Israel
- June 5, 2009 - President Obama's initial relations with Israel got off to a rocky start. First Obama chose to visit Saudi Arabia and Egypt while skipping over Israel. Then his first trip eastwards since becoming president included a trip to Turkey in April. In both Istanbul and Cairo, he addressed the Muslim world, trying to bridge the gap between the U.S. and the Islamic world. Israelis expressed their concerns that Obama was taking American policy away from the traditional close relationship with Israel and heading with open arms towards Israel's enemies. In addition Obama expressed that Israel should stop expanding their settlements by saying "On the Israeli side those obligations include stopping settlements. They include making sure that there is a viable potential Palestinian state". This did not go over well with Israel.
C+: Although many blame Obama for not taking a different approach towards Israel, Obama has clearly stated he supports them. He is on record as saying "My view is that the United States' special relationship with Israel obligates us to be helpful to them in the search for credible partners with whom they can make peace, while also supporting Israel in defending itself against enemies sworn to its destruction,". And as of now Obama has taken no action to show he is going to stop supporting Israel. And in Obama's defense, historically, many experts don't believe any US President deserves a high mark here. It seems no matter what decision is made, Israel will not be completely satisfied. Whenever a US President has dealt with Israel regarding issues such as the Palestinian conflict, he found it to be an almost an impossible situation. It will be no different for Obama. The Israelis and Palestinians will not budge on their stance against each other, both having legitimate arguments. This is a conflict that has gone on for thousands of years. And anytime Obama makes a friendly gesture towards the Muslim world, Israel will get offended. So it is a lose-lose situation for Obama as far as his relation goes with Israel. But as long as the U.S. supports Israel in the fashion that it does under Obama, Israel will always be one of America's best allies. Israel is not going anywhere. They greatly depend on America for their security and existence in the Middle East. President Obama knows that his priority in the Middle East should be healing American-Muslim relations, not pandering to Israel.
C+: Although many blame Obama for not taking a different approach towards Israel, Obama has clearly stated he supports them. He is on record as saying "My view is that the United States' special relationship with Israel obligates us to be helpful to them in the search for credible partners with whom they can make peace, while also supporting Israel in defending itself against enemies sworn to its destruction,". And as of now Obama has taken no action to show he is going to stop supporting Israel. And in Obama's defense, historically, many experts don't believe any US President deserves a high mark here. It seems no matter what decision is made, Israel will not be completely satisfied. Whenever a US President has dealt with Israel regarding issues such as the Palestinian conflict, he found it to be an almost an impossible situation. It will be no different for Obama. The Israelis and Palestinians will not budge on their stance against each other, both having legitimate arguments. This is a conflict that has gone on for thousands of years. And anytime Obama makes a friendly gesture towards the Muslim world, Israel will get offended. So it is a lose-lose situation for Obama as far as his relation goes with Israel. But as long as the U.S. supports Israel in the fashion that it does under Obama, Israel will always be one of America's best allies. Israel is not going anywhere. They greatly depend on America for their security and existence in the Middle East. President Obama knows that his priority in the Middle East should be healing American-Muslim relations, not pandering to Israel.
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