First and foremost, I would like to ask the question of who in their right mind would choose the United States of America as a “mediator” between Israel and Palestine? I know what some might say, they might say “it’s the world super power so it can do something about it”, and there may be more arguments.
But there is a problem you see, a big problem. Romney’s visit to Israel has shown this, actually all of the presidents of the USA since Clinton have shown this huge problem with the concept of “mediation”. But firstly, a little bit on Romney:
U.S. Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney delivers foreign policy remarks at the University of Warsaw Library in Warsaw July 31, 2012 – Photo by Reuters
“Romney’s staff picked the 150 guests carefully. Religious American immigrants dominated the crowd; secular Jews and native-born Israelis were few and far between. Those present included Jewish-American millionaires, settler leaders like the former chairman of the Yesha Council of settlements Israel Harel, and former Netanyahu aides such as Dore Gold, Naftali Bennett, Ayelet Shaked and Yoaz Hendel.” – Source Haaretz
The “Jewish-American” millionaires included a Mr. Adelson, who has pledged around $200 million towards Romney’s campaign against Obama. Yes, $200 million. But this is what democracy is about, it is about lip-service and kissing up to people so they give you money…never mind that it could interfere with the peace process. When Romney called Jerusalem the capital of Israel, and he claimed that Israeli culture was “superior” to Palestinian culture in terms of economy (and failing to mention at all the military occupation), I am sure he thought it was all worth it.
But maybe, just maybe he isn’t that bad. I have been reading other people’s opinions of him, and so I thought it was time I checked out his website to see his views in his own words…and oh boy, what a lovely trip that was.
The interesting thing to note is that under his “issues” section which explain his policies, the Middle East has it’s own section, Israel has it’s own and Iran has it’s own, even though Iran and Israel are in the Middle East. I am not nit-picking here, but pointing out to you what priorities he really has…
So I clicked on Israel, and the problem stared me in the face, because the section started off with:
“Israel is the United States’ closest ally in the Middle East”
Now I don’t know if I am missing something, but isn’t a mediator nation supposed to be a bit more impartial? Obama called Israel an ally too, and so did George Bush, and so did Clinton. But even if they did not utter a word, it can be seen as clear as day when the USA and Israel share a lot of their military resources openly and freely. But there is more:
“The United States must forcefully resist the emergence of anti-Israel policies in Turkey and Egypt, and work to make clear that their interests are not served by isolating Israel.”
Forcefully? So if the people of Egypt democratically decide, for example, to stop cooperating with Israel then what kind of “force” is Romney planning to use? Was it like when Obama was supplying Mubarak’s regime with funds and military equipment too? “We like our democracy…but not YOUR democracy”.
You can read the rest of the section yourself, but this is the problem with mediation between the US, Palestine and Israel. Ask yourselves, if you were bullied and your teacher turned out to be best buddies with that bully (a little absurd? not so in the world of politics) then how would you feel? Would you even call that fair?
