The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continues today as Israeli forces evacuate the Gaza Strip in time for U.S. President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration.
MSNBC’s Richard Engel said yesterday on the Rachel Maddow Show that Israel’s troop withdrawal was carefully orchestrated.
“Israel had a window to operate with the final days of the Bush administration. The timing of this was never a coincidence. And as we talked about before, also the media plan that Israel put into effect was also very well studied. They knew that eventually reporters would get in; they started to allow journalists to enter the Gaza strip just this weekend and it was also assumed that by the time there was a massive amount of media coverage in Gaza that news organizations would have already moved on, people would be covering events where you are in D.C. and there wouldn’t be anything to talk about.” (MSNBC)
Reporters in the Associated Press’s Jerusalem bureau noted the Israeli withdrawal as an expression of goodwill towards the incoming president in an effort to ease his administration’s transition.
“By getting its soldiers out before the Obama inauguration, Israel would spare the new administration the trouble of having to deal immediately with a burning problem in Gaza. Obama has said Mideast peace will be a priority for his administration.” (AP)
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz took one pessimistic view of Obama’s impending presidency. In an opinion editorial, it recalled past hopes for peace between the Israelis and Palestinians and the failed history of American intervention.
“Unfortunately, Israelis and Palestinians will watch the swearing-in ceremony of Obama with a growing sense of, ‘No we can’t’ and ‘Change: We don't believe in it.’” (Haaretz)
While the world looks ahead to the new president, the Jerusalem Post thanked outgoing President George W. Bush for creating a more stable Middle East.
“Europeans, who are much closer to possible crisis zones, will have to be grateful for the American presence in this geographical and political heartland of the Middle East. The credit for the West's wholly transformed strategic position in that region must go to President George W. Bush. Thank you, Mr. President.” (Jerusalem Post)
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