Opinion | Columnists

Letter to Barack Obama

The Norwegian committee made it very clear that it was hoping the prize would encourage you to fulfil your promise of promoting multilateralism and peace.

  • Gulf News
  • Published: 00:00 October 25, 2009
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: AP
  • President Barack Obama

Dear Mr President,

In just over a month, you will receive the world's most prestigious honour, the Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian committee made it very clear that it was hoping the prize would encourage you to fulfil your promise of promoting multilateralism and peace.

You have a historic opportunity today to make your mark, bring justice to the long-suffering people of Palestine and pave the way for a real and enduring peace in the Middle East. An internationally acclaimed jurist has placed in your hands what can be considered a key to finally deliver to the Palestinians "dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own", which you promised in your historic Cairo speech. It is called the Goldstone Gaza Report.

The report has been endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council, which has referred it to the Security Council. But your administration has for the past few weeks been lobbying to bury the report.Today, the future of peace in the region rests on the willingness of your administration to declare that Israel must be held accountable for its crimes in Gaza. Today you have a chance to right a wrong, pave the way towards peace and actually earn the Nobel.

Comments (2)

  1. Added 08:28 October 25, 2009

    I really aspire that Mr. Obama would fulfil his duties and work towards peace. And not merely accept the prestigious Nobel prize without doing his best to bring about a peaceful solution to the Middle East crisis, more importantly in Palestine. The people there need to get justice and their share of happiness, which has been overshadowed for years now thanks to the Israel. Mr. Obama and his government should speak out and gather more support to stop Israel from further expansion and punish them for the worst crimes committed by them.

    Kesh, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  2. Added 08:13 October 25, 2009

    The US may be in favour of Israel regardless of their war crimes on civilians in palestine. There are some instances where the US backed up Israel's unethical practices which break the UN code of conduct and international constitutions. With Obama, i hope the UN will not feel under pressure to ignore such incidents and bring about a fair trial and hold Israel accountable for its crimes in Gaza. Such UN reports must be shared with the international media and public to bring the real faces of the wrong doers in the open.

    Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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