Barack Obama has worked hard in the last few years to convince the Jewish population he is fully behind Israel's right to exist. But is he really sincere? One Palestinian American, Ali Abunimah, who has known Obama for nearly ten years, believes he has turned his back on the Palestinian cause in order to get elected. He said Obama once apologized to him for not being able to be more up front about Palestine the last time he saw him!
In a March 4, 2007 opinion piece written by Ali Abunimah, co-founder of the Electronic Intifada, a pro Palestinian website, he lamented about Obama's about-face on the Palestinian cause:
"I first met Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama almost ten years ago when, as my representative in the Illinois state senate, he came to speak at the University of Chicago.
....Over the years since I first saw Obama speak I met him about half a dozen times, often at Palestinian and Arab-American community events in Chicago including a May 1998 community fundraiser at which Edward Said was the keynote speaker (pictured below). In 2000, when Obama unsuccessfully ran for Congress I heard him speak at a campaign fundraiser---Obama was forthright in his criticism of US policy and his call for an even-handed approach to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
The last time I spoke to Obama was in the winter of 2004---As he came in from the cold and took off his coat, I went up to greet him. He responded warmly, and volunteered, "Hey, I'm sorry I haven't said more about Palestine right now, but we are in a tough primary race. I'm hoping when things calm down I can be more up front." He referred to my activism, including columns I was contributing to the The Chicago Tribune critical of Israeli and US policy, "Keep up the good work!"...
According to Campus Watch, if the United States was caught unaware on 9/11, Edward Said's name belongs high on the list of those responsible. I have no idea if they are too extreme here in their views, but it worth noting. More research is needed to dispell or confirm their statement.
Are you paying attention?
Interview with Ali Abunimah who said Obama opposed the Israeli occupation!
