It took me a while to understand and to swollow the words Obama Barack, president of the USA, uttered in his speech yesterday. Just one day before the meeting with Israelian prime-minister Netanyahu. He declares that he will support Egypt financially, that he supports 1967 borders for Israel and that he demands the negotiations in Syria.
Many tough words for leaders all over the middle-east. Surprisingly tough, and so are the reactions. Someone once said: who is not with me, is against me, and this could be the summary of multiple reactions all over the world. i scanned several bloggs and newspapers and came to the insight that there occur two different stands: positive, the once supporting Obama and angry once...
The thing that actually is disturbing me, touching my very need for democracy and liberty of speech, are the reaction saying that Obama in his speech shows that he is a muslim and a anti-semitist. PLEASE, is really everyone who makes a statement about Israel's territorial behaviour an anti-semitist? Anti-semitism is by definition hatred against jews. Is the demand for 1967 year's borders showing any hatred against jews? Or is it just a way to find acceptance for some peace between Palestine and Israel.
The once who have read some political and historical publications know that the territorial demands of Jews actually is called sionism. and in my believe sionism is today far away from its origin as possible. When sionistic movement started in the late 1900th century it was a demand for a jewish state where jews would be protected from repression and tyranny. It was said that the world would be free if jews became free ("Der Judenstaat" by Herzl). As I can see it, Isarel put itself into a corner by demanding new settlements and by fighting Palestine and the rest of the arab world. This way Israel will never become free and the sionistic movement will not succeed.
But: we still have the question: was Obama's speech anti-semitistic. Well, he actually did not say anything against jews or the jewish religion, so this statement is not applicable. Anti-sionistic then? No, I do not think so. By definition sionists are looking for freedom. Freedom should even include peace with its neighbour-countries and this will only be possible if all of the countries involved can step back and make some sacrifice.
Summarised one just can say: the people stating that Obama is against jews are just afraid to loose political power and US military forces. This is not a question of ideologi but a question of will and needs to make peace after so many years.
After World World II the position of the Americans president was a pro Israeli one. To accuse now Obama of beeing antisemit and anti sionism is like you say for a jew it's anti Israel, altought are a few like that!! Do not forgett that he is a black with some islamic links, and the first black president of America. I think he know how it is to be seen like an outsider and I don't think he will put others in the same position. All this don't make him to be better than the previous presidents, but maybe give him a little plus or trust "by the people for the people". The American policy regarding Israel didn't change at all and his remarks can only make nervous the military, because is no new war, and the big weapons manufactures, there won't be no new market for them.
SvaraRaderaLike usually Ghalia manage to write a very good article. She combine the european viewpoint with arabic one and by this it came this charismatic article.