Interesting positive WP look at Kerry's efforts in the Middle east

[karynnj]

While listing how many problems exist in the world - with many in that region, it suggests that his work could lay the groundwork for a solution when the time is right. Now, while that is far less dramatic than a Middle East peace agreement, it is interesting that it could genuinely help the truly awful situation of the Palestinians.

The initiative could still prove useful, if it is carefully crafted. Encouragingly, Mr. Kerry is beginning with an economic initiative, what he described as “specific steps that we could take to .?.?. expedite the goal of economic growth in the West Bank.” He is talking to Mr. Netanyahu about Mr. Abbas’s objective of prisoner releases and to Mr. Abbas about refraining from further action at the United Nations targeting Israel. He appears to have persuaded Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to postpone a potentially provocative visit to the Gaza Strip.

These measures could serve to ease tensions, make life better for Palestinians and lay the groundwork for a day when serious negotiations about Palestinian statehood will be possible. If that is the aim, Mr. Kerry’s diplomacy could prove worthwhile.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/john-kerrys-efforts-in-middle-east-could-lay-groundwork-for-success/2013/04/12/f46fc08a-a201-11e2-82bc-511538ae90a4_story.html


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What I wonder is IF this is what happens, will it strengthen Kerry's and Obama's credibility with the Arab world -- or will they see small but real improvement as too little, too late. Interesting that this is from the WP editorial board that has never seemed to appreciate John Kerry. (as opposed to HRC or Susan Rice)

[Mass]

1. Interestingly, I have seen articles in all directions when it comes to this issue.

Open Zion, Beinart's blog, has several posts on the trip, with different POV. If anything, OpenZion is the only blog I know who posts each side. This is a sobering view of what needs to be done to bridge the gap between the two sides, though it is interesting to see that the pro-Israeli negative side is from US Republican.

As an aside, I find this blog one of the most complete about the issue. My only regret is that I am not cognizant enough of the topic to know where the truth lies.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/04/04/john-kerry-s-mission-impossible.html

John Kerry's Mission Impossible?
by Hussein Ibish Apr 4, 2013 5:00 PM EDT
Secretary of State John Kerry is heading back to the Middle East this weekend for yet another round of meetings. Following on the heels of President Barack Obama's trip to the region, Kerry has embarked on a campaign of intensive shuttle diplomacy. But the State Department is at pains to stress that he is not yet presenting any new American peace initiative.
Kerry, who has embraced this issue with a heartening degree of enthusiasm, will undoubtedly try to elicit from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas what inducements would get them to consider a return to the negotiating table.

Apart from the fact that he's walking into a situation on the ground that is increasingly volatile—with two Palestinian teenagers recently shot and killed in violent clashes with Israeli occupation forces—there are two structural obstacles facing Kerry in talking about talks with both leaders.
...

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/04/11/kerry-fails-to-jumpstart-talks.html

This week, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry wrapped up a three-day diplomatic trip to Israel and Palestine that he deemed “very constructive." But how constructive will his proposed initiatives really be for Palestinians and their cause of liberation from occupation? The early indications are: not very.
...
Ultimately, no matter how much Kerry “lifts the red tape” hindering commerce in Palestine, Israel still controls the purse strings, trade and movement for the “state” of Palestine. That's why the World Bank and International Monetary Fund say the best thing that could happen for the Palestinian economy would be an end to Israel's occupation. But that's precisely the economic fix that Kerry can't deliver.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/04/11/kerry-squanders-obama-s-good-work-in-israel.html

President Obama staked out key diplomatic positions in Israel’s favor during his pre-Passover visit. If handled properly, they could help form the basis for progress toward Arab-Israeli peace. Unfortunately, Secretary of State John Kerry’s high-profile follow-up shuttle diplomacy is wasting Obama’s work.

Most analysis of Obama’s trip focused on his own “charm offensive” performance and the resulting boost to his lagging approval ratings in both Israel and the pro-Israel community in America. But those analyses miss the bigger picture: from Israel’s perspective, success should be measured less by a fleeting blip in Obama’s poll numbers, and more by the key substantive statements and projection of American-Israeli unity Israel was able to elicit from the President. In that regard, Israel should be thrilled with the results.
...
That is a formidable diplomatic task—perhaps still impossible—requiring effort, shrewdness, advance work and finesse far beyond just shuttling between capitals and showing up for high-visibility meetings. Yet Kerry jumped right in, seemingly more interested in the photo opportunities of his job than the diplomatic opportunities.

Combine that with Kerry’s history of underestimating the malicious intentions of America’s enemies and enemies of our allies—whether Viet Cong, Sandinista or his “dear friend” Bashar Assad—and, predictably, he is off to a rough start.
...
Abraham Katsman is an American attorney and political commentator living in Israel. He serves as Counsel to Republicans Abroad Israel.

The American Prospect has this piece.
http://prospect.org/article/john-kerrys-middle-east-mystery-tour

John Kerry's Middle East Mystery Tour

GERSHOM GORENBERG APRIL 11, 2013
Surprising everyone, the secretary of state really is pushing for Israeli-Palestinian peace.

[karynnj]

2. I don't know who could be considered an expert on the Israeli Palestinian conflict

I have attended various talks at both my NJ synagogue and the Vermont one that I have attended since moving here. I am also influenced by my daughter, who is currently working as a Jewish social advocate in Boston. She is currently involved with groups like Jews for Peace. Like many religious young Jews, she has a problem with the gap between the Jewish values that she learned and strongly believes in -- and what is happening in Israel. A few years ago, I was startled when the word "apartheid" was used to describe the situation experienced by the Palestinians. Looking objectively on their lack of political representation and at the way that they have been allowed only the least valuable land and even then are restricted by the Israelis.

My daughter recently sent me this link that was created by the VT chapter of a group she belongs to. %3Foh%3D3eceebc5219ce2d88e5d1127ab4d461a%26oe%3D516B840D%26__gda__%3D1366057216_944802a33a8cf881abe6d040b33adf4f&fbid=739751420221&message=id.157087471118691&hash=AQBCvztKgf7JO9WI

The fact that the Republican mentions the Sandinistas as if they -- not the Reagan administration's illegal support of right wing thugs tells everything. Strangely, they are praising Obama for the statements that only by Olympic quality spinning could be seen as AIPAC agenda mostly to attack Kerry when his actions are really not public or known. I would also say from today's perspective, Kerry's long shot attempt to get Assad to see that his and Syria's interests lie with cutting ties to Hezbollah and Iran actually speak well for him. Imagine the number of lives saved and the improvement in regional stability had Assad seen that Kerry had a point. Now ask yourselves whether if Kerry knew ahead of time that the chance he could move Assad was 1% - and 99% of the time nothing would come of it other than Republicans (and some Democrats) taking shots at Kerry. IMO. the magnitude of the gain - and the comparative lack of real loss if it failed would make it a shot worth taking -- if a politician were more interested in making a better world. For the Republican, how well did the far greater (and illegal) effort in Central America work out OR how did the neo con dream really fare. In Syria, Obama and Kerry gave Assad NOTHING and gave up NOTHING - it was a gamble that cost just Kerry's time and the time of those supporting him. Peanuts compared to the very unlikely but incredibly important gains had it worked. No matter what happened afterwards, we do not need to ask if there were something we could have done earlier.