President Barack Obama began his speech by noting that too much was expected from it.
He spoke for close to an hour. He devoted about seven minutes to Israel and Palestine. Most of that portion attacked those who denied the Holocaust and Israel's legitimacy, criticized Palestinian violence, and said that Palestinians must learn to govern themselves in a way to serve their people rather than raise false promises. He said that Israel must be more forthcoming with respect to the opportunities provided to the people of Gaza and the West Bank, and must stop settling. He did not talk about withdrawing settlements.
The president praised the humanitarian doctrines of Islam, but the great bulk of the speech was devoted to telling his audience in Cairo about the faults of Muslim countries. He emphasized the benefits of democracy and religious tolerance, and cited the plight of the Copts in Egypt. He criticized Muslim governments for fanning the hatred of Israel as distractions from not attending to problems at home. He condemned Iran's efforts to create nuclear weapons. He cited the problems of women as one of the barriers to justice and economic development.
The Jerusalem Post headlined the speech as an "unclenched fist to Muslims." It emphasized the better side of Islam, but asserted that America would continue to battle hateful and aggressive Muslims.
Except for a few sentences, it was a speech that Bibi Netanyahu or Avigdor Lieberman could have written and delivered. If they gave a speech like that, however, they would be accused of arrogant imbalance, and insulting the audience in an Arab university.
Immediate Israeli reactions differed, as expected, according to political affiliation. One right wing MK emphasized Obama's middle name (Hussein), and said that he crossed a red line by departing from America's traditional commitment to Israel. Another said, "The government of Israel is not America's lackey. The relations with the Americans are based on friendship and not submission." A left wing Jewish MK called on Netanyahu to change course, take advantage of the Obama opening, and negotiate seriously with the Palestinians. An Arab MK said it was a good speech, but that there was no Israeli partner to implement it.
The idea of the speech, rather than its content, provoked these comments. Those quoted soon after its delivery did not cite items to praise or criticize, but emphasized what they perceived or expected.
Osama bin Laden expressed his criticism a day before Obama reached Cairo. Bin Laden condemned the president's travel to the Arab region, and said that it was a continuation of military intervention. He would continue to fight against western evils.
So far the wisest comment about the speech was the president's own. By itself it will not change things. He focused on seven topics, one of which concerned Israel and Palestine. Others were his condemnation of violent extremism and Iran's nuclear aspirations, the benefits of democracy, religious freedom, women's rights, economic development and opportunity.
If Obama can help to produce significant progress on any one these points, his presidency will be a success.
No one can fairly claim that the speech focused on Israel and Palestine, or any one of its other topics. The strength of the speech lies in its breadth and ideals. It is a piece with the president's personal story, and his political career. Promise was the secret of his presidential campaign, and what he offered to the Middle East in this speech.
The breadth of the president's aspirations also represent his vulnerability. So far his presidency has combined promise and pragmatism. Balance between the two can make him great. The downside is that many who hear promises in his words will be disappointed.
This speech was fair and sensitive. No one should risk a prediction of what, if anything, will come of it.
I welcome comments sent to my e-mail address, below.
Ira Sharkansky (Emeritus)
Department of Political Science
Hebrew University
Jerusalem, Israel
Tel: +972-2-532-2725
email: msira@mscc.huji.ac.il