[The Times, U.K.]

Le Temps, Switzerland

The 'Shipwreck': Gaza Tamps Down Hopes for Obama

"We dreamed of a Barack Obama who would achieve in the coming months what his predecessor had failed to accomplish in two terms. But the 'peace process' between Israelis and Palestinians will have to wait. Hope and optimism can be forgotten. At this stage, the best one can expect of him is a stoppage of the downward spiral poised to engulf the entire region and all of its more reasonable actors."

By Luis Lema

Translated By Molly Smith

December 29, 2008

Switzerland - Le Temps - Original Article (French)

There were some who feared (or hoped) for an attack against Iran. But the period of transition during which power is handed off between U.S. presidents has in the end resulted in an almost unprecedented military operation in Gaza. Nearly 300 [now over 350] killed on a fringe of land already near ruin, the inhabitants of which lack nearly everything. Before the departure George Bush, it was time for some housecleaning.

Failing to resolve the fate of the nuclear sorcerer's apprentices in Tehran, the Israelis decided to destroy as much of Hamas as possible, Hamas being the other "mortal danger" that keeps a quarter of a million inhabitants of the Hebrew State living in fear of the potential threat of rocket attack.

Is it the shipwreck of American policy which has left no alternative to this bloody confrontation, having been incapable of creating even the slightest diplomatic opening after eight years in office? There is no doubt. Nor is there any doubt that as a result of U.S. policy, every Israeli election eve inevitably brings an escalation of violence, war, provocation or a mix of all three. Today, the conjunction of an interregnum between American and Israeli elections has not only proven explosive to the war-torn streets of Gaza. It could also strongly shape the years to come.   

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

[The Times, U.K.]

Israel's violent show of force will undoubtedly be followed by months of tension throughout the region. Far from weakening Hamas, this will allow it to obtain more weapons, new allies and will make it a force that, in the end, will be ten-times more important to all other extremists. We dreamed of a Barack Obama who would achieve in the coming months what his predecessor had failed to accomplish in two terms. But the “peace process” between Israelis and Palestinians will have to wait. Hope and optimism can be forgotten. At this stage, the best one can expect of him is a stoppage of the downward spiral poised to engulf the entire region and with it, all of its more reasonable actors.

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[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US December 30, 1:23am]