I'm not sure we're any closer to a real deal. The response of the Israelis has not been positive, and Obama also seemed to make it clear that the Palestinians themselves would have to figure out what to do about Hamas' refusal to recognize Israel's right to exist before we can move forward.
I read in today's WashPost article that the people overseas just don't really care about his speech. Is that true? Are you overseas right now?
Yes, I am in Beirut. It's true that a lot of ordinary people aren't really interested in what America has to say right now, and I think that's one of the things that's been so interesting about the Arab Spring. It is a new development in the Middle East that is taking place regardless of America's interests, and we've really seen the US pushed to the sidelines
I'm not sure how a peace settlement could be reached if the Palestinians were not united, and also Obama did seem to indicate that he expected them to sort out the question of Hamas' refusal to recognize Israel's right to exist before there could be any movement.
I'm afraid I do share your pessimism. It does seem to be never ending. It may take a generation or more before either side can set it all aside and sit down to genuinely talk peace. But I do think there's hope; I watched the transition to democracy in South Africa and that once seemed impossible too. The Middle East needs a Mandela and a De Klerk
What kind of role do you see the U.S. playing in the Mid East now that Osama is dead?
Such was the irrelevance of Osama Bin Laden to most people in the Middle East at the time of his death that I don't think it will really affect the US role all that much. A far bigger impact will come from the fallout of all the uprisings we have been seeing, and there I think we've really started to see how America's role in the Middle East has been waning. I think Obama's speech was an effort to restore America's relevance, but I'm not sure he succeeded
You do realize how absurd your quote sounds about Hamas. Obama wants to impose boarders on Israel, but doesn't make not randomly killing innocents Israeli a precondition for Palestinian talks. Was this not a precondition under every other president as well as a condition in the Quartet? This is a substantial change.
Yes, it is a substantial change for the US, but I'm not sure it will lead to immediate progress between the Israelis and the Palestinians
How are times different under Bush than Obama as far as our foreign policy with the Middle East?
I think attitudes toward America have improved significantly under Obama. I think that is part of the reason why Osama Bin Laden had dropped so far off everyone's radar screen. There was a perception that Bush was hostile to Muslims, hostile to Arabs and had designs on Arab lands. No such perception exists with Obama, who is generally viewed as more benign. That said however, people are very disappointed that he has not been able to deliver on his promises to get the peace process going in earnest
How long have you been covering the Middle East?
Aproximately 3 decades, with a break of 12 years between 1991 and 2003
Indeed, that is one major obstacle to peace! But I have a feeling we may see some flexibility emerge in the Hamas position at some point in the future
I'm sorry, I don't cover Israel, I live in Beirut. I really don't know much about Israel, we have a Jerusalem correspondent who covers there
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