Syrian Effect

The Obama administration is looking to take a different route with their foreign policy concerning the Middle East. The new route will try to cover three major issues in that area, the nuclear threat from Iran, the bitter relations between Syria and Israel and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. Starting with the nuclear threat that is emanating from Iran, the Obama administration in hoping to open direct negotiations with Tehran concerning their nuclear program, which has been reported to have enough enriched uranium to produce a bomb. However, the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, doesn’t seem too optimistic about the Untied States chances of successfully opening these negotiations. Apparently madam secretary was heard express concern that Iran wouldn’t reacted positively to the negotiations during a trip to the Middle East this week.

American officials privately say an overture to Iran could pay off, no matter how it reacts. A positive response would be a breakthrough, while a rebuff could put Tehran on the defensive, potentially undermining the posturing of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at home and encouraging America’s allies to intensify sanctions against the government.

During her trip Mrs. Clinton has also stated that the US is ready to start improving its relations with Syria. The reasons behind the decision to reopen diplomatic ties, which had been severed when the assassination of a former Lebanese prime minister, Rafik Hariri occurred, believing the Syrians to be involved. However, the political field is ripe for a new round of diplomatic relations,

“We’ve got a Syrian government that wants to engage,” said Martin S. Indyk, a former ambassador to Israel and a peace negotiator in the Clinton administration. “We’re likely to get an Israeli government that will find it easier to engage with Syria than with the Palestinians.”

America is not the only country seeking to mend ties with Syria; Israel has also announced that they are in negotiations for a comprehensive peace treaty using Turkish mediators; this peace treaty could lead to Israel returning the Golan Heights that they won in the 1967 war. If America can reestablish ties with Syria then they could control the situation in the Middle East by using the huge influence that Syria has over that area, especially in the situation with Iran, who has strong ties with Syria. The reason for Mrs. Clinton’s trip to the Middle East was to visit Israel and announce the Obama administration’s stance on the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Obama’s policy is that he supports the idea of building a separate state of Palestine right alongside the state of Israel. This view was expressed during Mrs. Clinton’s visit there, she also criticize Israel’s plans for demolishing Palestinian homes in eastern Jerusalem saying the orders were “unhelpful” in the peace process. She also fought for the Gaza border opening in order to ensure that humanitarian aid gets to the people of the war torn Gaza strip.

“We have obviously expressed concern about the border crossing,” Mrs. Clinton said after a meeting with the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas. “We want humanitarian aid to get into Gaza in sufficient amounts to help alleviate the suffering of the people in Gaza.”