In the Jordanian capital of Amman, demonstrators took to the streets on Tuesday to celebrate Bush’s departure from the White House by tossing shoes at a banner with his picture on it. They did not, however, celebrate Obama’s inauguration as president of the United States of America. In Beirut, a Lebanese-American gleefully screamed at television cameras, “good riddance Mr. Bush, “ahlan wa sahlan” (welcome) Barack Hussein (with emphasis on Hussein) Obama.” In a West Beirut restaurant, US ex-pats hosted a party to watch the inauguration on television, but the celebrations were subdued with scenes of destruction and devastation left by the Israeli war on Gaza flashing on a flat screen behind the bar.
With Saudi-sponsored Al Arabiya channel and Al Jazeera English as exceptions, most Arab satellite stations ignored Barack Obama’s inauguration. State-controlled television stations preferred to lead their news reports on demonstrations of support for the Palestinian cause. The top news was related to Gaza and the Arab Summit in Kuwait. Obama’s inauguration ceremony came third.
When interviewed about Obama, most Arabs expressed a desire to see a real change of foreign policy towards the Middle East, not just a regime change. There is skepticism that Barack Obama will be able to bring about that shift. Many expressed disappointment over Obama’s failure to take a tough stance against Israel over its war on Gaza, even though he was not president at the time.
“As long as the US takes the same pro-Israeli position, there will be no change,” a student at the American University in Beirut asserted.
In Egypt though, members of the opposition, Muslim Brotherhood, saw hope in Obama’s inauguration speech. They referenced his message to the Muslim world:
“To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West – know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.
To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”
Essam el-Erian, the head of the Muslim Brotherhood’s political committee, was thrilled when he heard Obama saying that “the relationship with the Muslim world should be based on mutual interest and mutual respect.”
However, a colleague of mine working for one of Egypt’s largest dailies spoke to me on the condition of anonymity and said, “What Muslims and Arabs should pay close attention to is the second paragraph of Obama’s address to the Muslim world…his reference to those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent.”
“When we have real democracy in the Middle East,” he added, ” we won’t need Obama to save the day for us.”
Jamal Dajani produces the Mosaic Intelligence Report on Link TV
The Gaza offensive has succeeded in punishing the Palestinians but not in making Israel more secure.
By John J. Mearsheimer
Israelis and their American supporters claim that Israel learned its lessons well from the disastrous 2006 Lebanon war and has devised a winning strategy for the present war against Hamas. Of course, when a ceasefire comes, Israel will declare victory. Don’t believe it. Israel has foolishly started another war it cannot win.
The campaign in Gaza is said to have two objectives: 1) to put an end to the rockets and mortars that Palestinians have been firing into southern Israel since it withdrew from Gaza in August 2005; 2) to restore Israel’s deterrent, which was said to be diminished by the Lebanon fiasco, by Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, and by its inability to halt Iran’s nuclear program.
But these are not the real goals of Operation Cast Lead. The actual purpose is connected to Israel’s long-term vision of how it intends to live with millions of Palestinians in its midst. It is part of a broader strategic goal: the creation of a “Greater Israel.” Specifically, Israel’s leaders remain determined to control all of what used to be known as Mandate Palestine, which includes Gaza and the West Bank. The Palestinians would have limited autonomy in a handful of disconnected and economically crippled enclaves, one of which is Gaza. Israel would control the borders around them, movement between them, the air above and the water below them.
The war on Gaza has been devastating on lives and properties; almost all sectors of Gaza’s civil infrastructure have been destroyed. Since many of us feel helpless these days, it might make you feel better to donate whatever you can to any of the following reputable charitable organizations:
1. United Nations Relief and Works Agency: UNRWA is the primary institution which has been helping Palestinian refugees for the past 60 years, it provides educational, healthcare, and food distributions in all refugee camps in the Middle East. Although the organization is affiliated with the United Nations, it’s mostly being funded from none UN sources.
2. Palestine Children’s Relief Fund: PCRF is one of the most active organizations on the ground who specializes in helping injured Palestinian and Iraqi children; their work has directly affected thousands of lives in occupied Gaza Strip, occupied W. Bank, Iraq, and Lebanon, click here to see news coverage for PCRF’s activities.
3. American Near East Refugee Aid: ANERA is a leading provider of development, health, education and employment programs to Palestinian communities and impoverished families throughout the Middle East.
It should be NOTED that all of these charitable organizations
* are not affiliated whatsoever with any political group,
* have been faithfully serving the Palestinian people (especially the refugees) for generations, and
* your donation will be tax deductible and completely legal, especially here in the United States.
For those of you who live in the Chicago area, I like to draw your attention that Palestine Children’s Relief Fund’s local chapter is in the process of holding it’s first annual fund raising dinner on March 22nd, 2009, I urge all local members to participate. For more details please email or call:
Dr. Khaled M. Abughazaleh
(312) 498-1588
PCRFChicago@GMail.com
Be free to share this email with your friends and loved ones.
Our DATE is 60 years LATE, God willing we shall return.
Sincerely,
Abu al-Sous (Salah Mansour)
Chicago – USA
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