Now that Barack Obama has secured his party's nomination, he looks set for a heated battle with Republican nominee John McCain.
For this region, there have been some concerns arising lately following his speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which he gave symbolically a day after clinching the nomination, and where he assured Israelis and Jews that Occupied Jerusalem should be the capital of Israel and "remain undivided".
Obama failed to recognise that Israel unilaterally annexed East Jerusalem, a move which was condemned by the United Nations as illegal. Moreover, he omitted the fact that occupied Jerusalem's status as part of Israel isn't internationally recognised.
He also failed to even comment on what the capital of a future Palestinian state would look like. It seemed very unimportant to him. If nothing, Obama sounded more Likudist than the Likudist themselves.
And in that sense, he has eliminated the hope of reaching a peaceful and just resolution to the conflict anytime soon.
In fact, Obama's speech echoed that of McCain's, even though in theory they have substantially differing approaches to the region; they both observed a common ritual - that of reassuring Israel that they have an unwavering commitment to it.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas - for a change - was right in quickly asserting, "The entire world knows very well that East Jerusalem (Arab Jerusalem) was occupied in 1967 and we will not accept a Palestinian state without having Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state."
But this wouldn't be the first time Obama made biased comments on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
In his "Race in America" speech, Obama made another damaging statement as he was offering a rebuke to Reverend Jeremiah Wright by dismissing his sermon as "a view that sees the conflicts in the Middle East as rooted primarily in the actions of stalwart allies like Israel, instead of emanating from the perverse and hateful ideologies of radical Islam", amongst other things.
Was he implying that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict comes down to radical Islam? And what about secular and non-Muslim national struggles for Palestine? His ill-informed statement is an insult to Palestinians and to anyone who knows anything about the ongoing conflict.
Questions
Obama's AIPAC speech raises many questions. If he is elected president, could he feel the need to act aggressively, say, bomb a Middle Eastern or Muslim country just to prove himself and underline his commitment to Israel (i.e. implementing a policy of reaction as opposed to "principled foreign policy")?
In this regard, "restoring America's reputation" might not actually come to life since Obama might end up applying policies of aggression after all.
Gone are the days of sympathising with the Palestinian suffering and engaging the issue of Palestinian liberation with Chicago's Arab-American community.
Remember when he commented early in his campaign: "nobody is suffering more than the Palestinian people"- only to follow it with an explanation that it is the Palestinian leadership that he believes has caused much of their suffering?
But pragmatism would have us believe that Obama is saying what he's saying whilst addressing the most powerful American Jewish lobby. As a nominee, he would have to follow his party's long-held position and not intimidate some of his already fragile voters. Anything else and McCain could have a lead.
Some analysts contend it's a Catch 22 situation for Obama; having to resign from his church, disassociate with friends and give over the top statements in support of Israel just to win. So is he damned if he does and damned if he doesn't?
At the end of the day, he still loses in some ways (many of Hillary's supporters will possibly cross over political parties to avoid voting for him).
Disappointedly, Obama can now be found talking about his love for Israel to anybody who is willing to listen. And in that sense, his integrity has been put aside.
Perhaps one could be accused of shortsightedness for zooming in on his latest display of affection for Israel but the fact remains, Obama's actions are questionable.
He has decided not to criticise or even comment on Tel Aviv's ongoing construction of illegal colonies on Palestinian land and the building of the illegal wall, as well as its continuing "closures" that have made it impossible for Palestinians to live a normal life.
While he might be the better all-round candidate against McCain, Obama's over-the-top bias towards the Jewish state cannot be ignored.
His speech might have won him some new friends in the US and Israel, but it certainly casts a shadow of doubt over his future plans for this region.
Your comments
Nothing is going to change in Palestine if it has anything to do with Obama or anyone in the US government who has any sway. As with the British government, everyone is too scared of being labelled anti-semetic to speak up and denounce the criminal Isreali regime. They continue to ignore international human rights laws on a daily basis and even the most powerful, influential leaders of the world can't find the courage to stand up and call for justice. Obama wont change US foreign policy, nor will McCain. It has to be down to the American public, who must make sure that their leaders know that they're not deaf nor blind and are not happy with the way their government conducts itself at home and abroad.
Mike
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2008, 15:29
Is Obama running for president for US or Israel? Seems like every US presidential hopeful has to please Israel. What a pity.
Saleem
Mississauga,Canada
Posted: June 10, 2008, 06:33
Obama will do his best for America and for the American people. He owes no one outside America, anything. Before that he has to be elected. There are no Palestinian 'voters'. There are plenty of Jewish ones. Simple really.
Sam
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2008, 01:30
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