The war in Gaza seems to be over even if the cease-fire is shaky. A European-American initiative could now create the conditions for something more durable, which addresses the security needs of both Israelis and Palestinians. To do so, Syria and Hamas must be engaged in the peace process.
Although the Israeli offensive in Gaza is over, conditions for a resolution have not improved. The Palestinians remain politically divided. The winter 2008-2009 conflict further weakened Fatah's Mahmoud Abbas, whom Hamas has not recognized as president since early January. Not only is Israel in the midst of an election campaign, but opinion polls predict gains for the Likud Party and the extreme right. Thus, President Obama has immediately turned his attention toward the Middle East.
However, faced with the economic crisis and other foreign policy challenges, Barack Obama is unlikely to focus all of his energy on a conflict that many American presidents before him tried-and failed-to resolve.
FULL ARTICLE
25 February 2009
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