Palestinian Bloggers Rail In The Wake Of Obama Visit

As U.S. presidential hopeful Barack Obama wrapped up a tour of Israel and Palestine, newspaper headlines all over the world were fixated on the Senator's attention to Israel and the lack of attention he paid to Palestine's struggle.

One headline in particular, from Israel's Haaretz, aptly summed up the feelings of many Palestinians: "Obama visit all about wooing Jewish-American voters." Indeed, the words of the Palestinian blogosphere echo this notion, with particular focus on Obama's choice of Sderot, the South Israel city targeted by rockets fired from Gaza.

Bruised earth felt that Obama took advantage of the situation by visiting Sderot, not giving thought to how his actions would affect Palestinian opinion. The blogger remarked:

I know he is looking for some votes -- but the nerve to visit Sderot (with just a flying visit of Ramallah -- where no such statements were made) and again speak out against the daily misery of border settlers who have chosen (!) to live in this location and who are not caged or bound -- or worse -- imprisoned by the military, shows a level of 'cheek' here-to-fore unimaginable.

Let us not forget that Obama was the one Presidential hopeful strong enough to speak out against the violence and plight perpetrated on the Palestinian people. Where is that leader now? Are we to assume he will return once elected?

A very dangerous game continues to unfold...can votes possibly be worth this?

The title of a recent blog post from Desertpeace reads "Obama at the Wall." Using few words, the blogger explained further that the real "wailing wall" built to keep Palestinians out of Israel would have been a better choice:

NOT the wall of apartheid as one might have hoped.....But the Western Wall.

AMPAL (American Palestinian) expressed surprise that Obama hadn't visited the Holy Sepulchre, explaining:

Quite the contrary, it seems that the correct place for a CHRISTIAN future president of the United States of American to visit (kinda like his visit to AIPAC's convention days after he won the nomination) is to the Jewish Wailing Wall. Mind you the Moslem's third holy site, the Haram al Sharif, is just across that Wailing Wall. Seems like he has got it right twice in a row: prostrate yourself, nay, grind yourself into the dirt, in front of the rulers of your destiny (Zionists of both American and Israeli flavors) in order that you be receive some blessing by the so-called Chosen Ones. And even then they doubt you Oh Obama...

While other bloggers focused on Obama's actions, The Angry Arabs' Comment Section took issue with his words, particularly his proclamation that Jerusalem "will be the capital of Israel." The blogger pondered:

Huh? The phrase "I say it will be the capital" is diametrically opposed to the view that it's a final status issue to be negotiated by the parties. Unless he's got a crystal ball and knows the outcome in advance.

The question remains: Will Obama's seemingly unwavering support of Israel strongly affect his campaign? Joseph Al-Khoury, writing for the Arabdemocracy blog, gives reasons why, for Arab-Americans, it shouldn't:

The US has been unwavering in its support for the Zionist entity since its creation in 1948 providing it consistently with the financial, technological, military means to dominate the Middle East and wreck the hopes of one Arab generation after the other. This is unlikely to change regardless of who takes over the White House come November. But two factors Arab voters should consider while casting their votes. The first factor is that An Obama administration will not be motivated by ideology in its position vis-a-vis Israel while remnants of the neo-conservative and evangelical Christian agenda will persist in a Bush-McCain transition. Pragmatic policies might still be detrimental to the Palestinians but are easier to debate and challenge than those backed by divine intervention. The second factor is that the election of a Liberal modern Black man to the highest office will be good for America, whatever foreign policy he adopts. This is a revolution in the making and as all astute immigrants know it is by joining hands with the locals for the common good that you gain acceptance. As the American poet Gil Scott-Heron cynically puts it: 'The revolution will not be televised...' but the election certainly will!

This article has also been posted on Voices without Votes.

Follow Jillian York on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jilliancyork

Comments

[JennyJay]

Give the guy a freaking break here. He has to get elected before he can do anything about anything.
Of course the Jewish vote in America is important. But he seems to be fair and honest and will
do a good job when he gets in.

[tyruler]

Give the guy a break? A break???? Just like we should give "the guy" the break when he acts like McCain "lite" on national security issues and anti-Iranian war rhetoric leaving no options off the table?

I bet you'd also ask us to give him a break when he voted with the most reflexive pro-Bush Republicans on FISA and wiretapping on American citizens.

Might I remind you a President (Nixon) was about to be impeached because of doing that against his Democratic opponents, much less the greater citizenry at large.

Obama's bias against the Arabs/Muslim is unacceptable and must be condemned as double standards esp. when he so openly pandered to the Aipac lobby to win over skeptical Jewish American voters.

What's fair should be fair for all.

[Brattlerouser]

Twenty-two percent of Jordanians surveyed said they have confidence in Obama. Not good in my book. And this wasn't some kind of unscientific poll. THis was done by the Pew Center for Research. Top that folks!

[SkimaskBob]

great post. thanks for rounding those up.

[pastor123]

I dont think that Palestinians not liking Obama is going to hurt him much at home. Did anyone see the video of Ron Paul losing his temper while talking about Obama? LOL., Maybe Ron Paul should be running for President. Heres the video http://www.BarrPaul08.com If you didnt see the video of McCain falling asleep on the Conan show Ill also leave a link for that http://www.McCanes.com .
It might actually be a bad thing if palisitnians liked Obama. Or at least veiwed as a bad thing here at home.