Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., December 18, 2008 Kislev 21, 5769 | | Israel Time: 04:51 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
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
Last update - 10:45 14/12/2008
Obama to base his Middle East policy on army of envoys
By Barak Ravid
Tags: hillary clinton, israel news 

Jerusalem has received various reports in recent weeks indicating that American foreign policy in the Middle East and in Southeast Asia after president-elect Barack Obama takes office will operate on the basis of special envoys who will report directly to Obama and his designated secretary of state, Hillary Clinton.

Obama and Clinton's transition teams are maintaining secrecy and minimal ties with Israeli diplomats. Obama and Clinton also directed their people not to take part in the policy debates of the Brookings Institution's Saban Center forum, attended by Israeli politicians and officials, which took place earlier this month in Washington, D.C.

However, senior government sources in Jerusalem said that the information they have received indicates that the new administration is planning a hierarchy of about five special envoys to various regions, overseen by a kind of "super coordinator," who would answer directly to the president and the secretary of state.
Advertisement

The sources said that the new policy is part of Obama's and Clinton's understanding that all the conflicts in the Middle East and Southeast Asia are to some extent connected to the Iranian nuclear program and withdrawal from Iraq. Therefore, it is important to operate in a number of parallel but coordinated channels to attain achievements on all fronts.

The most prominent name in consideration for the top coordinator post is Dennis Ross, who served as President Bill Clinton's special envoy to the Middle East. Ross' name has also come up as a possible senior adviser to Hillary Clinton.

The envoy to the Middle East would oversee the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, negotiations between Syria and Israel and the situation in Lebanon.

Short-listed for this job are Colin Powell, who was President George W. Bush's secretary of state during his first term; Dan Kurtzer, U.S. ambassador to Israel from 2001 to 2005; and Martin Indyk, who is close to Hillary Clinton and who served as U.S. ambassador to Israel from 1995 to 1997 and from 2000 to 2001.

The other four envoys would be: to Iraq to liaise with the Iraqi government on U.S. troop withdrawal; to Iran to oversee the beginning of dialogue and participate in international discussions on an incentive package; to Afghanistan and Pakistan to stabilize the security situation; and to North Korea to watch over denuclearization and the lifting of international sanctions.

Related articles:
  • Obama's atomic umbrella: U.S. nuclear strike if Iran nukes Israel
  • Nobel Peace Prize winner urges Obama to focus on Middle East
  • In Gulf meet, Gates warns U.S. opponents: Don't test Obama
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Picking up the pieces
    U.S. Jews ponder 'catastrophic' effects of Bernard Madoff affair.
    Adolf Hitler, toddler
    Three-year-old Adolf Hitler finally gets his name on his birthday cake.
      1.   Dennis Ross is the man 03:06  |  Aaron 14/12/08
      2.   Ross! 03:55  |  John 14/12/08
      3.   None of those Previously Involved Should be Nominated 04:26  |  Monitor 14/12/08
      4.   ROSS TAINTED 04:42  |  Arik Silverman 14/12/08
      5.   oh Boy 05:26  |  D. 14/12/08
      6.   IT SHOULD BE A PANEL OF ENVOYS 05:31  |  indrajaya 14/12/08
      7.   Striking when the Iron is Hot 05:59  |  Mark of Lewiston 14/12/08
      8.   hot irons and cold receptions - Mark of Lewiston 06:29  |  Mark Lincoln 14/12/08
      9.   I vote Rashid Khalidi... 06:35  |  BBSNews 14/12/08
      10.   PROBABLY NAMES ARE NOT THE ISSUE HERE 06:42  |  indrajaya 14/12/08
      11.   # 3 EXACTLY! 07:20  |  eric 14/12/08
      12.   Israel needs Netanyahu to stand up to Obama 08:05  |  Motke 14/12/08
      13.   Israel should reclaim territory it has foolishly given away. 08:19  |  Jean Van Daem 14/12/08
      14.   #7, Mark of Lewiston 08:20  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 14/12/08
      15.   I also endorse Rashid Khalidi 09:06  |  D. 14/12/08
      16.   Hey Indrajaya 09:43  |  Magnus K. 14/12/08
      17.   Obama`s Middle East strategy... 11:04  |  Esther 14/12/08
      18.   ONLY Colin Powell would be a credible choice..... 11:22  |  Swiss (Dino) 14/12/08
      19.   #17, Esther, "Obama`s Middle East strategy" 11:29  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 14/12/08
      20.   By the way, if you really wanna have a "team"..... 11:42  |  Swiss (Dino) 14/12/08
      21.   Pyromaniacs to put out the fire 11:44  |  Raymond Deane 14/12/08
      22.   # 18, SWISS (DINO) 12:03  |  indrajaya 14/12/08
      23.   swiss dino report from colin powell`s commander 12:13  |  swisswatch 14/12/08
      24.   swiss dino "no pet horses" 12:14  |  swisswatch 14/12/08
      25.   colin powell had "things to do" notices on his desk 12:20  |  amos 14/12/08
      26.   swiss dino powell did nothing as secretary of state 12:22  |  st gallen 14/12/08
      27.   rashid khalidi would be a great choice as a hamas deputy 12:26  |  zevulun 14/12/08
      28.   better choice 12:27  |  Hilda 14/12/08
      29.   NOT Dennis Ross, please ! 13:45  |  David James Vickery 14/12/08
      30.   OSLO II 13:45  |  Jenny 14/12/08
      31.   The only way peace can succeed is if the arabs want peace!! 13:59  |  Dr Eric 14/12/08
      32.   Army of Envoys:Form or content?. 14:07  |  khairi janbek 14/12/08
      33.   vickery "dennis ross is not liked by the arab world" 14:12  |  zevulun 14/12/08
      34.   What behavior patterns does the usa see in Israel 14:18  |  a voice 14/12/08
      35.   #8 Mark Lincoln.....there are many "realities" 14:38  |  Lynn 14/12/08
      36.   Obama to base his Middle East policy on army of envoys. 14:46  |  Akram Zekaria 14/12/08
      37.   good news if Dennis Ross gets the (top coordinator) job - 14:48  |  ivo 14/12/08
      38.   Cipora #19... then just re-lable the heading: 15:02  |  Esther 14/12/08
      39.   Addendum for Ciipora #19 15:10  |  Esther 14/12/08
      40.   To Dr.Eric. 15:22  |  Magnus K. 14/12/08
      41.   Obama`s chief ME advantage would be to dump the AIPAC 15:36  |  Ivar 14/12/08
      42.   Good Idea! Maybe 15:40  |  Jeff Northridge 14/12/08
      43.   Magnus K. # 38 That Is False 16:09  |  Jeff Northridge 14/12/08
      44.   khalidi 16:14  |  utagawa 14/12/08
      45.   ivar could it be something in the water in estonia 16:30  |  litvak 14/12/08
      46.   Esther and learning `superbly` 16:31  |  x-ray 14/12/08
      47.   Needs to be someone Israel trusts 18:04  |  GZLives 14/12/08
      48.   It would be a mistake 18:27  |  Palestinian 14/12/08
      49.   8 Mark Lincoln 18:29  |  Mark of Lewiston 14/12/08
      50.   Obama a Threat to Israel? 18:31  |  ARTH 14/12/08
      51.   OT: The Coming Death of the Global Warming Theory 19:19  |  Clickfool 14/12/08
      52.   UNSC must issue a binding resolution. Then appoint Khalidi. 19:19  |  Ali Baba 14/12/08
      53.   A RECIPE FOR NO CHANGE 19:42  |  Ian 14/12/08
      54.   khalidi 19:44  |  dan 14/12/08
      55.   Powell Will Not Get The Position 20:01  |  crlman 14/12/08
      56.   you people are missing the point 20:18  |  tad chase 14/12/08
      57.   Palestinian, oh wait, you have spent your money on bomb vests not 20:40  |  jj 14/12/08
      58.   tad chase - not missing the point 20:52  |  Mark Lincoln 14/12/08
      59.   #8 Mark Lincoln, are the ME and American economy seperated? 21:16  |  Mark B. 14/12/08
      60.   What have Ross, Tennet, Rice, Blair achieved? 21:17  |  Fortuna Benmayor 14/12/08
      61.   Hey "jj" 21:26  |  BBSNews 14/12/08
      62.   Finally, A Chance For Equitable Policy....3RD TRY 21:31  |  Gray 14/12/08
      63.   Mark Lincoln 21:44  |  tad chase 14/12/08
      64.   #51 Crlman 22:09  |  janet 14/12/08
      65.   14 Cipora - As the Bushies Engineered 2nd 22:12  |  Mark of Lewiston 14/12/08
      66.   #39, Esther, "he is learning superbly" 23:06  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 14/12/08
      67.   #44 23:08  |  Ahmad Alahmad 14/12/08
      68.   Wrong Move, Correct Move 00:09  |  Shimon Cleopas 15/12/08
      69.   An American Iranian alliance !!??#52tad chase 00:11  |  Samar 15/12/08
      70.   Cipora #55... what a strange question... 00:24  |  Esther 15/12/08
      71.   Ahmad Alahmad # 56 Mediators 00:39  |  Jeff Northridge 15/12/08
      72.   BSNews` vote 00:55  |  SDHD 15/12/08
      73.   Mideast diplomacy under Barak (not the Ehud one) 00:58  |  David R. Zukerman 15/12/08
      74.   Dennis Ross ? 01:07  |  Nezam el Jenini 15/12/08
      75.   Here`s a better idea 01:15  |  Jennifer 15/12/08
      76.   Equitable Policy?....4th TRY {Please post or advise new rules 01:34  |  Gray 15/12/08
      77.   Palestinian re jj 01:39  |  Persian Kitty 15/12/08
      78.   Mangus 4th TRY {Haaretz, Please Post or advise new guidelines 01:40  |  Gray 15/12/08
      79.   # 51 powell is being considered for his "integrity" 02:38  |  eric 15/12/08
      80.   #59, Esther, "there are no ready made leaders" 02:41  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 15/12/08
      81.   Hey "jj" - 2nd try, censors on strike? 04:21  |  BBSNews 15/12/08
      82.   Who would be your ready made leader Cipora? 04:25  |  BBSNews 15/12/08
      83.   Sounds like the "Tower of Babel" not a coherent policy 04:44  |  r 15/12/08
      84.   Don`t be fooled by Ross 05:14  |  Texan 15/12/08
      85.   Newsflash: 05:29  |  Jewish Sharpshooter 15/12/08
      86.   Oh, that`s easy ... (BBSNews, #70) 05:37  |  Morris Valentine 15/12/08
      87.   MV #75 07:11  |  Nemesis 15/12/08
      88.   14 Cipora - Wasn`t THAT the Plan? 07:12  |  Mark of Lewiston 15/12/08
      89.   #75, MV 07:16  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 15/12/08
      90.   Gosh, let`s see now.... 07:20  |  Johnboy 15/12/08
      91.   #77, Mark of Lewiston 07:50  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 15/12/08
      92.   Exactly Johnboy... 08:01  |  BBSNews 15/12/08
      93.   #79, JB, why special envoys do not work 08:05  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 15/12/08
      94.   Cipora#78:"kindness is for those who have nothing to lose" 09:12  |  Esther 15/12/08
      95.   Cipora, In my view, you won big on this entire thread 09:16  |  S 15/12/08
      96.   # 22 indrajaya 09:25  |  Swiss (Dino) 15/12/08
      97.   # 37 ivo 09:31  |  Swiss (Dino) 15/12/08
      98.   #80 Well, that`s a laugh, Cipora..... 09:44  |  Johnboy 15/12/08
      99.   #89, S 10:21  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 15/12/08
      100.   Cipora #99 13:47  |  S 15/12/08
      101.   #84Texan..In A word spot on..Did he not try at the time you.. 14:59  |  Kathy 15/12/08
      102.   #85 Jewish Sharpshooter..Liked you caption and your post. 15:03  |  Kathy 15/12/08
      103.   MEDIATOR 15:46  |  Ahmad Alahmad 15/12/08
      104.   Haaretz where is my post to CJK #99?? 16:49  |  Kathy 15/12/08
      105.   #40 Hey Magnus Just read this,About your Country!!(PART ONE & TWO 21:08  |  Kathy 15/12/08
      106.   Dino #97: you seem to be arguing w/somebody else - 21:23  |  ivo 15/12/08
      107.   #53 Ian A RECIPE FOR NO CHANGE. Ian and you are a 100 %Right! 21:29  |  Kathy 15/12/08
      108.   Dino #97: addendum - 22:08  |  ivo 15/12/08
      109.   #100, S 23:02  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 15/12/08
      110.   # 99 to cipora re: abandonment (2nd try) 01:49  |  eric 16/12/08
      111.   To CJK (#89): Kindness has everything to do with it. 06:22  |  Morris Valentine 16/12/08
      112.   To CJK (#109): Redefining redemption 06:25  |  Morris Valentine 16/12/08
      113.   Cipora #109 09:59  |  S 16/12/08
      114.   91 Cipora - Not a Convincing Argument 08:08  |  Mark of Lewiston 17/12/08
      115.   Mark of Lewiston 23:14  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 17/12/08
     Read & React
    Jurists tell Barak: Don't shell Gaza population centers
    Responses: 226
    Olmert: Qassam attacks require a response, and there will be one
    Responses: 107
    3-year-old Adolf Hitler finally gets his name on his birthday cake
    Responses: 103
    Amira Hass: Hamas expects Israel to foil two-state solution
    Responses: 45
    Barak: Iran could attack the U.S. with a nuclear bomb
    Responses: 67


    More Headlines
    02:18 Knesset speaker, ex-Likud hawk capture top spots in Kadima primary
    01:18 Barak: Iran could attack U.S. with nuclear bomb
    03:21 IAF strikes targets in Gaza in response to Qassam fire
    00:32 Mofaz: Dispute between bus drivers definitely caused fatal Eilat crash
    02:56 Leftist U.S. Jewish group backs conscientious objectors who shun IDF enlistment
    01:55 Report: Jews of Yemen to be relocated following murder
    02:41 Bush shoe-throwing incident spawns viral games on the Web
    02:22 Britain steps up fight against West Bank settlements
    14:06 3-year-old Adolf Hitler finally gets his name on his birthday cake
    13:55 Russia to supply Lebanon with 10 MiG-29 fighter jets
    02:03 Barak to Haaretz: I was hurt by Amos Oz's words
    04:28 Jurists tell Barak: Don't shell Gaza population centers
    17:38 Hamas leader: No truce unless Israel eases Gaza restrictions
    02:07 Largest-ever number of ex-journalists may enter Knesset
    02:48 Government mulling proposal to repair Muslim holy sites
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Summer in Israel
    Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009
    Summer Camp in Israel
    The best place for your children this summer
    Living in Israel Studying in English
    Click & Meet our students from all around the world
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Car rental in Israel
    Shlomo Sixt Receive $15.00 from our low rates.
    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
    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