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By Robert Dreyfuss
(The Nation) – I watched President Obama’s Cairo speech from Dubai, the sprawling and frenzied city of gold and shopping malls on the shores of the Arabian Gulf.
Based on early returns from a decidedly unrepresentative sample of Arab public opinion, Obama hit a home run. I agree. In Dubai, at least, and in its media, Obama’s speech was topic one, two and three all week.
That’s good and bad. Obama’s arrival in Saudi Arabia and Egypt was greeted in two ways. First, it had the trappings of a visit by an all-powerful but distant Great White Father – okay, he’s black, but anyway – on whose words the fate of the Arab and Muslim world hangs – which is understandable in light of the fact that American troops and sailors are everywhere.
Palestinians commemorate the 61st anniversary of Nakba,
Arabic term for "the catastrophe", in Aida
refugee camp in the West Bank city of Bethlehem.
And second, in contrast, sophisticated Arab opinion was truly hopeful that Obama’s remarks would make concrete the sharp break with the Imperial America as represented by the administration of George W. “Crusader” Bush. I think the latter prevailed. Obama was appropriately humble, and he laid down important markers that signal a new US approach to the Middle East and beyond.
“For more than 60 years they’ve endured the pain of dislocation. Many wait in refugee camps in the West Bank, Gaza, and neighboring lands for a life of peace and security that they have never been able to lead. They endure the daily humiliations – large and small – that come with occupation. So let there be no doubt: The situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable. And America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own.”
How long has it been since a president spoke movingly about Palestinian suffering? And in a speech so high profile, even game-changing?
He even nodded to Hamas, acknowledging that Hamas has support among the Palestinians, and – amazingly – did not refer to the organization as a “terrorist group.” And, of course, he kept up the pressure on Israeli expansionism by yet again slamming the settlements in the occupied territories – an issue, that likely as not, will bring down Bibi Netanyahu’s right-wing government.
Laila Abdelaziz: “My question is, um- Last night you spoke in your State of the Union address you spoke of America’s support for human rights.”
President Barack Obama: “Mm, hmm”
Laila Abdelaziz: “Then, why have we not condemned Israel and Egypt’s human rights violations against the occupied Palestinian people? And yet we continue supporting them financially with billions of dollars from our tax dollars?”
[Somehow, Leila must have evaded Obama’s minders with her question … – Oui]
President Obama in his response needed plenty of time to orden his thoughts on Israel and the plight of the Palestinian people:
President Barack Obama: Let me just talk about the Middle East generally.
The Middle East is obviously an issue that has plagued the region for centuries.
Here is my view.
[ISRAEL’S SECURITY]
Israel is one of our strongest allies. It is a vibrant democracy. It shares links with us in all sorts of ways. It…it is critical…for us…and I will never waver from ensuring Israel’s security, and helping them secure themselves in what is a very hostile region.
[NEVER MENTIONS ILLEGAL OCCUPATION]
What is also true, is that the plight of the Palestinians is something that we have to pay attention to, because it is not good for our security, and it is not good for Israel’s security if you’ve got millions of individuals who feel hopeless, who don’t have an opportunity to get an education, or get a job, or what have you. The history is long, and I don’t have time to go through the grievances on both sides of the issue …
[FIRST STEP FOR NEGOTIATIONS]
We are seeking a two state solution, in which Israel and the Palestinians can live side by side in peace and security. In order to do that, both sides are going to have to make compromises.
As a first step, the Palestinians have to unequivocally renounce violence and recognize Israel. And Israel has to acknowledge legitimate grievances and interests of the Palestinians.
[NETANAYHU AND RIGHT WINGERS]
Here is the problem we are confronting right now. Both in Israel and within the Palestinian territories, the politics are difficult, they are divided. The Israeli government came in based on the support of a lot of folks who don’t want to make a lot of concessions …
On the other hand, President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority … has to deal with Hamas, an organisation that has not recognized Israel and has not disavowed violence.
We’ve got to recognize that both the Palestinian people and Israelis have legitimate aspirations and they can be best served if the United States is helping them understand each other as opposed to demonizing each other.
Obviously, Obama is treading very carefully on the issue to avoid irritating either party in the I/P conflict. The courage laid down in his Cairo speech was short-lived as reality on the ground in Judea and Samaria works in favor of Eretz Israel.
Prominent far-right Israeli activists Itamar Ben Gvir and Baruch Marzel wrote an intimidation letter to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel over the weekend, threatening to protest his upcoming visit to Israel, Army Radio reported today.
Gvir and Marzel attacked Emanuel’s allegiance to Israel and the Jewish nation. “You are like the Hellenists who acted against the Israeli nation. You advise President Obama against Israel, and incite and instigate against us. You are a traitor against the entire Jewish people,” Army Radio quoted the letter.
Emanuel is due to visit Israel in the coming months to celebrate his son’s bar mitzvah.
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."
