Washington – President Obama expressed optimism yesterday about the prospect of peace between Israel and the Palestinians, but he said a peace accord will take time and require new thinking about the problems of the Middle East as a whole.
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Obama’s comments came during his first formal television interview as president, with a correspondent from al-Arabiya, the Dubai-based satellite network that is one of the largest English-language TV outlets aimed at Arab audiences.
The president sat for the interview, at the White House, moments after officially dispatching George J. Mitchell, his special envoy for Middle East peace, to the region last evening.
“All too often the United States starts by dictating — in the past on some of these issues — and we don’t always know all the factors that are involved,” Obama told al-Arabiya. “So let’s listen. He’s going to be speaking to all the major parties involved. And he will then report back to me. From there we will formulate a specific response.”
In the television interview, Obama reiterated U.S. support for Israel, calling it “a strong ally of the United States” and saying he will “continue to believe that Israel’s security is paramount.”
But in tone, his comments were a stark departure from those of former president George W. Bush, who often described the Middle East conflict in terms that drew criticism from Palestinians.
By contrast, Obama went out of his way to say that if America is “ready to initiate a new partnership [with the Muslim world] based on mutual respect and mutual interest, then I think that we can make significant progress.”
The president declined to reveal where he plans to give his first major speech in a foreign country. In the past he had said he would speak in a Muslim capital sometime within the first 100 days of his administration.
And he reiterated a point from his inaugural address: He plans to reach out to Muslims around the world who are willing to “unclench your fist” but will go after terrorists who continue to be bent on destruction.
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Yeah yeah Mr. Obama so far you are playing right, you are talking and talking and yet again talking, but nothing yet concrete done, twist your tounge and everyones mind one day you say a undivided jerusalem next day you pull back I’ll better go back na dlisten to rush for real solutions, you are a samrt man and took rahm into the cabinit so he should shut up and now you can feel free to act like husein obama, iran will love you, and we have to ask for Moshiach,
(Just wait for bibi netanyhu and obama cat and mouse game)
What’s with you obama
He is on track
not bad for a leftist.did you hear mitchell blast hamas?keep it up!
not bad for a leftwinger.did you hear mitchell blame hamas for the gaza fatalities?thaddaway boy!
Admit it or not this guy is gonna make for a great President!!
PS I voted for MCcain
thank god for giving us obama, and all the right wing bickering only reinforces, the gratitude we have to feel. after all the right wing only became our friends because of there fight with the muslims.
Not one word included the word HAMAS as a terrorist organization, only a mention of Al Quida.
George Bush had the same idea 8 years ago. After the Arab nations broke promise after promise, he became dillusioned with them and realized where the problems lie, hence his support for Israel. Let’s see if Obama will end up with the same conclusion.
B. Hussein Obama… the nation will have buyer’s remorse soon
Hard facts…President Obama is a Chicago politician and a law professor; not much more…even if he is as smart as some people would like to assume. Less than one week into office, this man has the audacity to make public comments about the Holy Land and B’nee B’choree who live there. After he left office, Clinton met Arafat who told him “you were a great president.” Clinton replied “I was a failure and you are the reason.” There are over a billion people living in India, a country sharing a dangerous border with Pakistan; oth of whom have nuclear weapons. Yet, the new President feels the need to comment on a piece of land the size of New Jersey that houses 5 million Jews. Speculation…Obama will leave a legacy in Washington similar to the legacy that Dinkins left in New York City. There will be no second term.
People who don’t learn from history repeat the same mistakes. Obama thinks that speaking softly to the Arab world will win him their love. The muslims see this as a weakness and take full advantage.
Regardless of what anyone including Obama thinks of Isreal, they just have to keep hammering away at Hamas, Hezbollah and every potential terrorist. That requires huge amounts of Emunah. What might help the Isreali government grow in emunah?
Learn from our history.
Could you ever imagine George W. Bush having the guts or the talent for doing such an interview? Never!
BHO seems to be what America really needs right now.
if we are attacked or Israel is hurt by these types of softball attitudes and actions towards Islamic terrorists, there will be real blood on your hands Obama!! You are not playing a game here!!!
Wouldn’t it have been more appropriate for
Hussein Obama to give the first TV interview
to an AMERICAN network? After all, he IS the
Prez of the USA not UAE!
king obama passes 5 executive orders and now interviews with El Arabia WHAT NEXT? Wake Up And Smell The Coffee!!!!!!
why doesnt drudge and the yeshiva world report this?
To # 18 Are you sure?
Baruch Hashem for obama! he didnt even say anything about a “two state” solution like George “Palesitinia state” Bush would have. he set them straight on israel and Israeli security as an sacrosanct american issue. kol hakavod to barack obama a tru friend of israel.
Yashar koach mister president!
Obama stated in his interview with el arabia that the palestinians should have a viable state in which its borders should be open so they can have free trade with the rest of the world .Iran will be tickled pink to have this opportunity to send even more weapons to gaza. Listen to his interview with el arabia if you still think hes not going to put pressure on Israel to give up its land to the palistinians you are extremely naive. I`m not sure if obama is naive or not but as time goes on watch him very carefully He is Oh SO SLICK and has the tongue of a snake ……………so watch out and keep your eyes open you’ll never know what hit ya until it is gone!.