The Middle East Peace Process:

The Obama Agenda

www.daylife.com

(http://images.google.bs/images?hl=en&q=obama

%20%26%20mitchell&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi)

President Barack Obama has made his historic ascension to office as the 44^th President of the United States of America. His inauguration took place on January 20, 2009, in Washington D.C., the capital of the world's lone superpower. Obama's presidency is being hailed as a symbolic milestone for America owing to the fact he is the first black man to serve as president of the United States. He is also being projected by some as the world's president. He campaigned for this office on the tenets of change and hope, and, as such, these two themes have now been universally embraced. Such global outpourings and applause for an American leader are quite unprecedented.

Despite his strident appeal for change, the new president does share the goal of his predecessor, George W. Bush, to create a "Palestinian state." We will examine whether this hope can facilitate the global desire for lasting peace in the Middle East. Does the Bible have a say in this matter? This article will provide a critical analysis of Obama's Mideast policies as well as discuss Biblical intelligence on future global peace.

During his first week in office, President Obama appointed former Senator George Mitchell as his Middle East envoy. Mitchell wasted no time in going off to the region, visiting Egypt, Israel, Palestinian officials in Ramallah, Jordan and other Arab countries. Mitchell's visit comes on the heels of a three-week military operation by Israel's Defence Forces (IDF), dubbed "Operation Cast Lead," against the terrorist group Hamas in Gaza, at the conclusion of which Israel declared victory.

Mitchell and the Obama Agenda

"The United States is committed to vigorously pursuing lasting peace and stability in the region," Mitchell said after talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo, his first stop.¹ His visit came eight days after Obama's inauguration as US president. Furthermore, in an Al-Arabiya TV interview on January 26, the president stated that "I think the most important thing is for the United States to get engaged right away," adding that "what I told him is, start by listening, because all too often the United States starts by dictating - in the past on some of these issues - and we don't always know all the factors that are involved. So let's listen. He's going to be speaking to all the major parties involved. And he will then report back to me. From there we will formulate a specific response." ²

Nevertheless, the White House website cogently presents the president's foreign policy agenda in which there is no new paradigm from Bush's agenda for Israel and the Palestinian people. In this agenda, under the caption, "Israeli-Palestinian Conflict," it is stated: "Obama and Biden will make progress on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a key diplomatic priority from day one. They will make a sustained push – working with Israelis and Palestinians – to achieve the goal of two states, a Jewish state in Israel and a Palestinian state, living side by side in peace and security."³

Furthermore, the Israeli Haaretz online news reported, "Mitchell told Israeli officials that the new administration was committed to Israel's security, to the road map, and to the 2004 letter by president George W. Bush, stating Palestinian refugees would not return to Israel, and the border between Israel and the Palestinian Authority would take into consideration facts on the ground, meaning large settlement blocs would remain in Israeli hands."⁴

George Mitchell is no newcomer to the Middle East. He sometimes refers to himself as Arab-American, based on the fact that his mother is an Arab from Lebanon. A lawyer and former judge and former Senator, Mitchell is most remembered for his involvement as Special Envoy in the Northern Ireland Peace Process. Mitchell was also appointed by the last Democratic administration, under President Bill Clinton, to the Middle East on a fact-finding mission in 2000. In 2001, in his report, Mitchell aroused controversy when he failed to outrightly condemn Yasser Arafat in the wake of the second intifada against Israel. In his report, he called upon Israel to freeze settlement activity, albeit he did call upon the Palestinians to adhere to the rule of law.

Meanwhile, Daniel Pipes, an analyst, submits "how can one hold in high regard someone who came out with the wretched Sharm El-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee Report, also known as "The Mitchell Report," of April 2001? I did an analysis of it when it appeared, and "the Mitchell Report missed it." Pipes further added, "I found that Mitchell and his committee were myopically unaware of the real issue at hand, which is not violence, or Jewish settlements, or Jerusalem. It is, rather, the enduring Arab reluctance to accept the existence of a sovereign Jewish state. I suggested that the real solution lies not in getting the parties back as fast as possible to diplomacy, but in instilling in the Palestinians an awareness of the futility of their use of violence against the Jewish state."⁵

Bible Intelligence

Just for one moment let's say the international community does succeed in its planned agenda to divide Israel into two states; information submitted in the Holy Bible predicts that there will be no peace. This then throws out the very fundamental argument by States to violate the Word of God by dividing His holy land for "peace."

In the Book of Joel 3:2, God reveals His planned actions:

I will also gather all nations,

And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;

And I will enter into judgment with them there

On account of My people, My heritage Israel,

Whom they have scattered among the nations;

They have also divided up My land.⁶

Additionally, the Scriptures note:

In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God. Like the Angel of the Lord before them. It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.⁷

Further intelligence shows that this conflict will be settled only on God's terms. Not on the terms envisaged by the United Nations, or the European Union, or the United States, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Russia or Iran:

"2 For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. 3 Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. 4 In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south. 5 You will flee by the valley of My mountains, for the valley of the mountains will reach to Azel; yes, you will flee just as you fled before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD, my God, will come, and all the holy ones with Him!"⁸

Finally, it is unfortunate that there are such things as war, conflict, suffering, death, disaster and the like. There have been myriad attempts in the past to end the Middle East conflict. Every US President, including Truman, has played a role in the Middle East. The conflict is more than 60 years old. An attempt, now, to speedily resolve it by dividing Israel and Jerusalem is in violation of the Word of God… Do not do it! It will bring God's judgment on the nations.

Sources

¹Jerusalem Post, International, Herb Keinon (Jpost staff). "Mitchell: It is 'critical' that Gaza ceasefire be extended," http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233050189985&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull, Jan 27, 2009.

²Ibid

³The Agenda: Foreign Policy. The White House, http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/foreign_policy/

⁴Haaretz, Barak Ravid, (Haaretz Correspondent & Reuters), "US envoy Mitchell: Mideast peace process faces substantial hurdles. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1060275.html, January 30, 2009.

⁵Daniel Pipes. Daniel Pipes Blog. "George Mitchell's Return to Middle East Diplomacy," http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/2009/01/george-mitchells-return-to-middle-east.html. Thursday January 22, 2009.

⁶Prophecy Study Bible. John C. Hagee. New King James Version, Joel 3:2. Thomas Nelson Publisher. Nashville, © 1997.

⁷Ibid, Zechariah 12: 8-9.

⁸Biblos.com. Parallel Bible. Zechariah, New American Standard Bible, http://nasb.scripturetext.com/zechariah/14.htm, Zechariah 14: 2-5.

Other

George J. Mitchell, Wikipedia. The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_J._Mitchell

Cherub A. Nicholls

Appendix

President George W. Bush addresses his remarks at The Saban Forum 2008 for Middle East Policy, Friday, Dec. 5, 2008.

Fact Sheet: Progress in the Middle East: Freedom, Prosperity, and Hope

President Bush Outlines Where We Have Been, Where We Are Today, And Where The Region Can Go In The Years Ahead

On December 5, 2008, President Bush attended the Saban Forum to discuss American policy in the Middle East – the past, the present, and his vision for the future. The President believes that no region is more fundamental to the security of America or the peace of the world than the Middle East: a free, peaceful Middle East will represent a source of promise, a home of opportunity, and a vital contributor to the prosperity of the world. Despite some frustrations and disappointments, the Middle East in 2008 is freer, more hopeful, and more promising than in 2001, with Israelis and Palestinians on the path to a two-state solution, 25 million Iraqis free from a brutal dictatorship, and many other examples of a brighter future to come.

In 2001, in the Holy Land, the collapse of the Camp David II peace talks had given way to the second Intifada, killing more than 500 Israelis and Palestinians, and neither side could envision a return to negotiations or the realistic possibility of a two-state solution. In Iraq, Saddam Hussein had begun his third decade as dictator. The Arab Human Development Report revealed high unemployment, poor education, high mortality rates for mothers, and almost no investment in technology.

· Following the 9/11 attacks, the United States realized that we were in a struggle with fanatics pledged to our destruction. We saw that repression and despair on the other side of the world could bring suffering and death to our own streets. With these new realities in mind, America reshaped our approach to the Middle East.

Supporting Allies, Isolating Adversaries, And Extending Freedom

In response to the 9/11 attacks, President Bush fundamentally reshaped our approach to the Middle East, based on three principles. We will defend our friends, our interests, and our people against any hostile attempt to dominate the Middle East – whether by terror, blackmail, or the pursuit of weapons of mass destruction.

1. President Bush took the offensive against the terrorists overseas, to break up extremist networks and deny them safe havens. President Bush strengthened partnerships with each nation that joined in the fight against terror. The United States deepened our security cooperation with allies like Jordan, Egypt, and our friends in the Gulf. Saudi Arabia became a determined partner in the fight against terror – killing or capturing hundreds of al Qaeda operatives. We expanded counterterrorism cooperation with partners in North Africa. In addition, we have left no doubt that we would stand by our closest ally in the Middle East – the state of Israel.
2. The President made clear that hostile regimes must end their support for terror and pursuit of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) – or face the concerted opposition of the world. This is the approach the President took with Iraq, Libya, and Iran.

o While President Bush has made clear that Saddam Hussein was not connected to the 9/11 attacks, his decision to remove Saddam from power cannot be viewed in isolation from the attacks. It was clear to President Bush, members of both political parties, and many leaders around the world that after 9/11, we could not risk allowing a sworn enemy of America to have weapons of mass destruction, as intelligence agencies around the world believed Saddam did. The Administration went to the United Nations, which unanimously passed Resolution 1441 calling on Saddam Hussein to disclose and disarm, and offered Saddam Hussein a final chance to comply with the demands of the world. When he refused, the President acted with a coalition of nations to protect the American people and liberated 25 million Iraqis.

o The President confronted Libya over its WMD program. Within days of Saddam's capture, Libya's leader, Colonel Qaddafi, announced that Libya had halted its WMD program and would turn over to the United States or destroy its centrifuges, longest-range missiles, and other deadly equipment. Libya's nuclear weapons equipment is now locked away in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Moreover, the Administration persuaded Libya to renounce terrorism and accept responsibility for prior acts of terror, and normalized relations with Libya as a result of its actions.

o Working with international partners, we have imposed tough sanctions and supported multiple UN resolutions against Iran for its failure to suspend enrichment. We have offered Iran diplomatic and economic incentives to suspend enrichment, and we have promised to support a peaceful civilian nuclear power program. While Iran has not accepted these offers, we have made our bottom line clear: For the safety of our people and the peace of the world, America will not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapons.

3. President Bush identified lack of freedom as the principal cause of threats coming from the Middle East. The War on Terror is an ideological struggle. To advance security and moral interests, America is working to advance freedom and democracy as the great alternative to repression and terror. The President is pressing nations across the region – including our friends – to respect fundamental freedoms such as freedom of speech, worship, association, and assembly. The President is supporting the rise of vibrant civil societies and the promotion of freedom through new efforts, including the Middle East Partnership Initiative and the Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative.

o The President is advancing a broader vision of liberty that includes economic prosperity, quality health care and education, and women's rights. This Administration has negotiated new free trade agreements in the region, supported Saudi Arabia's accession to the World Trade Organization, and proposed a new Middle East Free Trade Area. We are training Middle Eastern school teachers, translating children's books into Arabic, and helping young people get visas to study in the United States. Millennium Challenge agreements signed with Jordan and Morocco grant U.S. assistance in return for anti-corruption measures, free market policies that promote economic freedom, policies to govern justly and democratically, and investments in health and education. We are encouraging Middle Eastern women to get involved in politics, start their own businesses, and take charge of their health through wise practices like breast cancer screening.

President Bush Is The First American President To Call For A Palestinian State

To advance these principles, President Bush has launched a sustained initiative to help bring peace to the Holy Land. The President has a vision of Palestine and Israel, living side-by-side in peace and security. Building support for the two-state solution has been one of the President's highest priorities. But the President made clear that no Palestinian state could be born of terror, and he backed Prime Minister Sharon's withdrawal from Gaza. The United States has included Arab leaders, because their support will be essential for a lasting peace.

· Last fall, President Bush hosted a historic summit at Annapolis to bring everyone together to start substantial negotiations. While they have not yet produced an agreement, important progress has been made, and there is now greater international consensus than at any point in recent memory. Israelis, Palestinians, and Arabs all recognize that the creation of a peaceful, democratic Palestinian state is in their interest. Through the Annapolis process, they have started down a path that will end with the two-state solution finally realized.

Since The President Took Office, The Middle East Has Become More Free, Hopeful, And Promising

While challenges remain in the Middle East, the changes over the past eight years herald the beginning of something historic and new. Iraq has gone from an enemy of the United States to an ally. For the first time in three decades, the people of Lebanon are free from Syria's military occupation. Places like the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are emerging as centers of commerce and models of modernity. The regime in Iran is facing greater pressure from the international community than ever before. Terrorist organizations like al Qaeda have failed in their attempts to take over nations and are increasingly facing rejection.

· Political and economic reforms are advancing across the Middle East. Several Arab nations have held free elections in recent years. Women have run for office in several nations and been named to important government positions in Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Trade and foreign investment have expanded. Several nations have opened private universities, and Internet use has risen sharply. Expectations about government responsiveness are rising. People are defying the condescending view that the culture of the Middle East is unfit for freedom.

The White House, President George W. Bush, Peace in the Middle East.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/mideast/#

---

Invite your mail contacts to join your friends list with Windows Live Spaces. It's easy! Try it!