Obama And The Wall

There are similarities between Senator Barack Obama's visits to Jordan and Germany: Mr. Obama has chosen historic backgrounds for his outdoor appearances.

In Germany, Mr. Obama spoke to an adoring crowd just a few feet away from where the Berlin Wall once stood. In Jordan, the Senator held his first public event near the Temple of Hercules, part of the Citadel complex on a hill overlooking Amman, the capital. The audience however, consisted of an army of reporters, most of whom had travelled with the Senator from the U.S. with few local ones amongst them. A small gathering of onlookers was kept at bay by the Jordanian security forces. Obama-mania was not present!

According to a recent survey from the Pew Research Center, only 22 percent of Jordanians who are following the U.S. presidential election have confidence in the Senator from Illinois. Many Arabs believe that U.S. foreign policy will not change for the better with a new president, according to the same report. The reason, in my opinion, is because most Arabs do not see the U.S. as an honest broker in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

During the early months of the presidential primaries, there was an immense amount of enthusiasm for Obama's candidacy in the Arab world and press, but during my recent travels to the Middle East, I found that although Obama fares much better than his rival John McCain, this early enthusiasm has been replaced by skepticism.

The skepticism began by the Senator's statements on the status of Jerusalem in front of a Jewish American audience at AIPAC's annual conference. His recent visit to Israel and the West Bank only exacerbated this, and was viewed by many as one sided. Senator Obama spent most of his time during this stop reaffirming his commitment to Israel and performing rituals expected by all dignitaries when visiting the country. In his brief visit to the West Bank city of Ramallah, Obama expressed strong support for the creation of an independent Palestinian state, something Palestinians have heard endlessly for the past several years. If elected, he said he will work from the first day in the White House to find a solution to the Palestinian issue...OK, that's new!

The stark imbalance was seen in Obama's indifference to the Palestinian suffering under Israeli occupation. For example, there is nothing wrong with Obama's visit to the town of Sderot where its residents are subjected to Hamas' Qassam rocket barrages, but Obama could have made a stop at the Palestinian town of Qalqilya, and witnessed firsthand an entire population living in fear like caged animals behind Israel's separation wall...but he didn't.

Last night, I watched Obama making his speech in Berlin where the infamous wall once stood, "the walls between the countries with the most and those with the least cannot stand. The walls between races and tribes, natives and immigrants, Christians and Muslims and Jews cannot stand," he said. I imagined him delivering the same speech with the separation wall Israel has created in the Jerusalem suburb of Abu Dis, in the background...but it was only a fleeting fantasy.

Jamal Dajani produces the Mosaic Intelligence Report on Link TV

Comments

[spristoop]

Just one minor error in an otherwise fine article. The wall was not created by the Israelis; they only built it. The wall was created by a stream of terrorists that slaughtered hundreds of innocent men, women and children.

[waiguoren]

Like it or not, the reality is:

A candidate can no more be elected in the USA without pledging undying support for Israel than he can by saying he is an atheist.

These are the current rituals, The sine qua non of political life here in FreedomLand.

[Gemma08]

I am a passionate supporter of Palestine. No. I mean Passionate. But even I know that for Obama to be perceived even REMOTELY pro-Palestine (i.e. balanced) would be political suicide.

But anyone who knows Obama, knows he is more than clued up on the reality of the situation in Palestine-Israel. This is a politcal tightrope. One that will make or break his Presidential hopes.

The Zionists are waiting for an opportunity to take him down and hand the Presidency to a more pliable sucker-upper like McCain.

I dont like it. But Obama HAS to do it to win the Presidency. He has no choice. I accept that. Realistically, he can only do something substantial, like cut off all military aid to Israel in his SECOND term. And FORCE both parties to REAL negotiations. (None of that fake Oslo and Camp David crap of years past).

The best he can do now is put the issues on the table and continue to walk the tighrope until 2012.

[argeec]

Given that Obama's earliest financial supporters are zionists, I don't think you can expect much from him re Israel.
I would like to be wrong.

[MissT]

Obama is facing the distrust of the Jewish community which he needs in order to get elected. They think he is either Muslim or a Muslim sympathizer. The political reality is that no canididate can afford to be on the wrong side of this issue in the current political climate. Obama has to overcome some obstacles that are unlike any other candidate. It is wrong to expect him to jeopardize his candidacy by being seen as the new spokesman for the Palestinian people.

The Muslim community has been silent for too long. They are large enough in number to become more influencial on the political scene. By doing so, they would create the space for a candidate to be more openly supportive of the plight of the Palestinian people in particular and Muslim issues in general. Any candidate will limited if there is no constituent voice to back him up no matter what he may believe.

As POTUS Obama will be able to promote peace. But it will be weighted toward the state of Israel. If he takes a brave stand it will be met with resistance. Even Jimmy Carter has now been labeled anti-semitic. As a Christian Obama may be incapable of seeing the real inequity of the Palestinian situation. I hope not. So I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt and hoping that as POTUS he will be more brave on this issue. But it would be wrong to make him go it alone.

[newsjunkie5]

I agree with most of your points MissT.

The bottom line is we will never know how either Obama or McCain will ultimately behave if they are elected POTUS, but I do believe that we are more likely to see change...A POSITIVE CHANGE...if Obama is elected rather than McCain.

Only time will tell.

[Makesense]

Your analysis is fair but Obama cannot be everything to all people. He needs to win first and the image he is trying to present is that he can be America's president.

I agree he could have visited a place in the West bank where palestinians are suffering but he cannot be everything to all of us. I am a supporter of his, but he does not and has not talked about all the things I care about.

That being said, Obama is one man and can only make the best decision he feels represents our interests which may or may not be your or my interest.

[naluca]

Of course all the wall references were to try to win over the older US voters by association with Ronald Regan and the end of the Berlin Wall. Obama has a disturbing practice of comparing himself to statesmen who actually accomplished something - primarily Kennedy and Reagan. It's tasteless and presumptive.

This is an outstanding essay, and I commend the Huffington Post for running it. Please give us more!

[speakeasy]

Let me get this straight. Obama goes on a double mission, one to listen and one to speak, and now some of you try to pick apart everything he does. I have no doubt that if he decided not to go on the trip you would have some negative words for the Senator as well. He's not the president yet so he can't exactly make any policy decisions over there and he is required at this time to use the time honored speeches about reconcilliation and peace. Thats it for this moment in time. For the record, no matter how much we want peace, freedom and Democracy for any country in the Middle East, we cant want it more than they want it for themselves.

[medi22]

Thank you, Jamal, for this post. I always feel, as an Arab American, such conflicting emotions whenever Obama has a "successful" moment, as in Berlin. I have no idea what Obama's real intentions are for America's relationship to the middle east. But I do think he may be able to build popular support for his leadership. That he's someone who knows how to listen. And that he is someone who actually believes in being held critically accountable. So even though such enormous forces, such as militarism and globalisation for the few, are always influencing him, an Obama presidency could open a door that might make it more possible for people to hold America responsible for its actions. At least, that's what I hope.

[CAPTAINSKIPPY]

Thanks for temperate alert coverage on the Obamaphenomenon. The adoring double talk only goes so far in promoting the candidate. And from the perspective at our housefhold, Miley Cyrus would draw bigger, more enthusiastic crowds: I'd go see her, and forget him.

[BarackstarObama]

Nonsense, they love Barack in the Middle East... at least the leaders do.

[jad114]

This is the problem with the US approach to the middle east.We pay more attention to the corrupt leaders than the people!

[Brattlerouser]

THANK YOU Jamal. This is exactly the kind of analysis I was looking for. Thankfully Huffington Post is brave enough to post this.

Great job Jamal.

[justice2008]

I totally agree! Everything else I've been reading is a total homage to the trip. Thank you for calling it the way it is.

[campaignman]

Our blogger has missed the point. Barack does want to see the walls come down in Israel but only after a peace agreement that ensures Israel's safety.

Hamas is launching rockets into a town of people daily. If such a circumstance were happening in America, we wouldn't be negotiating. We would be launching more and bigger missiles back in that direction come what may.

When the Arabs decide that they have no right to kill women and children to get their way and that they want peace, then Israel and the US will cut a great deal. Palestinian Arabs will get homes rebuilt, thousands of dollars per family, and help creating a secure government that, if they want, will have observers to keep it from becoming corrupt. It's all up to them.

[leonardox1]

# 1 Walls do not prevent rockets! Israel lost the war in Lebanon trying to sop Hezbollah's rockets but failed.

# PEACE cannot be achieved while occupying others land

[curocat]

You should see the UN res. about the occupation...

[Pupadup4oBama]

Great comment!

[Ajegunle]

ISRAELI NEWSPAPER RELEASES CONTENTS OF THE OBAMA WALL PRAYER

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/07/25/israeli-paper-publishes-obama-western-wall-prayer/#comments
This was reported by CNN

Why is this not on the HP???

[CamJam]

Hmmm maybe it's because Huffpo recognizes how wrong it was to report on this unlike what the Israeli newspaper and CNN did.

Jamal, I thought on that as well when Barack Obama mentioned that bit regarding the "wall" that basically divides many of us one way or another. There are no easy answers or solutions to the Israeli / Palestinian conflict and I don't blame the middle east having guarded feelings about any US President. If anything, and this may not be much but Jimmy Carter will endorse Barack Obama.

Remember this from Dec 2006 and what Jimmy had to say regarding that wall?
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xttgc_jimmy-carter-interview-dec-18-2006_news

We really have only 2 choices to vote on come Nov 2008.. (sorry I'm not into Barr or a wasted vote) And while Barack Obama is not on board with ALL my hopes for the USA or the world, he certainly has more of my interests at heart than the other guy.

If Obama wins this election, he has one heck of a job to clean up here in the US and abroad. It's a mess! Not just any mess but a HUGE MESS of almost 8 years to clean and straighten up. No amount of money or power would ever be enough for me to do that job.

[wakupmagy]

Not sure why you would want this posted on HP. Do you believe it's "public's right to know, blah blah" or are you outraged?

But my view is that this is a despicable, opportunistic act. It's revolting that anyone would steal this prayer and even worse that anyone would publish it.

Whoever did this should be brought up on charges of theft.
I'm Jewish, but not particularly religious--it's more about a reckless disregard for the sanctity of private faith.

[MissT]

It is posted here along with the contents of the note.

[ThePeacemakers]

Once again, if Obama appears that he will truly help the Palestinians in any way in that region, he would be dead faster than you can say Munich or you would have seen the nomination go to Hillary at the convention.
Bank on it.

[justice2008]

No one is asking him to help the Palestinians. He just needs to be fair and stop marching to AIPAC's orders.

[Theou]

It is glaringly obvious that no American politician beleives s/he can "stop marching to AIPAC's orders" and survive as a candidate for office.

[freshnotbitter]

One wonders at what stage the American public will try to puzzle out the rather odd situation we have today:

2 out of 3 voters oppose the Iraq war in the broad sense of the word.

And yet Rush Limbaugh is given $38 million a year to tout wars of any kind, and he is followed on radio by Sean hannity who was just given a $100 million deal to do the same job. When Obama sits down with Katie Couric she asks him 5 times to explain how wonderful the surge is.

By the time Obama reaches Berlin he has turned into a recruiting station for would be marines in the Afghan war, perched atop a platform in the Tiegarden.

Obama has figured it out. you don't fight these guys. they allow you to be president if you agree to fight their wars. You go against them and they destroy you and you will never be anything.

So when does the public put 2 and 2 together and reject this crap?

[marchamlin]

Reject What?

[freshnotbitter]

Reject that the media makes it impossible for any candidate to get elected on a platform of ending war, even when the majority of the public is anti war.

Reject that a candidate has to say the surge was a great success because otherwise he is criticizing the troops

Etc, etc, etc

[abdallac]

He has SOOOOOOOOOO severely disappointed me on this trip to the Middle East, specifically to Isreal with barely a passing glance to the suffering across the wall in occupied Palestine.

I want to vote for Barack, I really do, but after this shameless pandering and hypocracy I just don't want to vote at all.

I thought he would be different, but the very next morning after the nomination he showed he WAS NOT.