Later , Panetta will head to Brussels , Belgium , for a meeting of NATO defense ministers . The U.S. Secretary of Defense says Israeli isolation is not `` a good situation '' in the Middle East . In an interview with Fox News Sunday, Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said that Israel has been isolated for too long and needs to be more open about its nuclear program. Panetta says there is little question Israel has maintained its military superiority in the region . He 'll meet with Israeli , Palestinian and Egyptian leaders before heading to Belgium .
The U.S. Secretary of Defense says Israeli isolation is not `` a good situation '' in the Middle East . In an interview with Fox News Sunday, Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said that Israel has been isolated for too long and needs to be more open about its nuclear program. Panetta says there is little question Israel has maintained its military superiority in the region . He 'll meet with Israeli , Palestinian and Egyptian leaders before heading to Belgium .