Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, was thorough in his approach. He referred to Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, negating years of fighting by Palestinians to stop the city falling entirely into Israeli hands.
Paul Ryan, his deputy, got in on the action when he called Israel a “valuable ally against Islamic extremism and terrorism.” The pattern was starting to form: for Arabs a slight against Palestine is a slight against the Muslim world.
It is incomprehensible for most middle easterners that US politicians are seemingly unaware of this fact in their speeches abroad. But actions speak louder than words and the latest example of US insensitivity comes in the form of a photo.
The picture allegedly shows Brooklyn State Senator, David Storobin, posing with a machine gun in hand on the Israeli side of the Syrian border. Given the bloody war raging in neighboring Syria, the photo seems inappropriate in the extreme.
It is also in the disputed territory of the Golan Heights, an area that many Arabs consider to be illegally under Israeli control where numerous Arab villages are found.
Lastly, the senator also appears to be dressed in Israeli military garb. This combination hits all the hot spots for Arabs.
The New Yorker has already stirred controversy back home after being accused of fraudulently collecting signatures for his voter list. But, despite only being sworn in to office two months ago, Storobin will be a name to remember in the Middle East.
Do you think these pictures are insensitive? How have US politicians handled Middle East relations recently? Tell us what you think below.
