On the other hand, denunciation of settlements, recitation of the “history” of Palestinian suffering (almost all, by the way, self-inflicted), and the grievances of the Arab world against the West all drew wild, enthusiastic applause.
In media-speak, Obama showed great courage in going to Cairo and even giving a speech in which he did, on occasion, challenge his audience to re-think some of their prejudices. But that really seems to be more a matter of drama than courage (which involves the risk of some personal sacrifice), and Obama is an individual who loves a stage and knows how to perform on it.
Real courage would have required him to challenge the audience on their silent reaction to crucial parts of his speech, rather than just move on to the next paragraph.
Real courage would have led Obama to challenge Mubarak on his authoritarian rule and suppression of dissent, much like Condoleezza Rice did in 2005 in Egypt.
Real courage would have inspired Obama to call on the Arab world to join America in arresting Iran’s nuclear program by any means necessary.
Real courage would have compelled Obama to tell the Arab world that Israel is a reality, that it unreasonable to expect any further Israeli concessions when past surrenders have sowed the seeds of future conflict, that it is senseless to further carve up the one small Jewish island in the Arab-Muslim ocean of 22 states in order to create an irredentist, 23rd Arab state, and that the Arabs now dwelling in the Land of Israel should find their nationalistic aspirations elsewhere if they are unhappy in Israel. (Actually, courage of that sort would be welcome in an Israeli prime minister as well.)
Therein lies the confrontation ahead. Obama has paskened the solution to the conflict. It is up to the Israelis to say “No, that has not worked in the past, and there is not a shred of evidence that it will work in the future. We will not betray our heritage and endanger our existence based on your fantasies.”
They will need the strength and political support of American Jews – 80 percent of whom are Obama supporters – to inundate the White House and their congressmen with their concerns and expectations, taking nothing for granted and rallying in support for the right of Jews to settle anywhere in the land of Israel and for a strong hand to be raised against any hint of terror.
If that happens, Obama’s Cairo speech will assume its proper place with other dramatic Obama addresses – rhetorical flourishes, symbols without substance – until this moment passes and strong leadership arises that can address problems in the real world rather than the world of our illusions. In the meantime, we will have to show fortitude, tenacity and real courage.