Jordan Times
Friday, January 23, 2009
Jordanians hopeful over Obama
peace quest
By Taylor Luck
AMMAN - With little over a day into his term as US president, Jordanians have
tempered optimism over Barak Obama’s ability to effect “change” in the region.
In light of his calls to His Majesty King Abdullah and Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas and pledges to work for a “durable peace”, average citizens and
political analysts expressed hope for a renewed and effective US commitment to
the peace process.
Amman bus driver Mohammad Khader said he liked the way the president conducted
himself since assuming office.
“He called Abbas right after he became president. [Former president] Bush
wouldn’t have anything to do with Arafat and refused to talk to Hamas. This is a
step in the right direction,” Khader told The Jordan Times.
Seventy-year-old Um Huda said shortly after viewing Obama’s inauguration on
Tuesday that she believed Obama was sincere in his vow for a new dialogue with
the Muslim world.
“This is the first time I feel a president is talking to Arabs and not down to
them,” the great-grandmother of 11 said.
Ahmad Abu Khokha, 28, who left his home country of Egypt for better job
opportunities in Jordan, said he was concerned mostly with Obama’s ability to
effect change not only the economic situation in the US, but across the world.
“We are suffering each day, I watch my wages disappear before I even get them.
Can Obama really extend his hand to us and lift us up?” he asked, quoting
inaugural address where Obama pledged to work with the developing world to help
“farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed
hungry minds”.
Forty-year-old Amman taxi driver, Ayed Shabaan, said he has listened to Obama’s
statements carefully and expressed hope that the incoming president will work
with others when formulating foreign policy.
“I think he has great ideas, but he should consult others unlike the last
president. Will Congress be able to stand up to him if he wants to go to war?”
Zarqa engineer Mohammad Nassaf said he would hold judgement on the new US
administration until substantial efforts are made towards resolving the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“I want to see how he does on the peace process. I want him to talk to all
parties, including Hamas,” he noted.
Ahmad Rumhee, a self-proclaimed supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood, was
sceptical of the 44th president’s ability to work towards peace in the region.
“How can he be silent on Gaza? He has not mentioned the suffering of the
Palestinians or the Israeli occupation once, which is a mistake, as it will play
a central part to his presidency,” he warned.
MP Nassar Qeisi (Amman, 6th District) said that after travelling to the US and
meeting with the Obama campaign last fall, he is convinced of the new
president’s commitment to the peace process.
“I am very optimistic of his presidency and I hope and I believe that he will do
good things for Islamic countries and for Middle East and Jordan,” Qeisi told
The Jordan Times.
“Obama’s main themes this entire time have been three phrases: Hope, change and
yes we can. This has mobilised people who are ready to make good changes inside
and outside the US,” he noted.
The lawmaker pointed out that Arab countries will also need to play a role in
order to assist in bettering the region.
“It is our job that people and governments do our best to present the Middle
East, our aspirations and the case of Palestinians, which can only be solved by
the two-state solution with Jerusalem as the Palestinian state’s capital,” he
said.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Islamic Action Front (IAF) Secretary
General Zaki Bani Rsheid welcomed the new Obama administration, but stressed
that dialogue was needed with all parties in the region.
“The shortest way to realise change in the region is openness and dialogue with
political powers that represent people in the Arab and Muslim worlds,” he said,
noting that the previous administration “did not accept Palestinians’ democratic
choice” and refused to establish dialogue with Hamas.
In addition to wishing the president well on his “endeavour”, the IAF called on
Obama to live up to his promise of “change” for the region.
Fares Breizat, political analyst at University of Jordan’s Centre for Strategic
Studies, said that though the immediate phone calls to Abbas and King Abdullah
were a good sign, it has yet to be seen whether Arab leaders will play a greater
role in US policy in the region.
“I think Obama will definitely be listening to leaders in the region such as His
Majesty the King, Abbas and [Egyptian President] Mubarak, but will the talk
actually be translated on the ground?” he pointed out.
Breizat said that while former US president George W. Bush used democratisation
as a policy, he expected Obama not to actively pursue democratisation of the
region, adding that hopes towards the US stance on the peace process should be
tempered.
“Realities on the ground will not allow Obama to change US policy on the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” he said, adding that US public opinion does not
favour dialogue with Hamas.
“Policy outcome will not be significantly different than the previous US
administrations towards Israel and Palestine,” he said.
Qeisi added that although public opinion of Obama may be favourable, and there
are high hopes for administration, Jordanians should be realistic.
“He needs time. I honestly believe he will do his best, but he can’t do
everything on his own. We need to cooperate with him to make these changes
possible,” he said.
Despite the doubts and calls for patience, Um Huda, meanwhile, said she is
excited about the incoming president’s message.
“He said we can choose hope over fear. How beautiful is that!” she said.