CNN Middle East News- Suicide blast kills Yemeni troopsA suicide bomber dressed in a military uniform set off a blast that killed more than 100 soldiers, authorities said, in what appears to be the deadliest attack ever on troops in Yemen. […]
- Syria troubles spill into LebanonThe impact of Syria's troubles have spread to Lebanon. CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom reports from Beirut. […]
- Soldiers shoot anti-Assad clerics in LebanonThe international community called for restraint Monday after deadly clashes were triggered in Beirut by the deaths of two religious clerics, both of whom were opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. […]
- NATO shuns intervention in SyriaThe U.S. ambassador to NATO says the alliance has no plans for military intervention in the Syrian crisis, as reports of deaths mount by the dozens and diplomatic efforts have yet to stymie the bloodshed. […]
- Ex-Yemeni President Saleh hospitalizedFormer Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh was admitted Sunday to a military hospital in Sanaa, the second time that he's been to a hospital this month, a government official said. […]
- Suicide blast kills Yemeni troops
Developments in the Middle East and President Obama’s New Policy
The future of any kind of achievement in the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians is not clear. Although the new American administration supports the two states solution, it seems not realistic to think of achieving it currently. Many of the American journals talked about the substantial choice which President Obama will have to choose to imply in his policy towards the Middle East.
However, Mr. Obama’s policy and his different realistic choice will have to satisfy Israel, the Arab allies of America, and the moderate Palestinian leadership. The new American actions in the Middle East translate these demands; there were suggestions about improving the economical situation is the West Bank instead of talking about a two states solution in order to suit the leading Israeli candidate Netanyahu’s thoughts that refuse any kind of discussions or negotiations about a two sates solution at this period. However, Netanyahu’s thoughts affect on the Palestinian side in which more will be convinced in supporting a Palestinian party such as Hamas that holds the same ideas and refusal of negotiations with Israel which is similar to what Netanyahu holds.
At the same time President Obama and his administration seem to be cautious about satisfying their Arab allies’ demands by sending Mitchell to start his round in the Middle East in Cairo, making the first phone call of the new American president with the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, and mandating Mitchell who considered the Israeli settlements an obstacle in the way of peace to take charge in the American interference in the Middle East. President Obama’s administration seems to be convinced that Hamas will have to be a part of a unity Palestinian government in order to separate it from the Iranian alliance. This can be made by accepting the Arab and Palestinian efforts to solve the ongoing fight between Hamas and Fatah.
It seems that the American new administration will have to show that it is interested to reach a final agreement that includes two Israeli and Palestinian states to solve the central conflict in the Middle East although it seems unrealistic currently. Therefore, there may be a difficulty in accepting the Israeli future leadership refusal to admit this solution easily. Although Israel is a vital ally of the United States, the Iranian threat implies the importance of keeping a strong Arab ally which supports any possible American decision in dealing with Iran. This does not mean that the American Israeli relations will be affected deeply but there may be a kind of a pressure on the new Israeli leadership to reconsider its choices of negotiating with the Palestinians about a two states solution.
The future of the peace process in the Middle East seems to be difficult because of the incompatibility between the leaders of Israel, Palestine, and the United States. The public opinion in Israel seems to be supporting Netanyahu to become the new prime minister of Israel and this means choosing a new block in the way of any kind of a final agreement between the two sides. The ongoing division in the Palestinian authority will need time to recover and this too makes it harder. The United States sees the conflict a main issue that should be dealt with in order to find an easier way in dealing with the Iranian threat. However, the smartness of the new American administration and its diplomatic skills are needed in the coming period.
I am pessimistic about Obama’s influence to bring about a genuine and long term U.S policy change in the Middle East;
It is because you need to see the realistic aims of the U.S in the region. Firstly, there is the strategic and economic aim to secure access to oil in the region. Secondly, the security of its ally Israel will continue to be highest on the agenda. (pro-Israel politicians such as Emanuel Rahm or Joseph Biden will particularly push this point)
In my opinion, all other policy goals are subordinated under those long term interests. These interests require the military presence of the US in the Gulf region also in future to prevent any other regional hegemony. (like Iran)
Unfortunately, the long-term strategic of the United States won’t change when a new administration takes power; not even Obama can change this fact…