By Donald H. Harrison
In association with President Obama’s Summit on Countering Violent Extremism, there was a round of diplomatic consultations in Washington D.C. with various envoys from Middle Eastern countries, including Israel. Additionally the administration made two announcements of note.
One of those announcements was a memorandum signed by President Obama on Friday, Feb. 20, once again waiving a portion of the Arms Export Control Act in order to permit the United States to provide “assistance, including training, equipment, supplies, stipends, construction of training and associated facilities, and sustainment, to appropriately vetted elements of the Syrian opposition and other appropriately vetted Syrian groups and individuals.”
It was interesting, and perhaps not coincidental, that this memorandum was signed on the same day that National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice met with the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura. A statement about their meeting from the White House did not mention additional arms, instead noting that “Ambassador Rice emphasized the United States’ support for a political solution to Syria’s civil war and for measures that would reduce the suffering of the Syrian people.”
Good cop? Bad cop?
The other action of interest was President Obama’s appointment on Wednesday, Feb. 18, of Rashad Hussain as United States Special Envoy and Coordinator for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications, a position that “was established at the direction of the President and former Secretary of State Clinton in 2010 and codified by President Obama’s Executive Order 13584 to coordinate, orient, and inform government-wide strategic communications focused on violent extremists and terrorist organizations.”
Hussain is an American-born Muslim whose family came from India. Previously he had served in the Obama Administration as U.S. Special Envoy to the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), “a role in which he has worked with the OIC, Muslim-majority countries, and civil society to deepen and expand engagement on U.S. policy and build partnerships with Muslim communities around the world,” according to the administration’s announcement of his appointment.
Hussain also has led Muslim religious leaders on trips to Auschwitz in an effort to stem Holocaust denial in the Muslim world, and has been outspoken in his calls for religious tolerance within the Muslim world.
National Security Advisor Rice and Secretary of State John Kerry were both busy meeting with meetings associated with the “Summit.” The White House announced that Rice had met on Thursday, Feb. 19, with her Israeli counterpart Yossi Cohen, and with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, and on Friday, Feb. 20, with Libya’s Foreign Minister Mohamed al-Dayri in addition to the United Nations’ de Mistura. Kerry on Feb. 19 met with Nabil Elaraby, the secretary-general of the Arab League, and with Egypt’s FM Shoukry. The following day he met with Jordan’s Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh.
Here is a look at what has been publicly said about these meetings, country by country.
Israel – Cohen and Rice met at the White House, where “they discussed a range of issues of mutual concern, including Iran’s nuclear program, the U.S.-Israel bilateral relationship, and Israeli-Palestinian relations. The national security advisors agreed to continue close consultation on these and other issues.”
What they had to say about these topics was left undivulged. Iran’s nuclear program has been the focus of a dispute between President Obama and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and whether it was proper for Netanyahu to accept an invitation from Speaker of the House John Boehner to address a Joint Session of Congress on March 3. Among issues of Israeli-Palestinian relations that possibly came up has been Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s contention that if Israel does not soon resume forwarding tax revenues to the P.A., he may have to disband his government.
But also of diplomatic importance is the fact that notwithstanding the very public tiff between Obama and Netanyahu, their top aides are continuing to meet behind closed doors.
Jordan –Appearing with FM Judeh before the media to make brief announcements, Kerry noted that Jordan will receive a billion dollars per year for three years from the United States “which is a reflection of the very, very key role that Jordan is playing in terms of many efforts in the Middle East: the counter-ISIL/Daesh effort, our initiatives with respect to Middle East peace, Palestinian-Israeli relations, security, counterterrorism, and of course, Syria – the efforts at the moment to deal with the challenges of terrorism emanating from Syria.” He noted that there are between one million and one and a half million refugees from Syria now living in Jordan, presenting many economic challenges to that small country. Further, said Kerry, “I want to express on behalf of all Americans our outrage, our horror at the brutal, horrendous, medieval burning of the Jordanian pilot, Captain al-Kasasbeh, simply reinforcing in all of us our commitment to destroy ISIL ultimately and to stand together in partnership against this kind of mindless violence.”
Judeh thanked Kerry for his sentiments regarding “our brave, young pilot, Captain Moaz al-Kasasbeh, and the way you described it very accurate – a brutal, barbaric act by a bunch of terrorists who do not belong to our civilization or the world as we know it today, and certainly do not belong to any religion or any culture even though they try to distort the image of our great religion and its noble message. But this brutal act has multiplied our resolve to fight this evil and to eradicate it, and we are working together with you and with many of our friends and allies around the world.”
The Jordanian Foreign Minister’s above-cited comment buttressed President Obama’s argument that the war against ISIS and similar groups is not a war against Islam—though they may identify themselves by that name – but instead is a war against extremism. ISIS and other terror organizations, in the view of Judeh, “distort the image of our great religion {eg, Islam} and its noble message.” Judeh went on to say,” This is our war. This is a war that has to have a Muslim/Arab stand, but without the support of our international friends, our partners in the coalition, we cannot do it and we cannot eradicate this evil. It is truly a third world war by other means. You have over 90 nationalities fighting along these sick, warp-minded terrorists, and you have over 65 countries as part of a coalition. All of us are being threatened by these people – all our countries, all our individuals – and I think it takes the collective effort of all of us to defeat them and we shall prevail.”
Concerning the challenge of refugees from Syria, Judeh said: “When we have to deal with the challenge of an increase of 21 percent to our population in the span of 18 months, no country, regardless of political or economic might, can cope with something like that. The international goodwill that we are receiving, an outpour of it, really has helped us get through this thus far, but it’s way short of what’s needed to deal with that. Your country, the United States of America, our friends here, have been so supportive and we very much appreciate that. And I’m glad that you mentioned the memorandum of understanding that we signed a couple of weeks ago, with this renewed commitment to assist Jordan over the next three years. There’s much more to be done, particularly after this escalation of the fight against ISIL and against all the forces of evil.”
Egypt –The White House said that in her meeting with FM Shoukry, Rice “reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the strategic partnership with Egypt and offered condolences to the Egyptian government and people on recent terrorist attacks, including the murders of Egyptian security personnel and civilians in the Sinai Peninsula and twenty-one Egyptian Coptic Christians at the hands of ISIL-affiliated terrorists in Libya. She emphasized the importance of U.S.-Egyptian cooperation to help the Libyan people address threats from terrorism and to promote a unified Libyan government that can represent the aspirations of all Libyans. Ambassador Rice also conveyed continuing U.S. concerns about human rights and the environment for political participation in Egypt.”
Kerry said his meeting with Shoukry focused on Libya, where 21 Egyptian Copts were beheaded by terrorists affiliated with ISIS.
“Egypt, even at a moment where it is transitioning with elections in the future – in the near future – is facing challenges,” Kerry stated. “And our hearts go out to the Egyptian people for the horrendous, grotesque killing of 21 Coptic Christians, Egyptians, that took place in Libya. This is yet another example of the evil of ISIS, Daesh, and it is galvanizing people even more, as we saw in today’s conference, to take action to stamp out this kind of terrorist activity and this terrorist group. Egypt is a increasingly critical partner in these efforts. They are working with us in the Sinai against terrorism; they are working with respect to Gaza and helped enormously in the effort to try to bring the war of last summer to a ceasefire. They’re working with us on the issue of the Palestinian-Israel peace process, as well as on Libya, Syria, and Iran.”
Kerry’s comments may be interpreted to some degree as fence mending because the United States initially was hostile to the coup d’etat that brought down the presidency of Mohamed Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, and brought to power General Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. Morsi currently is facing trial on a charge of treason, accused of having leaked Egyptian secrets to Qatar.
In response, Shoukry said “Egypt has been consistent in its fight against terrorism, whether at home or in the region, and has been consistent and determined that we provide every assistance to the coalition against ISIL and other terrorist organizations. And we will continue to cooperate effectively with the United States and other partners because we know the dangers that such organizations pose to the stability of the region.”
As for transitioning from military to democratic rule, Shoukry said “It is important for Egypt in its transition and its road map to have successfully completed the two first stages and now is about to complete the third stage, and thereby completing the institutions of government. Egypt is on a course of democracy, of protection and promotion of human rights, and a secure environment for its people to prosper and to develop. We believe that the relationship between the United States and Egypt is a resource of importance. We hope that the United States will continue to cooperate effectively and to support Egypt during this time.”
Libya – In her meeting with Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamed al-Dayri, according to the White House, “Rice expressed the United States’ condolences for the horrific attacks and resulting deaths today in eastern Libya and all those who have been killed by terrorist groups in Libya. She reiterated strong U.S. support for the mediation efforts led by U.N. Special Representative of the Secretary-General Bernardino Leon and for a political resolution to the ongoing conflict in Libya. She urged the swift formation of a national unity government that can partner with the international community to fight terrorist groups and conclude Libya’s transition process, including the completion of a new constitution and holding elections for a new government under that constitution.”
Arab League – Kerry noted that while Nabil Elaraby, the Arab League’s secretary general, is based in Egypt, he is “responsible for all of the Arab relationships. And Nabil has been a solid partner in trying to find ways to address violent extremism, to address ISIL, to deal with the Middle East peace process, Syria, Egypt, and its transitions.” The State Department had some difficulty transcribing Elaraby’s response, getting it down as follows: “We have adopted a resolution – the foreign ministers of the (inaudible) – which has a comprehensive approach to counter this kind of terrorism. By comprehensive approach, it’s not only military – though yes, military (inaudible), but (inaudible) ideological factors, regional factors, cultural factors to look why people from the area join these terrorist organizations. But it’s not only the Middle East or the Arab countries; it’s the whole world. As you know, this is an international phenomenon. I think the president today, President Obama, made it very clear that all the countries in the world are together in (inaudible). If you want to succeed in getting rid of these heinous organizations, we have to work cooperatively.”
The next major event in the diplomatic efforts of the United States to forge a coalition in word and deed against ISIS will be a visit to Washington on Tuesday by the ruler of Qatar. In an announcement on Friday, the White House said: “President Obama will host the Amir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, at the White House on Tuesday, February 24. The President looks forward to discussing with Sheikh Tamim political, economic, and security issues of mutual concern to our two countries. The United States and Qatar have a long-standing partnership and this meeting is an opportunity to further that relationship along with our shared interest in supporting stability and prosperity in the Middle East.”
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The Jewish American Citizen
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Interest Groups
IRAN NUCLEAR CAPABILITY– Three former chairmen of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations — Kenneth J. Bialkin, Seymour D. Reich and Richard B. Stone –have released a statement that they support the adoption of new economic sanctions against Iran unless Iran credibly renounces any program that seek to produce or acquire nuclear weapons capacity. The three Jewish leaders made that statement after participating in the Conference’s mission to Israel, during which they met with that country’s leaders.
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ANTI BDS CAMPAIGN – Richard Cravatts, president of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East, said his organization has endorsed legislation by U.S. Reps. Peter Roskam (R-Illinois) and Juan Vargas (D-California) that would link U.S. trade agreements with Europe to a requirement that European nations refrain from engaging in economic discrimination against Israel. According to the SPME president, “the bill’s sponsors drew parallels to laws passed by Congress in the 1970s regarding the Arab League boycott of Israel, and noted that more recent trade agreements with Bahrain and Oman included anti-boycott clauses. Further, the bill will also establish the monitoring of BDS-related activities by requiring foreign companies traded on U.S. stock exchanges to disclose whether they have participated in, or have faced pressure to participate in, acts of economic discrimination against Israel. The legislation does not, however, establish any penalty for doing so.” Cravatts stated that “as academics interested in trying to rid campuses of the corrosive effects of the virulent BDS movement, we, of course, support any efforts by policy makers and others outside of academia to condemn boycotts divestment efforts and to take steps to neutralize some of their deleterious effects. If our policymakers take a reasoned and moral stand on the issue of boycotting and divesting from companies doing business with Israel, perhaps it will make it easier for those in higher education to follow that lead and start to neutralize the BDS campaign on campus.”
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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. Your signed comment may be posted in the space provided below or sent to donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com