involved in aid programmes to Gaza – especially reconstruction – and
that the new administration of President Barack Obama will continue the
George W. Bush policy of isolating and starving Hamas. That tack is
seen by some as collective punishment of Gazans and a major impediment
to development there.
In terms of the peace process, the challenge is especially
daunting because both a robust U.S. role and Palestinian unity are
viewed as essential to progress.
"The American priority today is restoring American
credibility. The point is restoring the credibility that what the U.S.
does actually has an impact," said Robert Malley, a former high-level
Mideast adviser to Pres. Bill Clinton, now with the International
Crisis Group (ICG).
"We have to recognise the collective failure of our approach –
U.S., Israeli, Palestinian, Arab – towards the question of Hamas and
the question of Gaza," said Malley, insisting that didn't necessarily
entail engagement with Hamas but rather "a more nuanced pragmatic
position".
Speaking at the forum last week on how the U.S. administration
should handle the Middle East, Malley said that Gaza reconstruction –
"a massive effort to help the people of Gaza" – could be a way to
accomplish that ahead of what Washington pledged will be a strong,
renewed U.S. focus on the peace process.
