Well this came out of nowhere:
Jerusalem is carefully watching the posturing in Washington over top Middle East policy positions in the new administration, hoping this will provide clues into President-elect Barrack Obama’s priorities. … “There is a great deal of apprehension, with the feeling that who Obama picks for the top slots will give an indication [of] whether he wants to tackle the Iranian situation first, or deal first with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” For instance, if someone like former Mideast envoy Dennis Ross were selected to a top post, perhaps as Obama’s special Middle East envoy or coordinator, this would signal to Israel that Obama first wanted to focus on Iran and the nuclear issue. If, however, he gave the nod to former US ambassadors to Israel Dan Kurtzer or Martin Indyk, the feeling is that his priority would be on the Palestinian-Israeli track.
Yeah. Obama’s inclinations on the Middle East are inscrutable. He’s merely been completely clear that he considers Israel to be the root of Middle East instability. Cashed out this approach means blaming Israel for Israeli-Palestinian deadlocks and approaching Iranian nuclearization as a problem of potential Israeli overreaction. Totally inscrutable.
Of course he’s going to focus on Israel first. And of course Kurtzer is at the top of the envoy list:
It appears we may have a special envoy focusing on Arab-Israeli matters — perhaps someone such as retired diplomat Daniel C. Kurtzer, former ambassador to Israel and Egypt and now at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.
Kurtzer was already fantasizing about being an envoy for Obama back in March. He’s very eager to “play the role of ‘honest broker’” (yeah – that kind of “honest broker.”) The only upside to his appointment would be aesthetic. Just imagine: an Obama appointee who gets along with Netanyahu less than a President who publicly smeared “pro-Likud approaches” to Israel. It’s breathtakingly sublime.
Best. Peace process. Ever.
References and previously after the jump…
References:
* Analysis: Will next US president give priority to Iran, or to Israel-Palestinian conflict? [JPost]
* New Palin Smear: She Supports Hamas (Plus: Obama’s Anti-Israel FP Sensibility, Support From Hamas) [MR]
* So That’s Where Obama Learned To Talk Like An Obsessed Anti-Semitic Academic [MR]
* Obama Figures Out The Real Problem With Iranian Nuclearization (Plus: Obama’s Foreign Policy Kneejerks Provide Excellent Illustration Of Exactly How He’d Screw Israel) [MR]
* Another "multiple special envoys" report: Wash. Post [Rosen]
* Top Obama Foreign Policy Adviser: No Seriously, We Are Totally Going To Screw Israel When We Get Into Power [MR]
* Hey EU, Shove It [MR]
* ZOA: Sen. Obama Should Rescind Appointment of Daniel Kurtzer As Middle East Adviser [ZOA]
* Obama Now Actively Channeling Rabid Anti-Israel Academics, Adopting Their Dumbest Anti-Israel Euphemisms [MR]
Previously:
* Turns Out, Obama And Khalidi Are "Family Friends, Neighbors"
* Indyk: Of Course Obama Is Going To Pressure Israel
* Marty Peretz: Based On All Available Evidence I Disagree With Susan Rice, Who Is Nonetheless Awesome In Every Way (Plus: Misguided Victim-Complex Paranoia On The Pro-Israel Right)
Of Shoes and Rage
Until the late 1960s, the Narcissistic Personality was considered to be impossible to treat in therapy or Psychoanalysis. There were many reasons for this but the primary reason was that the Narcissist was thought to be incapable of forming a…
Of Shoes and Rage
Until the late 1960s, the Narcissistic Personality was considered to be impossible to treat in therapy or Psychoanalysis. There were many reasons for this but the primary reason was that the Narcissist was thought to be incapable of forming a…