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Can Obama’s visit to the Middle East change Arab perceptions of the US?
Current version: 03 Jun 2009 | 08:24 | booji
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No, because... little news on the Israeli front
In the short term this may help, even Arabs know that there is no silver bullet on the Arab-Israeli problem. An America that takes a more even handed approach is much preferable to an America that exclusively favours Israel, which is how it is seen at the moment. Arabs will see this as a good sign that there may finally be progress towards achieving some of their goals for a more even settlement than has thus far been on the table. That Israel has been unwilling to negotiate on areas like the right of return and water supplies is in large part due to US support, with less support they may be forced to the negotiating table. In the longer term though Obama would need to follow through with actions and be willing to cajole Israel into peace. Unlike previous American administrations at the moment it sounds like Obama's may be willing to actually do so. Unlike George Bush Obama's only concern in the Middle East are legitimate interests in Israel's security, he wont be giving Israel a blank slate to nearly the extent that George Bush did. Obama is demanding a halt to the expansion of settlements, even 'natural growth' where settlements continue to slowly grow while 'illegal' settlements are removed.[1]
- ^ Jonathan Marcus, Can Obama Deliver on the Middle East, BBC News, 29th May 2009, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8073836.stm
While it may cheer Arabs that the relations between Israel and the US under Netanyahu and Obama are not as cosy as they were when Bush was President this has its downside. In order the heal the rift with the Arab world Obama needs to make progress on the Arab Israeli dispute, for this there needs to be a working relationship with Israel.
Modified:
06 Apr 2010
