Obama's warning to Israel

[bemildred]

Israel's governing "troika" met yesterday in order to find a way out of the conundrum Israel finds itself in, following the bombing of the school in Jabalya, where dozens of Palestinian civilians were killed. The character of the meeting had already been marked by the warning Israel received from U.S. president-elect, Barack Obama, who broke his silence on the fighting in Gaza and made it clear that he will have a great deal more to say after his inauguration.

The announcement from the Bush White House that for the time being Israel could carry on its offensive was little consolation. Obama made it clear that starting on January 20 the rules of American involvement in the region will change, and his administration will be a lot more active in pushing the diplomatic process between Israel and the Arabs forward. Obama's timing, after the strike on the school, signals the direction the U.S. will turn in its attitude to the region: It will support Israel, but will oppose any harming of Palestinian civilians. This means that Israel will find it difficult to close the crossings into the Gaza Strip at will.

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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert would like a diplomatic agreement that will center on countering the smuggling into the Strip. The problem is that Egypt is unwilling to be party to an agreement that will lay the responsibility at its feet, and is opposed to the deployment of foreign observers on its soil. Cairo is also worried that Israel is trying to dump the Gaza Strip on Egypt, by opening the Rafah crossing. So far the American efforts to promote a deal through Egypt are stuck.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that Israel should hold direct talks with Egypt to reach a tacit agreement on preventing smuggling. Israel would agree to a bolstered Egyptian presence in the Sinai peninsula - and President Hosni Mubarak invited Israel to talks on improving the current security arrangements.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1053404.html

[atreides1]

1. What a Strange Statement

"The problem is that Egypt is unwilling to be party to an agreement that will lay the responsibility at its feet, and is opposed to the deployment of foreign observers on its soil."

Seeing as how Egypt already has foreign observers on its soil:

:The Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) is an international peacekeeping force overseeing the terms of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.:

[bemildred]

3. Maybe it doesn't want "more" foreign observers on it's soil.

But, I think what it really means is they don't want any more responsibility for Gaza. You have an argument about who (Israel or Egypt) gets left holding the bag (Gaza).

[azurnoir]

2. When did Obama say that?

I read yesterday that Obama stated he was concerned and would have plenty to say when he took office but nothing more, is this Israel voicing its fears?

[bemildred]

4. I think that's the statement referred to.

What he made clear is that he will not sit back and watch, or that's the inference made from the fact that he broke his silence, and that he said he intended to get involved immediately.

[bemildred]

5. Roger Cohen: The dominion of the dead

You might find this interesting in view of that piece you posted a while back about the growing separation of the young.

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I have never previously felt so despondent about Israel, so shamed by its actions, so despairing of any peace that might end the dominion of the dead in favor of opportunity for the living.

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In this context the hallucinogenic appeals of the government of caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to ordinary Palestinians in Gaza, asking them to realize Hamas is their common enemy, become more understandable.

Mark Regev, Olmert's spokesman, has accused Hamas of "holding hostage" these Palestinians. Under aerial and tank bombardment from an alien power, with more than 500 dead and 2,500 wounded, that's not how most people would view their democratically elected government.

Tzipi Livni, the foreign minister, who cordially despises Olmert, has meanwhile talked about changing "the equation" in Gaza. The only changed equation I see over time is more entrenched hatred for Israel in Gaza: Those 3,000 dead and wounded have relatives, some of whom may one day strap on suicide belts.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/01/07/opinion/edcohen.php

[azurnoir]

8. Thank you

It has struck me again and again on this board that happening of 10, 30, 50 years ago and more are used to justify what is happening today and not just the war on Gaza but all of it. There is a saying that "to know where you are going you must know from where you came" but I do not think that should be taken to the level of allowing the past to create the future

[bemildred]

6. Obama: US must speak with single voice on Gaza

Note that Obama pretty much has them by the balls with this argument, since it has been so frequently used to chastise other politicians who have tried to intevene. I don't pretend to know what he is going to do, I may not approve, but I think he is quite correct to keep his intentions hidden until he is in a position to carry them out. Why should he give his enemies any early intelligence?

Also note that, once President, he can use this same argument to fend off interference with his initiatives.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President-elect Barack Obama says he is concerned about the violence in Gaza, but also is wary of sending conflicting messages about American foreign policy.

At a news conference Wednesday to announce additional transition moves, Obama was asked why he hadn't said more publicly about the continuing siege of violence in the Mideast.

He replied by repeating earlier statements that the United States can have only one president at a time.

Obama told reporters that "We can't have two administrations running foreign policy at the same time. We simply can't do it."

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OBAMA_NEWSER_GAZA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-01-07-10-58-52

[methinks2]

7. it's about time our future leader spoke up

This topic was a make it or break it topic as far as my support of Obama. He just won me back. It takes real cajones for anyone to stand up to the "israel right or wrong" mindset. . .

[Sultana]

9. Don't just warn, bitchslap both Israel and Hamas