Thomas Friedman: "Obama comes to Israel as a tourist"

U.S. President Barack Obama, has no business in Israel. There is nothing expected to come out of his visit. In fact, "Obama may be the first incumbent President visiting Israel as a tourist," writes columnist Thomas Friedman this morning in the New York Times.

"It's hard to imagine an American president's visit that so little is expected of it, not only because it's almost impossible to get anything out of it, but because of the narrow viewpoint of the U.S., one doesn't have to achieve anything by it," says Friedman.

He adds: "Quietly, without anyone announcing it, dealing with the Israeli - Palestinian conflict has changed from a necessity to a hobby in American diplomats' eyes. Like any hobby – from building model airplanes to knitting sweaters - some days you feel like dealing with it, and other days not. It depends on the mood. But usually it does not matter if the one knitting has finished knitting the sweater. Obama worked on his hobby at the beginning of his first term. He got stuck after both sides rejected his efforts, therefore he decided, rightly in my opinion, to ignore the problem, and no one noticed."

The columnist notes that the change in the U.S. position towards the conflict is due to several structural factors. The Middle East is no longer the focus of a heated dispute between the superpowers, as was, for example, during the Yom Kippur War in October 1973. Moreover, the discovery of massive quantities of oil and gas in the U.S., Canada and Mexico turns North America into the new Saudi Arabia. Then who needs the old Saudi Arabia?

While the United States continues to import oil from the Middle East, it will not fall victim again to an Arab oil boycott because of anger at position towards the Palestinians, writes Friedman. In contrast, China and India are a different story. To them, the focus on the Middle East becomes a necessity rather than a hobby. Both are heavily dependent on oil and gas from the Middle East. Those who need to promote peace between Israel and the Palestinians (or between Sunnis and Shiites) are actually the Foreign Ministers of China and India.

While solving the Israeli - Palestinian conflict is still important to strengthen the stability of the region, the conflict which undermines stability in the Middle East is a civil war between Shiites and Sunnis which rocks Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain and Yemen. "It would be good if a Palestinian state living in peace with Israel would be established, but the main issue on the agenda now is whether there will be a Syrian, a Libyan and Egyptian state," writes columnist.

Besides, while the need for the U.S. to push an Israeli - Palestinian peace has never been smaller, the obstacles to such peace had never been higher: Israel planted 300 thousand settlers in the West Bank and Hamas' rockets significantly eroded the willingness of the silent majority in Israel to withdraw, for one tiny rocket from the West can close the Ben Gurion Airport.

Because of all these reasons, Obama could be the first incumbent President who is visiting Israel as a tourist, but this is not good news for Israel, adds Friedman. While the U.S. has less reason to take risks to promote peace between Israel and the Palestinians, Israel itself has a very good reason to do so: the status-quo may be tolerated now for Israel, but it is not healthy. The continuation of the status-quo means more settlements and the annexation of the West Bank quietly. "So, I think the most important thing that Obama could do on his visit to Israel is to ask any Israeli officer with whom he will meet the following questions:

"Please tell me how the relentless drive for settlements in Israel will not end with the assimilation of the West Bank, a situation that would prompt Israel to dominate 2.5 million Palestinians in the colonial administration, which will only harm Israel's status as a democracy and deny it legitimacy to the global community?

"I understand why the Palestinian functioning failed and awakening in the Arab world worries you, but still. Do you not need to search again and again if there is co-Palestinian peace partner? After all, you have an interest in to deliver a Palestinian state which would be a modern, multi-religious pro - Western, a different model than the model of the Muslim Brotherhood which exist around you.... As a friend, I want to know one thing: What is your long-term strategy? Do you actually have one like that? ".

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!