Obama's Plans For Israel and Jerusalem
As President-elect Obama's choices for positions in his Administration are being revealed there has been a whole lot of speculation if this or that choice is a friend of Israel. We have
raised some concerns but rather than analyze each and every choice we want to draw your attention to what appears to be a meeting of the minds on aspects of Middle Eastern Policy.
Our sources for this important exercise are the recently
released policy recommendations written by Martin Indyk and Richard N. Haass. And a private report by a friend who has recently held extensive meetings with the Obama transition team.
These and other sources confirm that the Obama team believes that the resolution of the Israel-Palestinian conflict is the key to Middle East Peace. In their A Time for Diplomatic Renewal, Indyk and Hass write: "that Palestine remains the hot button-issue for the Arab and Muslim worlds." They go on to support the argument that this issue has been used by Iran to "claim leadership in the broader Middle East." Not content with making these unsupported and somewhat incredible assertions the authors directly debunk those who challenge the notion that the Palestinian issue is the key to the solution of the problems of the region.
Our friend who reported to us on his meetings with the Obama team confirmed that they are fixated with the idea that Israel must be encouraged to conclude a deal with the Palestinians. And this deal must be based on the two state model which includes the division of Jerusalem.
This mindset is based on mistaken assumptions and it treats Israel as the problem and not as America's special friend.
Given these developments, Israel's upcoming General Elections will play a very important role in the future of the State of Israel. If the Israeli people elect those that support defensible borders and a united Jerusalem -- then the Obama administration will have to rethink their plans for Israel. The people of Israel must use this election to clearly state their support for a Jewish State with an undivided Jerusalem because they will have few friends for these concepts in the Obama Administration.
I hope the people of Israel will see that the change which is come too the United States is one of regression and not progression. It is one where Israel is not a friend but not yet called a foe. In many places the whispers are that Israel is the problem not the terrorist who have been reassigned the title of freedom fighters.I for one feel Israel is the only real true power in the region. But then I am biased. What I fear will be a return too the glory days of old when one group is blamed for all the worlds ills.