*Obama Cheers Ring Hollow in the **Mideast***
*Jonathan Steele | The Guardian* *http://arabnews.com/?page=7§ion=0&article=112120&d=26&m=7&y=2008*** *What a contrast. In Western Europe Obama-mania is in full flood, epitomized by raving crowds in Berlin last night as well as the polls which show the Democratic candidate to be far more popular than John McCain in almost every country. In **Israel** he is met with apprehension, and in the Palestinian territories there is only the faintest hope that the deadlocked conflict will ever end.* *The difference is that Europeans know the American president holds the keys to war or peace. He has enormous influence in dragging European governments after him, as the disastrous **Iraq** adventure showed. So it is not surprising that many Europeans are crying out for a man in the White House who will be less aggressive, less unilateral, less imperial, and more attuned to the complexities of international policy. Obama seems to be the one. In the **Middle East** the **US** leader has much less power. **Israel* * calls the shots, and what's happening on the ground is deeply gloomy and anti-peace. The chances of creating a viable Palestinian state have almost vanished as Israeli settlements on the **West Bank** go on increasing and yet more checkpoints appear.* No wonder that, while they like Obama more than McCain, Palestinians feel little optimism. "Obama might create a different atmosphere," says Yasser Abd Rabbo, the secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization, stressing the "might". "Bush polarized things between him and Osama Bin Laden. The moderates were the big losers. People in the middle felt crushed," he argues. Others expect Obama will take time to focus on the Middle East in spite of his promise this week to be engaged in peace from day one. "He'll concentrate first on Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and the economy, which all matter more for Americans," an adviser to the Palestinian negotiating team told me. His visit to the Israeli border town of Sderot was one-sided, not just because he did not balance it with visits to places where Palestinians are oppressed. Sderot is more than a place under threat of terror. It is a model for how cease-fires are negotiable, and why they are the vital first step toward any serious peace agreement. Yet Obama ignored the point. "Why have a cease-fire in Gaza, but not one in the West Bank? Do they want us to develop missiles and rockets here before we can have a cease-fire?" asks Mustafa Barghouti, one of the most respected independents in the Palestinian Parliament. He points to the spate of arrests by Israeli troops in recent weeks in Nablus, Hebron and Jenin, which have gone virtually unreported. The Israelis conduct almost nightly raids on schools, clinics and charities, seizing files, computers, and patients' records. *Since Bush's **Annapolis** conference no progress has been made. In spite of a half a dozen meetings with Mahmoud Abbas, the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert refuses to put forward drafts for the framework deal that Bush wanted to see signed before he leaves office. It is all talk but no work. Going against peace, another 9,700 housing units for settlers have been announced for **East Jerusalem**, compared with 1,600 in the previous four years. Eighty-six new checkpoints have gone up in the **West Bank**. Meanwhile, the EU chooses this moment to upgrade its cultural and economic relations with **Israel**, forfeiting the little leverage it has.* What could Obama do as president? Watching the candidate with Israel's President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem this week, it was hard not to be touched by the younger man's grace. As they strolled across the lawn before making press statements, Obama inclined his head and put his hand gently on Peres' back like a respectful son or even grandson. Peres repaid the compliment, all but endorsing Obama. "I've read both your books and was impressed by their moving humanity ... Those who say the future belongs to the young are wrong. The present belongs to the young." *The chances of a settlement have never been bleaker. The Palestinians are deeply split between Fatah and Hamas, and without unity there is no way Abbas can pretend to reach a deal with **Israel**. In **Israel** every politician is a hard-liner, whether Kadima, Labour or Likud. "Olmert is playing a game of deception when he says peace is close. The negotiations are going in circles. Nothing is moving forward, except the confiscation of land, the expansion of the wall, and the building of industrial zones round the settlements. You can't trust them to want a deal this year, next year or any year," says Abd Rabbo.* On both sides the public mood is grim. Israeli attitudes toward the Palestinians are built on fear — all-pervasive and sometimes turning into panic. Palestinians are consumed with anger, rekindled by every new injustice — an anger that sometimes turns to rage. It is no coincidence that this year's attacks on Israelis in Jerusalem, the two bulldozer incidents and the shooting of eight people at a yeshiva (school) in March, were done by Palestinians not connected to any militia group. Private rage just boiled over. Faced by Israeli intransigence, no US president can do much. Perhaps the only thing Obama could do is to work on the Palestinians. If he helps end the futile boycott and demonization of Hamas, he will cease playing the Israeli game and help the Palestinians re-create a united front. It would be a step forward, though not enough for peace. The Israelis are not ready, whatever they say. *Obama, in **London**, Meets Brown and Blair* Democratic hopeful defends decision to travel to Europe and Mideast *updated **10:42 a.m. ET** **July 26, 2008** * *http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25858777* LONDON - Presidential contender Barack Obama defended his decision to travel to Europe and the Middle East on Saturday, saying that problems encountered by Americans at home are often best dealt with by working with allies overseas. Obama, who spoke to reporters after wrapping up talks with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, said he wasn't sure if there would be any immediate political impact from the trip. *"The reason that I thought this trip was important is that I am convinced that many issues that we face at home are not going to be solved as effectively unless we have strong partners abroad," Obama said.* Obama, a first-term senator, is in the midst of a tour that is designed to burnish his international credentials for the general election campaign against Republican rival Sen. John McCain. The trip began with a campaign-season tour of the war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan and ends with meetings with old allies France and Britain. The Democratic hopeful seemed relaxed as he strolled down to the prime minister's office at 10 Downing St., pausing briefly to shake the hands of two somewhat startled police officers standing near the door. He turned to television cameras, smiled, waved and said "Hello," before walking into Number 10. Brown greeted him just inside the door. Pooled television images showed Brown offering Obama a chair on the Downing Street terrace before the pair settled down for two hours of talks. The pair later took a stroll in the sunshine around Horse Guards Parade, the vast open space where military reviews are often held. Tourists snapped pictures while security guards walked ahead of the two men. The stroll in the vast arena offered a photo opportunity with a Londonbackdrop for Obama, whose visit to London has been decidedly low-key, particularly after the huge crowds he drew earlier in the week in Germany. Earlier, he met with former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is now a Middle East envoy. The meeting lasted for just over an hour. Later, Obama was expected to meet with opposition leader David Cameron of the Conservative Party. *Meeting in Paris* Obama arrived in London from Paris, where he met Friday with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Obama and Sarkozy discussed Iran, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, climate change and other issues. *Speaking later Friday at a news conference, Obama said **Iran** should accept the proposals made by Sarkozy and other Western leaders. He urged ** Iran**'**s leaders not to wait for the next **U.S.** president to push them "because the pressure, I think, is only going to build." The **United States ** and other Western nations accuse **Iran** of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons and demand that it freeze its uranium enrichment program. **Iran**says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. * *Obama said that he and Sarkozy agreed that **Iran** poses "an extraordinarily grave situation." He said the world must send "a clear message to **Iran** to end its illicit nuclear program." Obama said: "My expectation is that we**'**re going to present a clear choice to **Iran**: change your behavior and you will be fully integrated into the international community with all the benefits that go with that. Continue your illicit nuclear program and the international community as a whole will ratchet up pressure with stronger and increased sanctions. And we should have no illusion that progress will come easily."* *'We have to win'* *Obama told reporters that "Afghanistan is a war we have to win." The Taliban and terrorist groups it supports, he said, pose an unacceptable threat to the United States, France and other nations. "We've got to finish the job," said Obama, who often has said the Iraq war was an unwise move that distracted the United States from efforts to find Osama bin Laden and other terrorist leaders and to root out the Taliban forces in Afghanistan.* Sarkozy said he agreed that the Taliban must be defeated in Afghanistan, where French troops are part of a multinational force. The joint news conference had many light moments. Sarkozy called his guest "my dear Barack Obama," and said the French have been following the U.S. presidential race "with passion." "It's fascinating to watch what's happening there," he said. * * *(c) 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.*
