OUR PRESIDENT-ELECT MUST MODIFY OUR FOREIGN POLICY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
WHILE I HAVE ALWAYS SUPPORTED ISRAEL, IT IS TIME THAT THE U.S. EXTENDS ITS GOOD GRACES TO THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
BUSH HAS BEEN OPENLY HOSTILE TO THE PALISTINIAN CAUSE AND HAS ALIENATED MILLIONS OF MUSLIMS IN THE PROCESS
I have argued for years that there will never be peace in the Middle East between the Jews and the Palestinians. In fact, Israel persists in building settlements on land they know very well is planned for the new Palestinian state.
On the other hand, Hamas which is the duly elected government of Palestine persists in hurling small, short-distance rockets at the Southern portion of Israel which has killed few Israelis, but is a constant reminder of the anger the present Palestinians government feels toward a state it believes has robbed them of a large portion of their homeland.
While much of Europe and the entire Muslim world back Hamas and the Palestinians, the United States and a few other scattered nations around the globe support Israel. The U. S. has given Israel over $100 billion dollars in aid since 1948 and the American Jews have poured millions of dollars into the building of a modern state on the sandy soil of a previously nearly useless terrain.
Ever since the United Nations passed resolution 181 creating the state of Israel in 1948, Israel and the Arab world have been at odds. One war after another has cost all parties in the regions billions of dollars in defense and rehabilitation of the property destroyed by guns and bombs hurled back and forth—all in the name of gaining the necessary leverage to drive the opponents from this land.
Iran, even today, openly proclaims through its president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that its intended purpose is to drive Israel into the sea.
The head of Hamas indicated the very first week of 2009 that Hamas will never sign a long term peace treaty with Israel so long as the nation exists.
On the other hand, Orthodox Jews tend to hold fast to the archaic belief that “the promised land,” which stretches all the way from the Euphrates to the Nile was given to them by Yahweh and their leaders must never surrender one inch of it to the Palestinians.
However, Orthodox Judaism is on the decline. As more and more European and particularly Russian Jews migrate to Israel, the nation’s political and religious profile is changing dramatically.
In Gaza, where Hamas has located its government, is overcrowded with very young men and women. As Hamas indoctrinates its young citizens against the very survival of Israel, it is obvious that peace in a far off possibility if, indeed, it is possible at all.
I hate to be a cynic, but I am afraid that these two diametrically opposed entities will never be able to live side by side until the present day leadership passes into history and a younger, less doctrinaire population takes control in both countries.
Until then, it should be the policy of the United States to cease doing business only with Israel and bring the Palestinians into a dialogue that may someday emerge into a real peace.
We cannot continue being only on the side of Israel—right or wrong. When the leadership of Israel or the leadership of Palestine moves in a direction that does not benefit peace and the mutual interests of the nations comprising the entire Middle Eastern region, the U. S. must attempt to regain the respect of both parties and salvage the position of arbiter treating both bodies with equal degree of respect and an equal measure of concern.
The Bush administration has practiced a thoroughly disastrous policy in this region alienating the average Arab on the streets and falling short of the expectations of all of our potential and important friends.
What ever moves Israel’s makes, the Arab world believes the U. S. is behind it or at the very least endorses it. That can be a major detriment to America. Obama must allay the Middle East of that misconception.
With Iran as the greatest threat to the U. S. and to peace in the area, the U. S. must rekindle the good relations we once shared with Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and make a major investment in our damaged relationship with Syria to encourage it to move to the side of moderation and away from the extremism represented by Iran.
There will be numerous elections the coming year in many of these countries including Israel, Palestine, Iran and Iraq. What Obama must do is to demonstrate a definitive change in the U. S. toward all of these governments and his change in strategies toward all foreign affairs. And he must do this from day one in office.
George Bush is gone and so is his misguided foreign policy. A new man is in the White House and a new foreign policy is in play.
I am adding an addendum to this posting. I received an email from Cecilie Surasky, representing The Jewish Voice for Peace. Several weeks ago I also received an email from the group of young men in Israel who are risking their lives and their freedom in the name of peace because their homeland and Palestine. It is worth your time to read these words from those in Israel who are in vehement opposition to what Israel is doing in Gaza.
Dear Joseph,
Please allow me to share with you our statement below about the headlines seen in papers across the world yesterday and today.
In sadness on this terrible day,
Cecilie Surasky
Jewish Voice for Peace
December 28, 2008
Jewish Voice for Peace joins millions around the world, including the 1,000 Israelis who protested in the streets of Tel Aviv this weekend, in condemning ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza. We call for an immediate end to attacks on all civilians, whether Palestinian or Israeli.
Israel's slow strangulation of Gaza through blockade has caused widespread suffering to the 1.5 million people of Gaza due to lack of food, electricity, water treatment supplies and medical equipment. It is a violation of humanitarian law and has been widely condemned around the world.
In resisting this strangulation, Hamas resumed launching rockets and mortars from Gaza into southern Israel, directly targeting civilians, which is also a war crime. Over the years, these poorly made rockets have been responsible for the deaths of 15 Israelis since 2004.
Every country, Israel included, has the right and obligation to protect its citizens. The recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza shows that diplomatic agreements are the best protection for civilian life.
Moreover, massive Israeli air strikes have proven an indiscriminate and brutal weapon. In just two days, the known death toll is close to 300, and the attacks are continuing. By targeting the infrastructure of a poor and densely populated area, Israel has ensured widespread civilian casualties among this already suffering and vulnerable population.
This massive destruction of Palestinian life will not protect the citizens of Israel. It is illegal and immoral and should be condemned in the strongest possible terms. And it threatens to ignite the West Bank and add flames to the other fires burning in the Middle East and beyond for years to come.
The timing of this attack, during the waning days of a US administration that has undertaken a catastrophic policy toward the Middle East and during the run-up to an Israeli election, suggests an opportunistic agenda for short-term political gain at an immense cost in Palestinian lives. In the long run this policy will benefit no-one except those who always profit from war and exploitation. Only a just and lasting peace, achieved through a negotiated agreement, can provide both Palestinians and Israelis the security they want and deserve.
7:43:59 PM 
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