Today, the New York Times reports, President Obama's special Middle East envoy has arrived in Jerusalem to have discussions with the President of Israel, Shimon Peres. George J. Mitchell, appointed last week, has stated that Obama's instructions to him were to "'start by listening, because all too often the United States starts by dictating.'" The instructions come as hostilities seem to have resumed between Hamas and Israel after a 10-day ceasefire, culminating in the killing of an Israeli soldier and a Palestinian farmer, and the wounding of a Hamas militant yesterday. In response, Israel has closed tunnels used for transporting humanitarian aid to Gaza. We shall soon see what Obama's approach will be, as Mitchell will be reporting back to Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in a few days with his findings.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Mitchell to the Middle East
Today, the New York Times reports, President Obama's special Middle East envoy has arrived in Jerusalem to have discussions with the President of Israel, Shimon Peres. George J. Mitchell, appointed last week, has stated that Obama's instructions to him were to "'start by listening, because all too often the United States starts by dictating.'" The instructions come as hostilities seem to have resumed between Hamas and Israel after a 10-day ceasefire, culminating in the killing of an Israeli soldier and a Palestinian farmer, and the wounding of a Hamas militant yesterday. In response, Israel has closed tunnels used for transporting humanitarian aid to Gaza. We shall soon see what Obama's approach will be, as Mitchell will be reporting back to Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in a few days with his findings.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Obama Inauguration
Today, Barack Obama will become the 44th President of the United States. It's an exciting moment, but not without tension. He'll be entering the presidency with enormous issues to face. One of the most urgent, of course, is Gaza.
The New York Times reported yesterday that Israel has accelerated its troop withdrawal in order to give the new President room to support an agreement between Israel and Hamas. Smart move; but what will this President do about it? His choice is unclear, even if his firm statements of March 2, 2007 are to be taken into consideration. Israel is America's strongest ally in the Middle East - per Obama's first post-candidacy, foreign policy speech - but its actions during the past three weeks have rubbished America's support. There is a growing call from European think-tanks to reengage Hamas in discussion, and European leaders have met this past weekend to vow humanitarian aid to Gaza. Latest figures reveal that at least 1,300 people have been killed in Gaza, one third of which were children. Let us hope Europe's mounting criticism and the horrors of Israel's war will push Obama out of the muck-and-mire of the Bush administration's previous stance, toward a fresh, balanced approach. The lips-sealed, cold shoulder stance of the Bush administration will get us nowhere.
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