A CHANGING APPROACH OF THE UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY ON ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT: A CASE STUDY OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ON THE ISSUE OF LAND SETTLEMENTS IN THE WEST BANK AND EAST JERUSALEM (2009-2017)

Abstract

A Changing Approach of the United States Foreign Policy on Israel-Palestine Conflict: A Study Case of the Obama Administration on the Issue of Land Settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem (2009-2017) The United States has involved in the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian struggle over a land, which internationally known as Palestine. Along with the development of this conflict, included the peace process, the U.S. never abstain to place its policy toward the conflict for the sake of its interest, counted in its staunchest ally security, Israel. The U.S. keeps on protecting the Israeli’s need, particularly on the West Bank and East Jerusalem settlement, the current occupied territories by Israel. In 2009, Obama administration exhibited different approach to deliver U.S. foreign policy to the conflict, departing from his predecessor, George W. Bush’s. He emphasized on prioritizing the Israel-Palestine conflict as one of his main agenda to reshape American negative appearance in the Middle East, due to War on Terror legacy. Unlike his predecessor, Obama directed his administration more into even-handed approach, which tend to act fairly and not taking sides to both Israel and Palestine. The U.S. foreign policy approach under Obama considered different from Bush’s. The approach is highly influence by personal-driven perspective toward the worldview and the conflict itself. Therefore, this thesis aimed to analyze the perspective of Bush and Obama in addressing this Israel-Palestine conflict and Obama’s changing approach that is strengthen by leaders’ personality.