Bin Laden Killing Gives Obama New Chance in Mideast
Instead of giving tasks to Netanyahu and Abbas, who will just run away from responsibility and blame each other, Obama should make clear to the people of the Middle East what the values are that America represents. Concentrated in one word, simply, "freedom."
Barack Obama has promised to give a speech on his Middle East policies in the coming weeks and present his updated approach to an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. The assassination of Osama bin Laden gives Obama new credibility and increases expectations of him at a time when positions in the Middle East are becoming more extreme. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is reconciling with Hamas, the Israeli right is removing the mask of political correctness and is calling for the annexation of the West Bank to Israel. The parties are raising the stakes, challenging the new gun-slinger Obama to decide between them.