Addustour, Jordan
Obama Between the New York
Mosque and the Arab Street
By Aaidah An-Najjaar
Translated By Umar Seekdaur
17 August 2010
Edited by Hoishan Chan
Jordan - Addustour - Original Article (Arabic)
It seems that President Obama has, at this point, definitely lost the trust of Arabs as well as Muslims gained over the last year after reaching the height of popularity following his famous Cairo speech. That was after he had reassured the Arabs that he was "a different kind of U.S. President.” For a year, the press competed to analyze and comment on the new stance taken by the new president. The people were pleased by his speech because of the stand he took towards Muslims and the Palestinian issue, giving rise to hopes that he was indeed the "awaited American President" who will liberate the Palestinians.
It was not only the common people who were impressed by Obama, but also the Arabs and Muslims who understood politics and diplomacy. They pondered every sentence, and they read what he said about freezing settlement construction which he considered illegal, in addition to his enthusiasm for the creation of a Palestinian state — something for which he has repeatedly expressed his desire. He moved the Muslim world when he stated that "Islam is a part of America.” By saying this, he distanced himself from equating Islam with terrorism, which his predecessor did. Sadly, Obama was not able to maintain his appeal to the Arabs, especially the Palestinians, as shown by continuous public polls conducted by research centers and the media. After one year in office, Obama has been the subject of a wave of criticisms by Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims alike because he did not translate his words into deeds, which shows that the man "cannot": he made no progress regarding the creation of a Palestinian state. Besides, new issues have emerged, such as the Iran dossier. This scares Israel, which is in turn pressing Obama to go to war with Iran, in line with what it sees as suitably serving their mutual interests.
Today, it is clear that Obama's stance cannot be pursued to please the Palestinians because he is "not dear enough" to Israel for it to give up its settlement policy or to recognize the Palestinians' right to an independent state. What made matters worse is that by rejecting the Goldstone Report on Israeli war crimes in Gaza, he contradicted all that he had previously said. By this he has confirmed that he does not support, either openly or secretly, the Arabs' right to self-defense and resistance against the occupation, and acts as if he is a partner to Netanyahu’s settlement policy. For these and other reasons, Obama's popularity has declined among the Arabs and Muslims.
Obama and his advisers are aware of these facts and they are working toward rebuilding trust between the U.S. president and the Arabs through several means. Perhaps he is "fortunate" because this bad relationship with the Muslims coincides with their decision to build a mosque near ground zero in New York. Apparently, the speech he gave "for Muslims" at the White House iftar — the meal breaking the day's fast — strengthened his determination when he remembered the positive emotions evoked by the Cairo speech in his favor. In his speech, he pointed out that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion like any other U.S. citizen. However, the reaction of most Americans indicates their rejection of Obama’s defense of this right, which explains the resentment of Republicans and conservatives toward the mosque scheduled to be built in New York.
This also coincides with discussions among the parties concerned over direct and indirect talks, a deliberately time-consuming strategy on the part of Israel, which is averse to peace in the first place. It is proceeding unfazed with the construction of housing and the mass movement of Jews into Jerusalem, killing children and tampering with geographical borders and historical facts right before the eyes of the world, with Obama at the head. Meanwhile, the U.S. president is insisting, through [U.S. Special Envoy to Middle East Peace George] Mitchell, on direct talks in the hope that he brings back to mind his adoption of the idea of a Palestinian state in an attempt to regain his popularity and trust on Arab streets.
However, in spite of these attempts, the Arab media still does not have much faith in his words, although he is stirring Muslim feelings in the U.S. around the construction of the mosque. In such circumstances, the White House normally launches a media-based propaganda campaign to seize opportunities. There is no doubt that, instead of launching a propaganda campaign for Obama, the time is now ripe for pressing Israel to abide by international laws and to fully recognize the Palestinians' right to build an independent state on Palestinian land. Obama should also prevent Israel from its continued seizure of Palestinian lands in order to regain his popularity on the Arab streets and not just in the U.S. media, which is perhaps deceiving due to the influence exerted by Zionists.
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August 31st, 2010 at 11:42 pm
Obama, in present politically Zionists influenced America, cannot act as he had envisioned. Blaming by the Muslims might harden the public opinion against Islam. Why can’t Islam outweigh Zionism and build a much stronger lobby there? Islam’s presentation is most awkwardly tainted for its current placement outside of the global mainstream. Except in isolated Malaysia and Turkey, the entire Muslim world is mired in autocracy and corruption. Islam claims to be a blessing to the world, aided by the heavens. The picture appears to negate it. Islamic Shari’s, while a boon is widely considered a primitive and obscure practice. The Shar’ia is nowhere in practice. Saudi model is the very negation of Sharpie’s intent. Shari’s begins by completely forgiving the society for its wrongdoings at its start up. The Prophet didn’t enforce it after he freed Mecca. What is more stunning is that the Qur’an pardoned the entire antagonism of its enemies. Islam clearly, needs complete revamping and a renaissance. The issue of the Mosque in New York has little to do with Islam. The Grand Mosques in Mecca and Medina are surrounded by profiteers, who go all out in the sacred month of Ramadan to triple the rents and raise prices of commodities. Zionists, in comparison, have built their lobby on giving America more than anyone else. Islam has even much more to offer to Americans. Islamic Shar’ia begins by multiplying charity in the love of God by 700 times (70,000 per cent). By this it blights usury. A simple prayer such as this can solve America’s unemployment problem in a jiffy: “O God make lawful earnings sufficient for me over the wrong and make me self-sufficient out of Thine own means.” Islam’s teachings are reinforced by prayers. God declares in the Qur’an: “There is no living creature on earth but that God “OWES” it its sustenance. One wonders why the great American Universities have not taken notice of such statements. Islam first gives plentiful and then asks for spending out of it with a firm commitment of returning it with multiplies. LET ME OFFER A PLAUSIBLE OPTION TO THE JEWS. ISRAEL IS UNDER A DARK CLOUD FROM THE HEAVENS. Its foundation was laid by David Ben Gurion by outright rejecting God. “God,” he said, “had done too little to deserve affirmation of faith at the founding ceremony.” Faith was affirmed in the name of “Rock of Israel.” Islam has been most kind and compassionate to the Jews. After Omayyad Spain, the Ottomans rescued them from Spanish oppression by sending ships to bring them to the Empire. Let us suppose a calamity hits the Zionists from the heavens. Who would rescue the innocent and honest Israeli Jews? The entire history of Jews is filled with: “And they did evil in the sight of God.” Israel’s creation seems no less evil than the incident of the “Golden Calf.” I am an old person in my eighties and can only highlight the values and virtues of Islam, adding that it is the greatest blessing on earth. I have offered plausible options to President Obama for solving the Palestine conundrum more amicably than expected by the either party in the conflict.