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Arab-Israeli conflicts

Bush Administration's Last-Ditch Support for Israel Raises Questions about Obama's Middle East Policy

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Bush administration has come out in strong support of Israel's assault on Hamas, despite growing international calls for a cease-fire, according to a recent report. As President-elect Barack Obama prepares to take the reins, the Israeli military action against Hamas has sparked concerns about whether Obama's administration will adopt a more diplomatic approach to the region. Israeli officials, aware of the uncertainty surrounding Obama's stance, seem to have timed their move against Hamas to coincide with Bush's support, which is set to expire in just eight days.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Bush administration has maintained its eight-year record of unwavering support for Israel, criticizing Hamas for its rocket attacks.
  • Israeli officials, unsure of how President-elect Obama would react, may have timed their assault on Hamas to coincide with Bush's support, which is set to expire on January 20.
  • Mr. Obama has not condemned the Gaza operation, sparking concerns that he may tacitly endorse Israel's actions and the Bush administration's policy.
  • Obama's aides have stated that he has spoken with President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about the situation in Gaza but has not carved out a distinct position.
  • Leading Democrats, including Senators Harry Reid and Dick Durbin, have expressed support for Israel, with Mr. Reid stating that Hamas "has got to be put away."
  • The Israeli defense minister, Ehud Barak, has cited Mr. Obama's July remarks in Sderot, where he implicitly recognized Israel's right to respond militarily.
  • Critics at home and abroad have noted that Mr. Obama's "one president at a time" policy did not prevent him from speaking out against the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, in November.

Statistics:

  • 9 days: The length of time the Bush administration has blamed Hamas for Israel's assault on Qatar.
  • 24 days: The number of days before President Bush's departure from office that Israel launched its assault on Hamas.
  • 27 Dec: The date of Israel's airstrikes on Hamas.
  • 19 Dec: The date Hamas declared an end to an Egyptian-mediated truce with Israel.
  • 1 month: The time period before Mr. Obama's inauguration that Hamas increased rocket attacks from Gaza.

Sources:

  • The New York Times
  • Bob Schieffer of CBS News
  • NBC's Meet the Press
  • Sami G. Hajjar, a longtime scholar of Middle East politics and a visiting professor at the National Defense University
  • Brooke Anderson, chief national security spokeswoman for Mr. Obama
  • Martha Joynt Kumar, a political scientist at Towson University who studies presidential transitions

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