The Mideast and Obama: 'Let the Grand
Diplomatic Maneuvering Commence'
"When in 2007, an agreement
had been reached between Fatah and Hamas, it was torpedoed by Washington. Some
months later, this led to the seizure of power by the Islamists in Gaza. This
time, the United States can play a more constructive role. … Let the grand
diplomatic maneuvering commence."
The change of tone Barack
Obama has initiated in the Middle East will be tested as early as this week,
with the first mission to the region undertaken by George Mitchell, the U.S.
president's special envoy.
The war Israel launched
against Hamas three weeks before his inauguration has forced Barack Obama to
address the issue without delay. Gone are the years when the United States,
without reacting, could allow Israelis and Palestinians to exhaust themselves in
conflict. We are back to the days of James Baker or Henry Kissinger, who, each in
his time, shuttled between Jerusalem and the Arab
capitals to advance the peace process. And this, despite the existence of other
burning questions for the White House, such as the economic crisis,
disengagement from Iraq and the war in Afghanistan.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
Obama has pledged to act
"from day one." He is keeping his promise. His statements, so far,
haven't challenged the "fundamental" of American diplomacy: unequivocal
support for Israel and a refusal to talk to Hamas, which is classified as a
terrorist organization by the State Department. But a change is perceptible.
Admittedly, the new president hasn't criticized the conduct of the Israeli
military operation in Gaza, but he was moved by the suffering enduring by the
Palestinians. He spoke of the need to reopen the border crossings from Gaza. He
supports [but doesn't completely agree with] the Arab peace initiative of 2002.
These are some of the clues which confirm that Obama's diplomacy will not be
George W. Bush's.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
PRESIDENT OBAMA SPEAKS TO THE
MUSLIM WORLD
Above all, his choice of
George Mitchell as special envoy for the region is another sign of a break with
the past. An experienced negotiator, the former senator was behind the 1998
agreement between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. He is also the
author of a report handed to Bill Clinton in 2001 on the outbreak of the second
intifada. The report, one of rare impartiality, called on Palestinians to halt
terrorism and, at the same time, on Israelis to halt their settlements.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
The question will
soon arise as to whether to speak with Hamas - as always, the masters of Gaza.
It's evident that the Islamists haven't been weakened at all by the boycott.
But how to change this policy without penalizing the moderates Palestinian
authority?
With the resumption of
Egyptian mediation, a solution is emerging aimed at the formation of a
government of national unity. This is an avenue that must be pursued, if we are
to avoid having to bargain with less than half of the Palestinians.
When in February 2007, an
agreement had been reached in Mecca between Fatah and Hamas, it was torpedoed
by Washington. This led, some months later, to the seizure of power by the
Islamists in Gaza. This time, the United States can play a more constructive
role.
George Mitchell arrives in
the Middle East today. European envoys are already there. Let the grand
diplomatic maneuvering commence.
