Obama Mideast Monitor  

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DNI, Blair; CIA Director, leon Panetta

Obama at last named his top intelligence officials: Dennis Blair as Director of National Intelligence as expected; Leon Panetta--Clinton's Chief of Staff and a member of the 9/11 Commission--his surprise choice to head the CIA.

By Steve Rosen  |  Mon, 5 Jan 2009 at 3:37 PM  |  Permalink

Dennis Ross: Hamas cannot be allowed to rebuild

Dennis Ross said the United States should back a cease-fire in Gaza only if it ensures that Hamas "can't rebuild."

By Steve Rosen  |  Mon, 5 Jan 2009 at 1:32 PM  |  Permalink

Ross, Kurtzer, and Indyk: decisions soon?

Obama's Mideast team will be named soon, if the rumor mill and precedent are to be believed. We should have the names for the top five

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By Steve Rosen  |  Fri, 2 Jan 2009 at 10:05 AM  |  Permalink

Top Obama aide defends Israeli action in Gaza

David Axelrod, a senior Obama adviser, reminded CBS' Face the Nation on Sunday that Obama said in July "that when the bombs are raining down on your citizens, there is an urge to respond and act and try and put an end to that. You know, that's what he said then, and I think that's what he believes...He is going to work closely with the Israelis. They're a great ally of ours, the most important ally in the region. And that is a fundamental principle from which he'll work...The president-elect recognizes the special relationship between the United States and Israel...It's an important bond, an important relationship. He's going to honor it. And he wants to be a constructive force in helping to bring about the peace and security that both the Israelis and the Palestinians want and deserve. And obviously, this situation has become even more complicated in the last couple of days and weeks as Hamas began its shelling and Israel responded."

By Steve Rosen  |  Tue, 30 Dec 2008 at 12:46 PM  |  Permalink

J Street says US and Quartet should restrain Israel; but Meretz supports strike

Ha'aretz says, "The left-wing Meretz party on Thursday issued a rare call for military action against Hamas in order to bring an end to cross-border attacks on Israel by Gaza militants." Meretz said, "The time has come to act without compromise and without narrow political considerations to protect the residents of Gaza-area communities and Sderot...Strike Hamas in a targeted manner and work for a new cease-fire." But J Street called for superpower intervention to restrain Israel. "Today's IDF strikes will deepen the cycle of violence in the region...We call for immediate, strong diplomatic intervention by the United States, the Quartet and allies in the region."

By Steve Rosen  |  Sat, 27 Dec 2008 at 5:29 PM  |  Permalink

Shimon Peres: Obama should wait for Iran election

Israeli President Shimon Peres reportedly told Japanese media that Obama should wait until after Iran's June 10 presidential vote, before launching his attempt at a "Grand Bargain." That's not Howard Berman's view, nor mine.

By Steve Rosen  |  Fri, 26 Dec 2008 at 1:41 PM  |  Permalink

More left-wing criticism of Dennis Ross

Time correspondent Scott MacLeod argues at length that Dan Kurtzer is a better choice as special envoy or "Middle East guru", because Dennis Ross is "too tolerant of Israeli overreaching" while Kurtzer "understands that...the U.S. must engage in demonstrably even-handed diplomacy."

By Steve Rosen  |  Fri, 26 Dec 2008 at 11:15 AM  |  Permalink

Obama team meets with Jewish groups

The Obama transition team met with a wide variety of 29 Jewish groups spanning the ideological spectrum from Peace Now to ZOA, on December 18. The transition aides attending included Jim Messina, Michael Strautmanis, Tonya Robinson, Eric Lynn, Dan Shapiro and Tom Perez.

By Steve Rosen  |  Wed, 24 Dec 2008 at 10:14 AM  |  Permalink

Berman to Obama: give Iran deadline

Rep. Howard Berman, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is urging Obama to accelerate talks with Iran and give them a three month deadline. "...You cannot let dialogue become a trap that goes on and on...

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By Steve Rosen  |  Wed, 24 Dec 2008 at 8:49 AM  |  Permalink

Blinken confirmed; Burns to stay?

Tony Blinken will be national security adviser to Biden. And the Post is reporting that Bill Burns will be asked to stay on as Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, the #3 job. Wendy Sherman will be counselor to Clinton.

By Steve Rosen  |  Wed, 24 Dec 2008 at 8:39 AM  |  Permalink

Obama Mideast Monitor Archive

Sent comments and tips about the new administration's personnel and policy developments to rosen@meforum.org