would support Kerry if he put a fair proposal on the table.“If Kerry fails, and the US ends its involvement [in the peace process], then Israel is the one that will end up paying the price,” he warned.
