Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., November 24, 2008 Cheshvan 26, 5769 | | Israel Time: 02:17 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File

Obama's candidates: Centrists for two states By Nathan Guttman WASHINGTON - During Senator Barack Obama's presidential campaign, his foreign policy advisers were criticized by some in the Jewish community for not being sufficiently supportive of Israel. But president-elect Obama's foreign policy team is shaping up to be centrist and pragmatic, strong on Israel and likely to use special envoys to deal with overseas conflicts. "Pragmatism is going to be the name of the game. He will replace the faith-based foreign policy with a more traditional approach to foreign policy," predicted Scott Lasensky, senior research associate at the U.S. Institute of Peace. Advertisement This shift may not have an immediate effect on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which is viewed as lower on the new administration's priority list than dealing with Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan. This pragmatic approach will also mean, according to policy experts, that Obama may focus on pressing economic issues at the expense of foreign affairs. "He will be so busy with getting the country out of the depression that he might use the idea of special envoys to give importance to the issue without having to manage them on a daily basis," said a source involved in talks with Obama advisers. Washington sources told the Forward that Dennis Ross, the veteran peace negotiator, may be asked to take on the issue once again, though at a higher level than before. Ross played a leading role in reaching out to Jewish voters during the campaign and vouching for Obama's perspective on Israel. He made clear in talks and in interviews that Obama does not intend to put pressure on Israel and that the senator believes in a policy of "bigger sticks and bigger carrots" toward Iran. Still, in the hawkish wing of the Jewish community, some are concerned. "I think Dennis Ross is wedded to the Oslo Accords and he might feel obliged to take another shot at it," said Shoshana Bryen, the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs' senior director for security policy. All advisers and potential cabinet members are known to be supporters of a two-state solution and of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, though they are all on the record saying that they will not pressure Israel, and indicating the need for change on the Palestinian side before an independent state can emerge. All the names mentioned so far for top foreign policy positions oppose opening a dialogue with Hamas and advocate a tough approach toward Hezbollah in Lebanon. In addition to Ross, another name mentioned as a possible envoy is former secretary of state Colin Powell. The former Republican threw his support behind Obama in the final weeks of the campaign and offered his help, but apparently he is not in line for an official cabinet post. Leading candidates for secretary of state include Bill Richardson, governor of New Mexico and former United Nations ambassador; Senator John Kerry, of Massachusetts, the Democratic presidential candidate four years ago; GOP Senator Richard Lugar; veteran diplomat Richard Holbrooke, and a surprise name thrown in the mix only recently - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. For the top Pentagon post, Obama might ask the current secretary, Robert Gates, to continue, though he is also considering Republican Senator Chuck Hagel, as well as former secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig. As national security adviser, Obama might take James Steinberg, who served on Bill Clinton's national security team. While all names being mentioned for the top posts are well-known Washington figures, Obama might draw some new names for second-tier policy posts from his pool of current and former advisers, according to press reports and informed Democrats. These may include Gregory Craig, Samantha Power and Susan Rice, as well as retired general Anthony Zinni. All have been advising Obama on foreign policy, and with the exception of Zinni, all are relatively new to the Middle East policy scene. Zinni has vast experience in mediating Middle East peace, and while he was known to be vocally critical of the Palestinian Authority, he is also viewed by Israelis who have worked with him as somewhat aggressive in his wish to see change on the ground. Meanwhile, Israeli diplomats have made a special effort in recent months to get to know these advisers, in a series of meetings and conversations. By arrangement with the Forward Bookmark to del.icio.us   Trailblazer Haula Abu-Bakar named first Arab female professor in Israel. Hills of hostility A stranger coming to Hebron Saturday would be confused.

Read & React Defense establishment paper: Golan for Syria peace, plan for Iran strike Responses: 107 Candidate for U.S. security adviser wants NATO force in the West Bank Responses: 133 Gideon Levy: America elects Obama, Israel elects its Bush Responses: 57 Report: Ya'alon said Israel must 'consider killing Ahmadinejad' Responses: 28 More Headlines 01:29 Report: Gaza militants agree to cease rocket fire if Israel opens crossings 01:27 Aide: Ex-IDF chief's Ahmadinejad remarks taken out of context 23:04 Olmert wants to generate 'final tailwind' on Syria, says aide 00:34 Israel jails neo-Nazi gang members for up to seven years 18:15 Barak: Israel is working day and night to bring Shalit home 02:00 U.K. urges Gulf states to press Iran over nuclear program 18:13 Israel appoints first Arab female professor in country's history 02:08 Poll: 70% of Israeli Arab women think slaps are not domestic abuse 22:56 Barak: Who will save the economy, Netanyahu? He took your pensions 20:44 Fearing attack, Iran militia holds massive defense drill 00:35 VIDEO / Shas Rabbi Ovadia Yosef: Secular teachers are 'asses' 22:41 Egyptian guards shoot and kill Sudanese migrant at Israel border 21:45 State given another year to scrap 'discriminatory' education budget system 14:56 Poverty at 10-year low, but nearly 1 in 4 Israelis still poor 22:21 PLO unanimously elects Abbas president of future Palestinian state Previous Editions Select Day 23 nov 21 nov 20 nov 19 nov 18 nov 17 nov 16 nov 14 nov 13 nov 12 nov 11 nov 10 nov

Special Offers Advertisement Living in Israel Studying in English Click & Meet our students from all around the world Living in Israel Studying in English Click & Meet our students from all around the world Dan Boutique Jerusalem New Dan Hotel in Jerusalem Young, Fun & Distinctively Dan Book Now Online! Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Car rental in Israel Shlomo Sixt Receive $15.00 from our low rates. Dial 013 for your long-distance calls and get all your money back US CITIZENS Vote for real change. Request your ballot today! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved