The Approach of the First and Second Obama Administration to Israel: A Comparison Between 2009 and 2014

This thesis aims to compare the approach of the first and second Obama admi- nistrations to Israel between years 2009 and 2014. It analyzes American foreign policy with respect to Israel through several criteria including the process of conflict resolution, Obama's rhetoric and number of visits into the region made by secretaries of state. The work also observes what effect the Arab spring and the Iranian nuclear program had on American policy towards Israel. By comparing these criteria the author identifies the main differences in the ap- proach to Israel. The thesis verifies the hypothesis that the first Obama admi- nistration accepted pro-Palestinian approach with regard to resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and that it was willing to act more independently on Israel with regard to geopolitical development in the region. The thesis an- swers four questions. How did the approach of the two Obama administrations to Israel-Palestinian conflict change? How did the geopolitical events in the re- gion affect the approach to Israel? Is it possible to observe an exertion of higher pressure on Tel Aviv to make compromises? Does the American perspective of Israel as an ally change in the long run