Top Priority or Empty Promise?
Last week, Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin stated that "a two-state solution is the solution... and that will be [a] top of an agenda item, also, under a McCain-Palin administration." Democratic VP candidate Joe Biden stated, for his part, that "no one in the United States Senate has been a better friend to Israel than Joe Biden" and that Obama will bring "thoughtful, real, live diplomacy that understands that you must back Israel in letting them negotiate, support their negotiation, and stand with them."
From the claims of the campaigns, getting down to business with Israel in reaching a two-state solution to the conflict will be a top priority. For myself, as a part of the Reform movement, which enthusiastically calls for such an approach, these claims are great to hear. To achieve success in negotiations, the next President simply cannot withhold enthusiasm and dedication to solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict until their lame duck months (as the last two have).
Will the same pattern of passivity and procrastination return with the next President, regardless of the electoral campaign promises? Ha'aretz columnist Yoel Marcus certainly thinks so, writing today that "Israel won't top the agenda for Obama or McCain."
With an economic crisis, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the challenges of Iran, Pakistan, Russia, China, health care, tax policy, immigration, education, energy independence, environmental policy, and much more to think about (a McCain adviser had earlier claimed there to be as many as 30 more important crises in foreign policy alone), the 44th President will indeed have pressing issues that could easily lead to Israel being shuffled to the back of the line.
However, given the failures that have resulted with such an approach, I believe strongly that a failure to keep the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a high priority of the administration will not benefit the United State or Israel. So, with Palin claiming that a two-state solution will be at the top of the agenda, and Biden scolding the Bush administration for only "trying to turn it around now in the seventh or eighth year", and insisting on "thoughtful, real, live diplomacy", there may be hope yet for diplomacy.
Given the urgent need for American leadership in ensuring that the talk about a two-state solution becomes a reality, to ensure Israel's long-term security, viability, and prosperity, I'm certainly hoping that the next President will stick to the promises made this fall to provide that leadership.
Will the same pattern of passivity and procrastination return with the next President, regardless of the electoral campaign promises? Ha'aretz columnist Yoel Marcus certainly thinks so, writing today that "Israel won't top the agenda for Obama or McCain."
With an economic crisis, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the challenges of Iran, Pakistan, Russia, China, health care, tax policy, immigration, education, energy independence, environmental policy, and much more to think about (a McCain adviser had earlier claimed there to be as many as 30 more important crises in foreign policy alone), the 44th President will indeed have pressing issues that could easily lead to Israel being shuffled to the back of the line.
However, given the failures that have resulted with such an approach, I believe strongly that a failure to keep the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a high priority of the administration will not benefit the United State or Israel. So, with Palin claiming that a two-state solution will be at the top of the agenda, and Biden scolding the Bush administration for only "trying to turn it around now in the seventh or eighth year", and insisting on "thoughtful, real, live diplomacy", there may be hope yet for diplomacy.
Given the urgent need for American leadership in ensuring that the talk about a two-state solution becomes a reality, to ensure Israel's long-term security, viability, and prosperity, I'm certainly hoping that the next President will stick to the promises made this fall to provide that leadership.