By Kevin Peraino and Nuha Musleh
Jerusalem- For Israelis, Obama’s victory was bittersweet. At a number of key moments over the past eight years—including during the second intifada and the 2006 Lebanon war—the Bush Administration stood squarely behind the Jewish state. Despite increasing disillusion with Bush’s “freedom agenda,” many Israelis were unwilling to turn on what they saw as a steadfast ally in the Republican party. “Bush was very good for [Israel],” says Shai Bazak, a former aide to Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu. “I know they don’t like him in the States, but he’s very popular here.” Still, he added, “I don’t think this president is going to change a lot. Israel is the least of his problems.” Reaction in the Israeli press was mixed; at least some government officials grumbled that Obama was an unknown quantity and worried that he might soften the American position toward Iran. For the most part, though, Israelis took the news in stride. “It’s safe to assume that Obama will not abandon Israel,” wrote Aluf Benn in Wednesday’s editions of Israel’s Ha’aretz newspaper.
At a breakfast reception at Jerusalem’s King David Hotel hosted by the American ambassador to Israel, James Cunningham, Israelis stepped over red-white-and-blue balloons and watched on flat-screen televisions as the results came in. One wore a popular pro-McCain t-shirt that made a pun out of the Hebrew words for yes (”ken”) and no (”lo”). It read: “Mc-Ken,” and under it, “Lo-bama.” Other Israeli guests quietly insisted that they were relieved to see the Illinois senator prevail. “I think it’s about time for a change,” said one, requesting anonymity in order to speak freely. Still, he added, “I don’t really think anything’s going to change.” As for Israeli officials, Cunningham says a number have told him in recent weeks that they were “impressed” with Obama during his recent trip to the Middle East.
Palestinians, who have been largely disgusted with Bush’s Middle East policies, were thrilled with the election results. “I’m excited,” says Haider Shafi, who sells coffee at a Bethlehem checkpoint. “All night I listened to the radio. He wants a solution. He’ll definitely help us.” Even as many remained skeptical that an Obama Administration would drastically shift American Mideast policy, some Palestinians couldn’t help getting swept up in the moment. Mahmoud Hassan, a 45-year-old Palestinian laborer, spent three hours waiting at a checkpoint Wednesday morning. “I should be pessimistic about American policies,” he said. “But I’m not.” Still, Palestinians worried about the president-elect’s safety; many are concerned that he could be assassinated. Others speculated that an Obama White House alone would not dramatically re-orient American loyalties. “It’s the Congress that counts,” said Palestinian Mouhamad Salame, as he waited at the Bethlehem checkpoint.
See the full round-up of the world's reaction to the election of Barack Obama.
