Obama Mideast Watch: "Day One"

 On his first full day in the White House, President Obama again signaled his intention of making the Arab-Israeli conflict a high priority of his administration. Keeping an oft-repeated rhetorical promise to plunge into peacemaking from "Day One," he phoned the leaders of Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt and Jordan and assured them of his commitment to be actively engaged in seeking a Middle East settlement. He specifically addressed the Gaza war, promising to help consolidate the current cease-fire and facilitate a major reconstruction effort.

 Let's agree that it's too soon to read to much into it, but besides heralding possibly greater U.S. engagement in the peace process, Obama's calls may reflect some initial policy nuances:

 -- Obama seemed to hold back, somewhat, from typically unqualified American support for Israel concerning the recent three-week Gaza war. As President-elect, Obama declined to take a stance, saying there was only one U.S. president at a time. Visiting Israel last summer, he did implicitly endorse Israel's right to respond to Hamas rocket attacks. His new White House website notes that "during the July 2006 Lebanon war, Barack Obama stood up strongly for Israel's right to defend itself from Hezbollah raids and rocket attacks... He and Joe Biden believe strongly in Israel's right to protect its citizens." But now that his White House spokesman has released his comments to Middle East leaders concerning Gaza, there was no unqualified support for Israel's actions or references to its right to self defense. He simply referred in a matter of fact manner to the need to prevent Hamas from re-arming, and in the same way to the need to support Palestinians with a major reconstruction effort. If tone is an indication of anything, Obama did not go out of his way to make a showy gesture of solidarity with Israeli PM Ehud Olmert, or of lining his White House up against Hamas and its Iranian backers. In contrast, the Bush administration had shown stalwart support for Israel's war in Gaza and had refused to endorse calls for a cease-fire that would tie Israel's hands. I wouldn't read too much into Obama's apparent restraint, though it may indicate a decision to approach Israeli-Arab issues in a calmer, more pragmatic, less politicized manner.

 --Obama signaled his readiness to form a partnership with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who Fatah party has been steadily losing political ground over the last eight years, while targeting rival Hamas's ability to re-arm itself. Obama's inaugural speech yesterday suggested he would have little sympathy for Hamas's continued attacks on Israeli civilians, roundly condemning "those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents."

 --By calling Mubarak and Abdullah II, Obama signaled his appreciation for their peace treaties with Israel, and their active involvement over many years in support of the peace process. Both leaders had been profoundly disappointed by the Bush administration's failure to strongly and actively push the peace process, and as moderates have felt undermined by their ties with the U.S. as militants capitalized on spreading turmoil in the region.

 --By referring to "working close with the international community and these partners," Obama perhaps flagged a readiness for a broader and more cooperative approach to peacemaking than we have seen during the Bush years.  

 Here's what the White House statement said about the calls to Middle East leaders:

 "He used this opportunity on his first day in office to communicate his commitment to active engagement in pursuit of Arab-Israeli peace from the beginning of his term, and to express his hope for their continued cooperation and leadership.

 

 "In the aftermath of the Gaza conflict, he emphasized his determination to work to help consolidate the ceasefire by establishing an effective anti-smuggling regime to prevent Hamas from rearming, and facilitating in partnership with the Palestinian Authority a major reconstruction effort for Palestinians in Gaza.

 

 "He pledged that the United States would do its part to make these efforts successful, working closely with the international community and these partners as they fulfill their responsibilities as well. The President appreciated the spirit of partnership and warm nature of these calls."

 --By Scott MacLeod/Cairo