The Pope, Obama and the Middle East
Pope Benedict XVI did not choose the date for his trip to the Holy Land by chance. All signs indicate that in a few weeks, the foundation will be laid for a reopening of the peace process.
After a few hesitant starts, the moment has come for Barack Obama to dive into a problem that has occupied all U.S. presidents. Next Monday, the Israeli prime minister, Benyamin Netanyahu, will be received at the White House. One cannot imagine a more crucial moment in relations between the two countries than this meeting between an American president whose father was Muslim, who has determined to make peace with the Arab world, and an Israeli leader opposed to the two-state solution.
Thus the explicit call of the Holy Father upon his arrival at Ben-Gurion Airport in favor of coexistence between the two peoples “within secure and internationally recognized borders” could not be more opportune.
The White House diplomatic machine was put into place. The first leader from the region to have the honor of being received in Washington, King Abdullah of Jordan, revealed its major axes. These would build on the Arab peace plan proposed by Saudi Arabia in 2002, which envisioned a collective normalization of relations with Israel in exchange for the creation of a Palestinian state in the territories occupied in 1967 and an agreement on the fate of Palestinian refugees.
The King of Jordan gave a glimpse of the parallel discussions between Israel on one side and, on the other, the Palestinians, Syria and Lebanon.
In Cairo on June 4 - 10 days before the Iranian presidential elections - Barack Obama will give the speech that has been so anticipated in the Muslim world. It is expected that on this occasion he will lay out his peace plan for the region and call, perhaps, for an international conference as soon as this summer.
The preparations began last week with the words of the Vice President, Joe Biden, calling on Israel to stop colonization and to dismantle the illegal outposts in the West Bank. The creation of a Palestinian state will be “actively sought” because this administration considers it to be a goal of national interest for the United States. Whether it likes it or not, the Israeli government must take notice.
Just last week, representatives from the State Department and the White House were in Damascus for the second time in less than two months, trying to facilitate the Syrian contribution to a reopening of the peace process.
The announcement of the presidential trip to Cairo, at a time when no Israel action is anticipated, confirms that the White House is going to put pressure on the Netanyahu government.
Israel asserts that concessions on the Palestinian question will not be possible until the Iranian nuclear threat has been neutralized. But Washington returns to the argument: “Make a gesture towards the Palestinians and we can better mobilize the Arab world against the Iranian bomb.”
We are there. The next few weeks will tell whether Obama has a chance to lead Netanyahu on the path to peace.
After a few hesitant starts, the moment has come for Barack Obama to dive into a problem that has occupied all U.S. presidents. Next Monday, the Israeli prime minister, Benyamin Netanyahu, will be received at the White House. One cannot imagine a more crucial moment in relations between the two countries than this meeting between an American president whose father was Muslim, who has determined to make peace with the Arab world, and an Israeli leader opposed to the two-state solution.
Thus the explicit call of the Holy Father upon his arrival at Ben-Gurion Airport in favor of coexistence between the two peoples “within secure and internationally recognized borders” could not be more opportune.
The White House diplomatic machine was put into place. The first leader from the region to have the honor of being received in Washington, King Abdullah of Jordan, revealed its major axes. These would build on the Arab peace plan proposed by Saudi Arabia in 2002, which envisioned a collective normalization of relations with Israel in exchange for the creation of a Palestinian state in the territories occupied in 1967 and an agreement on the fate of Palestinian refugees.
The King of Jordan gave a glimpse of the parallel discussions between Israel on one side and, on the other, the Palestinians, Syria and Lebanon.
In Cairo on June 4 - 10 days before the Iranian presidential elections - Barack Obama will give the speech that has been so anticipated in the Muslim world. It is expected that on this occasion he will lay out his peace plan for the region and call, perhaps, for an international conference as soon as this summer.
The preparations began last week with the words of the Vice President, Joe Biden, calling on Israel to stop colonization and to dismantle the illegal outposts in the West Bank. The creation of a Palestinian state will be “actively sought” because this administration considers it to be a goal of national interest for the United States. Whether it likes it or not, the Israeli government must take notice.
Just last week, representatives from the State Department and the White House were in Damascus for the second time in less than two months, trying to facilitate the Syrian contribution to a reopening of the peace process.
The announcement of the presidential trip to Cairo, at a time when no Israel action is anticipated, confirms that the White House is going to put pressure on the Netanyahu government.
Israel asserts that concessions on the Palestinian question will not be possible until the Iranian nuclear threat has been neutralized. But Washington returns to the argument: “Make a gesture towards the Palestinians and we can better mobilize the Arab world against the Iranian bomb.”
We are there. The next few weeks will tell whether Obama has a chance to lead Netanyahu on the path to peace.