Appeasement Obama Style: The Europeanisation of America's Policy in the Middle East?

Under President Obama, American foreign policy towards the conflict in the Middle East, and in particular, its position on Israel, has shifted. In contrast to Bush's pursuit of ‘legitimacy’, Obama is seeking to implement a foreign policy of multilateralist ‘engagement’, regardless of the dubious reputation of some of the states involved. When applying this policy to Israel, the approach of the US has become ‘Europeanised’ and less adamant about the fact that by supporting Israel, the interests of the West are also supported. However, taking this approach will only result in the legitimisation of Europe's worst instincts on this matter and thus further exasperate the situation in the Middle East.