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Panetta: Israel must address its growing isolation

WASHINGTON - US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta called on Israel Friday to take diplomatic steps to address what he described as its growing isolation in the Middle East.
Panetta, in prepared remarks that he was due to deliver in Washington on Friday evening, stressed US efforts to bolster regional stability and to safeguard Israel's security.
"Israel, too, has a responsibility to pursue these shared goals -- to build regional support for Israeli and United States security objectives," Panetta said, according to portions of the speech released to reporters before delivery.