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First on the extent of change that you sensed in Washington concerning Middle East issues,
Second, what is your assessment of what the president Barack Obama has achieved
or not in Middle East, particularly on the Palestinian cause?
I will answer the question
But something irritates me, and I see the occasion for a correction.
the Palestinians are not fighting for peace, the Palestinians want justice, freedom,
sovereignty and independence. If this leads to peace. Great!
but what is happening now? Now there is peace, there is no war, no violence
one talk with an reversed logic, where peace leads us to sovereignty,
sovereignty, freedom and independence, and justice lead to peace,
current policies put peace as a precondition.
Stop opposing colonization and occupation, and you shall have you peace
I think this kind of logic turn the concept of peace meaningless,
Palestinians are not at war with Israel, Palestinians are under Israeli occupation,
Arab and Palestinians commit this semantic error.
Now to answer your question. I think that Obama may have started
with good faith, or an ability to listen to the Arab voice
that exceeds Bush's ability to listen and to understand the issues of the region,
but we are not at a therapist. we are dealing here with politics
My apprehension is that the future will be more difficult
as the Obama's administration created a precedent
were he tried to put pressure and conditions on Israel, but retreated,
this is unprecedented. Except for James Baker in 1990
but Baker did succeed. This may creates a precedent
America is not serious or can't. And Israel is emboldened in it's power and self-confidence.
After all, even America couldn't stop them.
in this sense, the sweet talk that started was introduced by the Obama's administration
and the ultimatum that was set, followed by a withdrawal,
is the worst possible thing that could happen
he would have better not said such sweet talk, before going back on it.
but is this error (so to speak) entirely on Barack Obama's shoulders?
or are there other parties, including Arab parties,
that bear part of the responsibility?
-Yes of course I do not blame blame Obama. there are some Arabs ..
- I mean that bear part of responsibility in their activity here in Washington.
Well Arab communities work if there is a unified Arab stance.
some Arabs dealt with the rise of Obama
with a child's joy waiting for a gift from his father on Christmas,
Santa Claus do not distribute gifts to the international arena
if there were a coordinated Arab pressure on the US,
the US could consider changing policy
but without Arab pressure on its foreign policy.
With oil flowing freely, with deposits in U.S. banks,
the US isn't going to change policy.
These are trivial issues.
we do not blame Obama. There is no blame in politics.
I think that there was a window of opportunities
in the sense that Obama is open to hear Arab views,
and could have been pressured. But there is no Arab pressure,
Obama discovered that politics is more complex than doing speeches.
Prof. Kupchan. Your response.
I think that there is a fluidity of policy in US, that were not present in the past
and there is a speech and debate on U.S. policy in the Middle East
and that it is more harmonious than ever before,
and this created room for maneuver.
The fundamental question is whether you can get to the stage
where the parties can sit at the negotiating table and talk
and where the Arab states are ready to make proposals
to push forward the peace process.
Prof. Asaad Abu Khalil, you have 30 seconds
who is responsible for what is happening now in Washington?
is it President Barack Obama fault or is it the lack of a unified Arab action?
To keep it short. The U.S. administration along with Arab regimes
as well as Arab and Islamic organizations
that are tools in the hand of oil kingdoms,
I also object to Charles' claim that there is a debate.
where is the debate? in the U.S. Congress?! in the White House or in the U.S. press?!
It is as always.There is a unanimity on Israel in the US.
Thank you Prof. As'ad Abu Khalil, unfortunately, we ran out of time,
Thank you for your time.
I thank also to Prof. Raef Zureik Visiting Prof. at Georgetown University,