What are the consequences for US Middle East policy and diplomacy at the United Nations? Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke to a joint session of the US Congress, an honor reserved only for the most important of allies. Netanyahu was credited with more than 20 moments of standing ovation before Senators and Representatives. Does this mean that President Obama’s Middle East policy only outlined last week in a speech at the US State Department has to be rewritten? Obama More Likely to Receive Better Reception before Israeli Knesset? President Obama is probably more likely to receive a better reception before the Israeli Knesset than PM Netanyahu. (Note the reception that President Obama receives before UK Parliament as compared to PM Cameron). Such receptions are frequently symbolically linked to broader ties with the other country. A Parliamentarian/Congress person can also more unreservedly endorse with applause and broad statements a foreign ally than a domestic political opponent. In applauding PM Netanyahu of course some/most US Congress persons were appealing to a significant domestic base for votes and contributions. Although perhaps not in same manner and degree, similar reception and probably motive could be witnessed in Irish, Indian, etc political leaders speaking to the US Congress. It is more intensified in the US, a unique multi-ethnic country where so many people do trace and share some level of support/allegiance to their roots – country of origin. After all, I’m an example of that having worked for/supported Bosnia & Herzegovina interests on Capital Hill and US Government as Ambassador/Foreign Minister and now, (while I’m also a loyal US citizen). Rather than see it as a weakness for America, it is more an asset by which mutual democratic, political, economic and social values and interests are promoted. Rather than choosing which allegiance, most see this as an opportunity to make such complementary. The response Netanyahu received before the US Congress went beyond the symbolic though. On many of the occasions that Netanyahu received a standing ovation, he was staking strong negotiating positions not complementary to that set out by the US President and State Department as well as almost all US allies within NATO, Europe as well as the Middle East. The Palestinians were particularly dismayed because they felt undermined by the US as pivotal mediator even before the negotiations could start. Palestinians Likely to Start looking Beyond US and to Other Options The impact of PM Netanyahu’s address to the US Congress is more than symbolic. It will probably discourage the Palestinians from looking to a US mediated route. The US will lose further credibility among European and other allies when it vetoes Palestinian efforts at full admission to the UN this September. Rather, the Palestinians are now likely to seek unity and an audience in the broader Arab and Islamic populations for some new options that will restore them with the leverage than now PM Netanyahu enjoys in Washington. Arab citizens are turned more than ever inward to addressing transformational change. However, the Israel/Palestine divide is never far from attention. And as in the populist politics of the US, both proponents and opponents of change in the Arab World can look to rally support by aligning themselves with what they see as victimized and marginalized Palestinians. This has already been case with old despotic government in Syria and new government in Egypt - the new Egyptian government has been responsible for Palestinian Authority-Hamas reconciliation. It is a dangerous spin of events for the US, reform/change in the Arab World as well as Israel. Related Reports: ---“Obama Middle East Speech” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/president-obama-middle-east-speech-by-ambassador-mo/28116 ---“ ---"Palestine Returning into Focus" - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/israelpalestine-returning-into-focus-in-arab-world-un-by-ambassador-mo/28059 ---"Israel/Palestine Divide-Shimon Peres at UN" - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/israel-palestinian-divideshimon-peresun/26155 ---"EU-UN Joint Palestine Visit" - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/eu-un-joint-palestine-visit/27000 By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey Face Book at “Diplomatically Incorrect” Twitter – DiplomaticallyX