Obama announces new US policy toward Middle East

U.S. President Barack Obama`s announcement of a new policy toward the Middle East Thursday in Washington is expected to exercise a significant impact on peace in the region.

According to the transcript of his speech released Wednesday, he will present a massive assistance plan comparable to the Marshall Plan after World War II. The key is America’s commitment to continuous economic support to facilitate democracy in the Middle East.

This is the comprehensive U.S. vision to lay the groundwork for democracy in the Middle East by helping the economic development of countries in the region, where public aspiration for democracy is rising.

Opinions will be mixed, however, as Obama is unlikely to take a concrete stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

○ 2 billion dollars in economic aid to Egypt

The highlight of Obama’s speech is economic support to Egypt. One billion dollars worth of Egypt’s debt to the U.S. will be forgiven over the long term and the International Monetary Fund will lend another billion dollars to the Mideast country to expand its economic infrastructure and cut unemployment.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said the assistance to Egypt is to show the world the possibility of democracy taking root through economic modernization.

In addition, Obama will cooperate with the EU to devise measures for the economic development of the Middle East. The U.S. intends to help any Mideast country pursue economic growth through political and social reform.

In the wake of the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama Obama bin Laden by American forces, Obama will also declare the U.S. commitment to democracy and the improvement of human rights in the Middle East.

○ Lukewarm in resolving Israeli-Palestinian conflict

On his failure to mention the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, The New York Times asked what he can say to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who will visit Washington the day after Obama`s speech. Netanyahu is in hot water as the U.N. is urging Israel to make concessions to the Palestinians.

The daily also said the Palestinians are disappointed at the U.S. as Washington has remained lukewarm in breaking the stalemate in the Mideast peace process since Obama`s 2009 speech on America’s relationship with the Muslim world in Cairo.

His latest speech is also unlikely to ease anti-American sentiment in the Arab world. The British daily Guardian said Islamic extremists are outraged at the U.S. for the killing of bin Laden while pro-democracy forces in the region are angry because of Washington`s lack of clear action against Syria for violent suppression of pro-democracy protests.

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