Only about 10% of Israelis have a favorable opinion of US President Obama, no need to say he is visiting in a hostile environment.
Obama just arrived at Tel Aviv airport. The Israeli charm offensive had started very early, the warm reception has a red carpet multiiple of 10. The complete new Israeli cabinet of ministers, dignitaries and religious leaders were personally present for an introduction and handshake.
In body language everyone could see personal warmth between Shimon Peres and Barack Obama; a cold, business like relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu and a stern, focused President Obama in his first speech to the Israel people. The first welcome speech was given by President Peres and followed by PM Netanyahu. It was a performance in an excahnge of niceties, avoid making a mistake or upsetting the special guest. As I have written earlier, Obama will not address the Knesset, an honor normally granted such a special visitor to the State of Israel. Netanyhau could not guarantee that many blocks in parliament would walk-out during Obama’s speech. So such an embarassment had to be avoided.
In an unusual move, a day earlier Secretary of State John Kerry flew into Israel in late preparation for Obama’s visit. Netanyahu has been so friendly to avoid any settlement incidents by putting in a temporary frezze on any further announcements of housing building plans.
The Democrats have historically always been closer to the Israeli Labor party as was seen with Shimon Peres. Unfortunately, the Labor party has lost all its relevance during the Likud regimes after the Oslo accords forced on Israel by George H.W. Bush and James Baker III.
The Sharon government thought is was smart to coopt the US War on Terror by declaring most Palestinians and Arabs as terrorists and putting any peaceful resolution for an independent state on ice. This tactics lasted just for a single decade as the back-lash from the invasion and occupation of Iraq put the region in more danger, not less. Behind the public scenes, harsh words will be spoken as Obama wants clarity from the Israeli regime on all issues from Syria to Iran and to a two-state solution and peace with its Arab neighbors. The timing of this visit was no accident, Obama wants to set his own agenda for his second term.
Obama is the 5th US President to visit the State of Israel and the 12th time he has met with PM Netanyahu, more than any other state leader. President Peres in his speech spoke about a separate Palestinian state in search for peace.
Full coverage of Air Force I landing at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv and the warm reception was by satellite France24. Partial coverage by CNNi, BBC and Dutch TV.
Little space for peace as Obama visits Middle East
(France24) – Barack Obama begins on Wednesday his first visit to Israel and the Palestinian territory of the West Bank as US president, as part of a Middle East tour that will also include a stop in Jordan, but the White House has lowered expectations over rekindling peace talks before the president’s trip.
While some observers hope a highly symbolic visit can nudge negotiations a tiny step forward, others see no way for the American president to break two years of deadlock, and warn of dangerous consequences for the stability of the region.
“I think we are witnessing an American and collective resignation,” said Karim Bitar, a Middle East expert with France’s Institute for International and Strategic Relations. “Obama will be forced to pay lip-service to the peace issue, but America is not prepared to put more pressure on Israel to move it to the negotiating table.”
In an interview with France 24 last week, Ofer Bronchtein, once an advisor to Israeli premiere Yithzak Rabin and co-founder of the International Forum for Peace, said restarting peace talks was “absolutely impossible” with the current Israeli government, which includes the leader of the pro-settlement Jewish Home party, Naftali Bennett.
Obama in Israel on first official visit
(Al Jazeera) – US President Barack Obama said at the start of his visit to Israel that the US’ commitment to Israel’s security was rock solid and that peace must come to the Holy Land.
Making his first official visit to Israel as president on Wednesday, Obama hopes to reset his often fraught relations with both the Israelis and Palestinians in a carefully choreographed three-day stay that is high on symbolism but low on expectations.
“I see this visit as an opportunity to reaffirm the unbreakable bond between our nations, to restate America’s unwavering commitment to Israel’s security and to speak directly to the people of Israel and to your neighbours,” Obama said at a welcoming ceremony at Tel Aviv airport. “I am confident in declaring that our alliance is eternal, is forever,” he added.
Obama faces strong doubts among Israelis over his pledge to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, something Tehran is saying it is not pursuing.