Palestinians Are Needed after Obama's Speech

While the Palestinian leadership broke into an emergency meeting to draft their response to U.S. President Barack Obama’s speech, Hamas and political analysts saw America retreat from its former positions.

Many agreed that Obama’s speech conformed to Israeli positions and that the next step the Palestinians must take is to go ahead with efforts to declare statehood and continue with the Palestinian reconciliation, which began more than two weeks ago.

In his speech yesterday, in response to the Palestinians’ readiness to submit a declaration of statehood to the General Assembly of the United Nations in order to gain its recognition, Obama rejected what he described as the effort to isolate Israel in the U.N. next September.

He added, “The borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps.” He also said that a new Palestinian state must be viable.

Palestinian Consultations

Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Executive Committee of the PLO, was reserved in her statement regarding the anticipated Palestinian actions in response to Obama’s speech. She said that a position would be announced after a meeting with the Palestinian leadership, refusing to disclose anything on this matter.

Another member of the Executive Committee of the PLO, Saeb Erekat, has announced that President Mahmoud Abbas decided to call the Palestinian leadership to an emergency meeting to discuss the speech in consultation with the Arabs.

On Thursday at a press conference at the president’s office in Ramallah, he said that the president confirms the commitment of the Palestinian leadership to maintaining all obligations in accordance with international conventions, and he confirmed his appreciation for Obama’s continued efforts to resume negotiations.

Abbas also contacted the foreign ministers of Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia by phone for their consultation after the speech and before the meeting of Palestinian leaders, according to the Palestinian News Agency.

Hamas

For his part, Wasfi Kabha, a leader of Hamas and former minister, considers Obamas speech a disappointment. He said it carries only mirages and delusions and tries to circumvent the rights of the Palestinian people, clarifying that it refers to the establishment of a Palestinian state “within” the 1967 borders and not “on” the 1967 borders.

He also said that the American president did not condemn the settlements or mention Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people, not to mention his major retreat from his position, which he announced when he took office in the White House and in his speech in Cairo.

He stressed that the speech was in line with the occupiers with regard to the Palestinian issue, pointing out that the most important step in response to the speech must be to promote Palestinian reconciliation and bring together each Palestinian with the last Palestinian, increasing unity and cohesion until the Palestinian voice becomes the strongest and most influential in the world.

Palestinian Reconciliation

Likewise, Dr. Samir Awad, a professor of political science, said that the speech was very disappointing for Palestine, saying that Obama gave up all the positions that opposed Israel. He added that Obama left the American position, but was 100 percent in line with the Israeli public by not mentioning a final halt to settlement activities, and he wants the Palestinians to return to negotiate under unfair conditions.

He refuses to go to the U.N. General Assembly, he wants to put off the issues of refugees and Jerusalem, and he wants to begin negotiations about security and borders. This position is exactly the same as Israel’s.

Awad emphasized that a Palestinian response is required for realizing Palestinian unity and shaping a government of reconciliation, and the process must go to the U.N., although Obama said it would not be beneficial, because this is a political battle that must be fought.

He ruled out the possibility that Obama’s speech would affect the position of the Palestinian Authority and Fatah on reconciliation, especially since the PA is required to assess the situation in view of Palestinian interests first and foremost, without regard to its implications on the Israeli or American side.