Obama's Middle East Choices
All eyes in the Middle East are on what President-elect Obama is going to do about the region's multiple problems. Expectations are huge, partly because of the miserable failures of the Bush administration, partly because of some positive signals that Obama sent during the campaign.
Obama's going to be getting a lot of advice, but he should take a good look at two Op-Eds that appeared in the last week.
The first is a Washington Post piece by Brent Scowcroft and Zbigniew Brzezinski, former national security advisors for Republican and Democratic presidents, respectively. They argue that despite the depressing state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, "the opportunity for success has never been greater." They suggest that by giving the conflict immediate and determined attention, Obama could create a new dynamic that ushers in a pro-peace government in Israel's February election and sees Hamas joining the peace process so as not to be left out of the new momentum.
The current weakness of Israeli and Palestinian negotiators, they argue,
...can be overcome by the president speaking out clearly and forcefully about the fundamental principles of the peace process; he also must press the case with steady determination. That initiative should then be followed -- not preceded -- by the appointment of a high-level dignitary to pursue the process on the president's behalf, a process based on the enunciated presidential guidelines. Such a presidential initiative should instantly galvanize support, both domestic and international, and provide great encouragement to the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.
Scowcroft and Brzezinski also underline a point that is often obscured by opponents of peace or by negotiators more in love with the peace process than in a peace solution that will require real compromises and political fallout:
The major elements of an agreement are well known. A key element in any new initiative would be for the U.S. president to declare publicly what, in the view of this country, the basic parameters of a fair and enduring peace ought to be. These should contain four principal elements: 1967 borders, with minor, reciprocal and agreed-upon modifications; compensation in lieu of the right of return for Palestinian refugees; Jerusalem as real home to two capitals; and a nonmilitarized Palestinian state.
The other Op-Ed is the syndicated Washington Week column by James Zogby, president of the Arab-American Institute. Zogby argues that the Arabs shouldn't wait for Obama to do it all, but rather ought to get started before Obama's inauguration in helping create more favorable conditions for Obama to work with. Specifically, he says Arab states should sweeten the Arab peace plan, which has created increasing interest in the U.S. and Israel, and push Fatah and Hamas toward a unity government that will speak for all Palestinians and earn the respect of the international community.
If we are to be honest with ourselves, we must acknowledge that when Obama takes the oath of office on January 20th, he is likely to find a rather unappetizing situation laid out before him in the Middle East.
If nothing changes in the next two months, the Palestinian house will still be divided, and the Israelis will still have no government and no clear mandate (elections, there, will occur on February 10th, and all signs point to either a hard-line Netanyahu victory or the cobbling together of a weak centrist-led coalition).
Therefore, the question before the new Administration will be: can anything be done?, and, if so, how to start. Because I believe that steps can be taken on the Arab side to put their house in order before January 20th, the region's leadership ought to use the next two months' time wisely.
I would propose the creation of a rather massive multi-billion dollar "Peace and Reconciliation Incentive Fund" that would provide immediate relief and job-creating investment... The bottom line purpose of the fund is to support the Palestinian people and to create the incentive and pressure for their divided leaderships to agree on a new government which, with Arab backing, is ready and able to make peace.
In addition, the Arab League, instead of merely reaffirming their 2002 and 2007 peace plan, would do well to enlarge upon it by putting, as it were, "meat on the bones". They could, for example, spell out in greater detail the types of investment and/or trade incentives that would accompany final peace and/or normalization. And they could even create a staged sequencing (for example, with the signing of an Israeli-Palestinian framework, stage one will occur; with removal settlements and checkpoints in compliance with agreement, stage two will occur, etc.). The Arab plan has attracted interest not only with the incoming U.S. Administration, but among many in Israel, as well. Spelling out, therefore, the benefits and vision that accompany final peace would be of enormous benefit.
I agree with Scowcroft and Brzezinski, that "the opportunity for success has never been greater," and, as they warn, "the costs of failure [have never been] more severe." Obama needs to keep that in mind as he ponders the Middle East quagmire.
--By Scott MacLeod/Cairo
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"There is great hope for peace in Israel/Palestine, as this is a political problem with a political solution and the Israeli Government and USA, by treating Palestinians on a Fair basis, and with real political will can help solve this historical conflict which has resulted in this inhumane occupation."-Mairead Maguire, Noble Peace Prize Laureate, stated that and MUCH more from occupied east Jerusalem on November 19, 2008. This citizen journalist and Christian Anarchist took it all down during the final day of Sabeel's [Arabic for The Way] 7th International Conference: THE NAKBA: MEMORY, REALITY AND BEYOND...Obama and every USA tax payer should read that OPED on Arabisto.......http://www.arabisto.com/p_blogEntry.cfm?blogEntryID=1355
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Scott…I've included what you've written here with some translation for new readers trying to figure out what you really mean.
On Rahm Emmanuel, you said...
“I would respectfully ask you to review the material described in the post in the context I presented—this was a look at how the Arab world viewed Emanuel's appointment to the top staff position in the White House.”
After saying:
“Arab disappointment aside,”
Then you said:
“there's enough in Emanuel's background to raise a fair question of whether the key appointment of such a demonstratively pro-Israel figure is going to help or hurt the prospects for Obama's avowed plans to play an effective role in brokering Middle East peace.”
[Translation: I'm speaking for Arabs. Or myself. Or both. Or neither. Whatever: this pro-Israeli Jew talking in “boilerplate” language is not good for the peace process because he'll allow Israel to defend itself from my Islamist buddies].
You also said:
“If Obama had appointed Rashid Khalidi as White House chief of staff, or indeed to almost any other position, I do imagine that many people would be discussing his PLO affiliation quite a lot.”
After saying,
“Khalidi served as an advisor to the P.L.O.-vetted Palestinian delegation…If you suggest there's something sinister about that, well, you may as well say that all Palestinians are bad guys, whether they're bombers or peace negotiators.”
[Translation: Yes, his PLO affiliations would be brought up if he were in Rham's position. But I've covered that already, smearing you as a racist if you dare bring them up. I know that doesn't make any sense, but screw it. This is my blog, I used to hang with Yasser Arafat, and I can say whatever I want, because Eileen Fleming won't question any of it.]
Then, on this post, you said:
“I agree with Scowcroft and Brzezinski, that "the opportunity for success has never been greater," and, as they warn, "the costs of failure [have never been] more severe."
[Translation: Brzezinski is a known Israel hater and Iran apologist, like me. Whatever he says is good.]
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I'm hoping, Obama belonging to minority and traditionally oppressed group do understand which side is oppressed and which side is being a bully and take appropriate course to bring just and fair out come to this apartheid situation once in for all, otherwise he'll join other past puppet presidents who knew between right and wrong but chose wrong for pleasing minority of selfish and spoiled people whom since antiquity all other civilizations without no exception consider them to be as such!
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If we were to analyze foreign policy based on Obama's appointments, his campaign speeches, and his appointees' track records, we will be at war with Iran in no less than two months.
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There is strong indication that Obama will not be the receptacle of change as he promised over and over again but more like a sugar-coated version of the same Bush policies that have failed Israel and the United States over the past decade.
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I agree with you, Scott (Scowcroft and Brzezinski), that the moment for peace has never had greater stakes attached to it, namely for Israel. Israeli influence over US policy matters stands to wane over the next decade as America seeks energy independence (specifically from the Middle East), normalizes relations with Iran, and attempts to revitalize its standing throughout the world. Israel must make peace with its neighbors and soon. As new enemies are added to Israel's list every year, due mostly and substantially to its own bellicose nature, Israel becomes more and more dependent on US support to survive in the long run. When the burdens outweigh the benefits, the US will no longer seek an alliance with a troubling state like Israel. -
Stop,
must be stop all kind of attrocities against Palestine's people,shouldn't committed such outragous against the poor small state, as is seen by globle media.
On the other hand,an Arb sunmit must be held for adopting right stance regarding the Israel.
Israel is soveriegn state,when super power has recognised it including some muslim states also they shouldn't have objection on it
It is indispensable for peace in the Middle East otherwise existing bloodletting situation may be converted into horrible horendous war.
As regards, Iranian nuclear programm ,it can be resolved through negutiation.
Iran , on many occasions has expressed its stance that its nuclear ambition is not for nuclear weapons. It is only for domestic need.
Syrian policy line is behind the Iranian guid line when it will have changed Syria automatically come to right path . -
Our Obligatory Objections Over Obama's Obvious Obscene Obsessions. PART 1.
By: Jordan C. Fan, Prophet Of Environment.Since Barack Obama is the bigggest villian of all time, It is cetainly our obligation to expose his criminal acts. By doing that the Republican can regain its leadership of the USA. Whoever did that effectively should become the leader of the Republican Party. The following are some of the crimes committed by Obama:
(1) Obama is planning to rob those Arab and OPEC countries such as what happen near Somalia. in fact those oil tankers were hijack at Kenya.
(2)Black Got To Be Rich Illegally - Blagojevich and Obama Crruption Scandal. Even before Obama start office, his corruptions have begun. Just wait until Obama step into his office, he will rob all the White people of all they have. Blagojerich or "Blac got to be rich" illegally or criminally should well be Obama's campaign slogan.
(3) Obama has conspired with his supportors especially Black to cause the crash of the housing and stock market bring the Great Depression II just to get elected.
(4) Obama is worse than Hitler, he is planning a holcaust for White and Asian people.
Obama must be impeached from politic at all cost.
More Obama criminal expose will come later. Or you can add to all the crimes committed by Obama.
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It is doubtful that the new president of the US and his seemingly illustrious team could do anything more or better than the outgoing administration as far as the Middle-east impasse is concerned. Most likely than not, there will be yet another extremely long tussling round of negotiations with hardly any possible glimpse of amicable solution in the near future.
Just a few days after the end of the six-month precarious truce, Israel bombed Gaza (Dec 27) in retaliation to Hamas rocket attacks in the border region. One Israeli died and some 200 Palestinians perished as a result. The Israeli defense minister warned that the nation reserves the right to hit the Hamas again if the latter does not stop its violent act.
An eye for an eye, is this anything new in the near six decades of Middle-east conflict? With each party persistently claiming their rights without the slightest compromise, when will the blood shed end?
(Tan Boon Tee)
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