[Hoje Macau, Macau]
Le Monde, France
Obama: Last Hope for Israeli-Palestinian Peace?
“The peace
process has lost all credibility, eroded by dynamics on the ground that
belie the daily official discourse. If up to now, Obama has been careful not to
say more about how he intends to push the project forward, he seems determined
to resolve rather than manage it. In the case of failure, it would undoubtedly
be a staggering blow to hopes for peace.”
EDITORIAL
Translated By L. McKenzie Zeiss
May 19, 2009
France - Le Monde - Original Article (French)
Barack Obama wants progress
on the Israel-Palestine conflict. He indicated as much to Israeli Prime Minister
Benyamin Netanyahu whom he received at the White House on May 18. The American
president initiated, on that occasion, a diplomatic sequence of events during which
he will hold talks in Washington with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, then
with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, before speaking in Cairo on
June 4, when he will deliver an address greatly awaited by the entire
Arab-Muslim world.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
This American will to
reengage is welcome, as the two main protagonists of this old conflict seem incapable
of moving toward an equitable agreement through their own efforts. And just as beneficial,
is the concern on the part of the new team at the White House to assume the role
of arbiter and break with the policy of Mr. Bush, which consisted of
subcontracting the issue to its unflagging ally, Israel.
Despite his great prudence, Mr.
Obama runs the risk of creating a new expectation. Because the Palestinian issue
has become an infernal machine over the past fifteen years. Wasted meetings
have not been lacking, beginning with the Oslo process, which was
supposed to end in 1999. Nor has there been any shortage of broken promises, such
as that for the creation of a Palestinian State which was part of a new “road
map” (an international peace plan) announced in 2005 and again in 2008 - this
time at the Annapolis conference.
The Israeli-Palestinian peace
process has thus lost all credibility, eroded by dynamics on the ground that belie
the daily official discourse. Dynamics like settlement building [in East
Jerusalem and the West Bank], which continues inexorably and with its own inertia
at a rate of about 12,000 new residents per year.
SEE ALSO ON THIS:
Alhayat Aljadeeda, Palestine:
As Palestinians Await Obama's Speech, We Must Show Unity
Amal Al Ummah, Egypt:
Don't Be Fooled By Obama's Egypt Speech
Amal Al Ummah, Egypt:
Egypt's Comments on Israeli Nukes a Betrayal of Muslims
Al-Arab al-Yawm, Jordan:
World Must Not Fall for Obama PR Onslaught
Al Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:
Obama: A Humble Leader Worthy of His Great Nation
Al Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:
Obama Interview with Al-Arabiya Cause for Arab Shame
Le Quotidien d'Oran, Algeria
Arab Leaders Prefer to 'Listen to Obama's Fables'
Al Watan, Oman:
When 'Hussein' is the Most Beautiful Word
L'Orient Le Jour, Lebanon:
Stars, Stripes and the Muslim Crescent
L'Orient Le Jour, Lebanon:
Arab Leaders Should Heed Obama's Words
Financial Times Deutschland, Germany:
Obama's Brain Twister: Selecting a Muslim Venue
This inertia makes the time for
action very short. The day will soon come when sharing the land will no longer
make sense and when there is no longer anyone on the Palestinian side to make
an agreement with - or accept the naming of a State so geographically diffracted
and of such hypothetical economic viability.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
Over recent years, the
international sponsors of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process have made a
tacit decision to manage the conflict rather than resolve it. If up to now, Obama
has been careful not to say more about how he intends to push the project forward,
he seems determined to choose the latter option. In the case of failure, it
would undoubtedly be a staggering blow to hopes for peace.
CLICK HERE FOR FRENCH VERSION
[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US May 21, 9:45pm]
