By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO–So far, events have proven me wrong.
I feared how President Barack Obama would treat Israel during his second term — so much so that I reluctantly endorsed Mitt Romney for President, even though on most domestic issues I tend to be far more liberal than Romney, though not as liberal perhaps as the President.
Then came the latest war between Israel and Gaza — and President Obama stood by Israel diplomatically, and even got Mohammed Morsi, the new Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated president of Egypt, to serve as a mediator between Israel and Hamas-led Gaza.
There are arguments who came out ahead with the ceasefire that is now in place–Israel or Gaza. In my opinion, the winners were the civilians on both sides, who now can leave their bomb shelters and resume their normal lives, at least while the ceasefire holds. Had Israel felt forced to launch a ground operation, there would have been many more losers on both sides, and in the end, the political situation probably would not have changed much from what it is at this moment.
From my perspective, a great big thank you is due to President Obama, and I want to declare so publicly.
When I’m wrong, I’m wrong.
But, having been wrong this time doesn’t mean I’ll always be wrong. So I’ll continue to share my thoughts. Just remember that one man’s opinion is just that, one man’s opinion.
I have no crystal ball, but I think that Morsi will enjoy being drawn into Obama’s inner circle. I think he will treasure being considered an important actor, not just in Egypt, but on the world stage. And I think his being so regarded will reap Egypt far more advantages than if he were viewed simply as an anti-Israel ideologue. So, the Israel-Egypt peace treaty is likely to hold, even while Gaza gains rhetorical support from Egypt and other regional actors competing with each other for influence. In the Middle Eastern game of one-upsmanship, the Egypt of Morsi has scored a point against not only the Iran of Ahmadinejad, but the Turkey of Erdogan.
As for Israel, I think Bibi Netanyahu will be reelected and thereafter will continue to see advantages in working more closely with President Obama to eliminate the current stalemate in the Middle East. That may involve an initiative for a three-state solution, rather than a two-state solution, recognizing that Gaza and the West Bank are not only separated by Israel’s geography but by their leaders’ own animosity.
If Israel, with the backing of the United States, can keep these two portions of Palestine separate, then perhaps the government centered in Ramallah can be elevated from autonomous territory to a demilitarized independent state. This will sharpen the contrast between the governments of Ramallah and Gaza City. The world will be able to see ever more clearly which course is more profitable: peaceful coexistence with Israel with its access to western markets, or hostility to Israel and isolation from the west.
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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted at donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com
Don’t be so quick to think that you were wrong. In a very real sense, Obama caused the Gaza war… Iran wanted to test the weakness of America.
The war was successful due to Israel’s response, not Obama’s.
Iran is still grinding away toward a nuclear bomb. The “biting” sanctions so far have been ineffective.
Don, raising the diplomatic status of the West Bank is not a good move. Abbas has sworn to use elevated status to bring legal charges against Israel, which those judging will accept as they too are anti-Israel.
Further, Hamas or its like may very well replace the PA, although all are corrupt. So we’d be elevating a future “Gaza.”
Lastly, buy not all, the PA broke Oslo in many ways, including hate propaganda and armed attacks and praising “martyrs” who murder Israelis. The PA, aside from other reasons, does not deserve any higher respect than a lizard.