WarSclerotic

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 weekly 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,” he added.

Indyk said 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 US policy in the Middle East because he believes that people draw a distinction between having to fight terrorism and avoiding ground wars. “[US President Barak] Obama’s use of drones have led the US public to beleieve 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 [US Secretary of State John] Kerry.” While Indyk said he does not agree with Kerry’s recently stated opinion that opportunity for peace is “going out the window,” he said he is glad that he sees the situation in this way as it inspires him to act.

He 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.