US role in Israeli-Palestinian conflict risks faster reputational damage

美在巴以冲突中的作为,正加速丧失其信誉

Source
China Military Online
Editor
Li Wei
Time
2021-06-08 16:56:58

刘畅

By Liu Chang

日前,美国国务卿布林肯访问以色列、巴勒斯坦、埃及和约旦四国。这既是布林肯就职以来首访中东地区,也是巴以冲突余温尚存下美国高层的第一次来访,引发外界广泛关注。

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken successively visited Israel, Palestine, Egypt and Jordan in recent days, which marked his first trip to the Middle East after taking his new position, and also thefirst Middle East visit by a top US leader in the lingering aftermath of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, thus capturing extensive attention.

美国政府对此次巴以冲突的应对方式饱受诟病。因此,布林肯此行的首要目的是巩固巴以停火成果,竭力渲染美国政府为推动停火进行的所谓“不懈努力”。

The way the US government handled the latest conflicts breaking out between Palestine and Israel has been much criticized, so the purpose of Blinken’s trip is to consolidate the ceasefire and magnify Washington’s “relentless efforts” to exact the truce.

一方面,美国希望缓和与巴勒斯坦的关系,试图“砸钱买稳定”。访问期间,布林肯称美国将为加沙地带重建“作出巨大贡献”,并表示美国政府在恢复对巴勒斯坦的3.6亿美元援助之外,还将向巴提供额外的约3850万美元支持。卡塔尔和埃及等美国的盟友也承诺将为重建加沙地带提供5亿美元。另外,布林肯还重申,美国支持通过“两国方案”解决巴以问题,支持维持耶路撒冷老城宗教圣地现状,反对将东耶路撒冷的巴勒斯坦人强行驱逐出去。

On the one hand, the US hopes to mitigate the relationship with Palestine by throwing money. During the visit, Blinken said the US would make enormous contributions to the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and pledged an extra USD38.5 million in addition to resuming the 360 million aid to Palestine. US allies such as Qatar and Egypt also promised USD500 million for Gaza’s reconstruction. Moreover, Blinken reiterated America’s support of the “two-state solution” as the way to solve the Israeli-Palestinian issue, of keeping the status quo of the sacred sites in Jerusalem’s Old City, and its objection to evicting Palestinians from East Jerusalem.

布林肯抛出的这些“橄榄枝”,向巴勒斯坦及地区国家发出了一个清晰的信号,即美国将明确支持阿巴斯领导的巴勒斯坦民族权力机构,并以此为基础恢复对巴援助,进一步孤立哈马斯。美国之所以这样做,主要目的还在于服务其在中东的战略布局。哈马斯在此次巴以冲突中展现出较强的军事能力和抵抗意志,获得了大批巴普通民众支持。因此,美国需要拉拢巴民族权力机构,压制哈马斯的政治影响力,以便更好地控制巴勒斯坦,主导中东和平进程。

The olive branch extended by Blinken sent a clear signal to Palestine and other countries in the region – Washington will support the Palestinian National Authority led by Abbas and resume its aid to Palestine in the attempt to further isolate Hamas. Such a move is to serve America’s strategic layout in the Middle East. Hamas gained the support of a lot of Palestinian citizens as it demonstrated great military capabilities and a strong will to resist during the latest conflict, so America needs to bring Palestinian National Authority to its side and suppress Hamas’ political influence to continue to control Palestine and lead the peace process in the region.

另一方面,美国需要重申对以色列的安全承诺,同时设法约束以色列的行为。本届美国政府虽在“两国方案”、援助巴勒斯坦等问题上与其前任政府有一些不同之处,但强调与以色列的盟友关系没有改变。布林肯此行宣称美国将继续资助以色列的“铁穹”导弹防御系统,同时暗示美国将继续对以色列提供武器销售和其他军事援助。

On the other hand, the US needs to reaffirm its security commitment to Israel while finding ways to rein in its actions. Although the Biden administration adopts a different stance from the previous one on the “two-state solution” and aid for Palestine, its emphasis on the alliance with Israel is the same. Blinken also said his country would continue to fund Israel’s Iron Dome Missile Defense System and hinted at continued arms sales and other military assistance to the country as well.

与继续给予以色列安全承诺相对,美国可能要求以色列配合其地区政策,特别是在伊核等重要问题上与美方立场保持一致,在重大决策与行动之前向美方通报和商议,以此约束以色列的单边行为。

While giving Israel security commitment, Washington may ask it to follow its regional policies, especially staying on the same page regarding the Iranian nuclear issue and other important issues, and notifying and consulting the US before making major decisions or taking actions to restrain its unilateral actions.

除了为巴以问题充当“救火队长”外,布林肯此次中东之行还有其他考量。美国需要尽快摆平巴以冲突及其后续影响,集中精力处理伊核问题。重返伊核协议是美国中东政策的重中之重。当下正是伊核协议能否重启的关键时刻,美国不希望有限的精力和资源被浪费在巴以冲突中。

In addition to mediating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Blinken had other targets to meet during his Middle East tour. America needs to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its consequences as soon as possible in order to concentrate on handling the Iranian nuclear issue. Resuming the Iranian nuclear deal is the top priority in its Middle East policy, and now is a critical moment for the reopening of the deal, so America doesn’t want the conflict to divert its limited energy and resources.

另外,布林肯此行也希望能安抚阿拉伯盟友情绪。就布林肯同埃及、约旦领导人的会谈情况来看,美国希望在对巴援助等问题上同阿拉伯盟友保持沟通,为重塑美国的中东同盟体系做进一步铺垫。

Besides, Blinken also wished to placate their Arabian allies. Considering what was discussed during Blinken’s meetings with leaders of Egypt and Jordan, Washington hopes to keep open communication with the Arabian allies on its aid to Palestine, thus paving the way for reshaping its alliance system in the Middle East.

然而,布林肯此次访问中东四国看似反应迅速,实际效果恐怕仍然有限。布林肯此次对巴勒斯坦承诺的各项资金援助看似数额可观,但相较于美国卷入地区冲突的巨额投入而言,无疑是“九牛一毛”。这种“花小钱办大事”的办法,仍属于美国以低成本换取主导中东的范畴,难以彻底解决巴勒斯坦问题。在此次巴以冲突中,以色列的表现非常强势,美国对冲突的介入程度基本上取决于以色列军事行动的节奏。面对愈发难以控制的以色列,美国管控中东的成本和不确定风险日益增加。

However, although the four-nation tour in the Middle East seems like a quick response from the American side, its actual effects are likely to be limited. The various financial aids committed by Blinken to Palestine, large in number as they may look, are a drop in the bucket compared with the enormous cost of the US getting involved in regional conflicts. The White House would like to spend a little money to keep its domination in the Middle East, but the little input it is willing to make won’t be able to resolve Palestine’s problems once and for all. During the latest conflict, Israel was very aggressive, and America’s extent of interference basically depended on the pace of Israel's military actions. As Israel becomes increasingly intractable, the US will find it more costly and uncertain to keep its grip on the Middle East.

实际上,美国政府在巴以冲突中饱含私心的种种作为,显示出其无力也无意在中东扮演负责任的领导角色。这种“拉偏架”的做法只会加速美国信誉丧失。 In fact, the favoritism played by the US government in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict reveals its inability and lack of will to play a responsible and leading role in the Middle East. Such partiality will only discredit the country more quickly.

(作者单位:中国国际问题研究院发展中国家研究所)

(The author is from the Department for Developing Countries Studies, China Institute of International Studies.)

Related News

Continue...