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World Jewish News
'Obama speech in Cairo a good start,' Palestinian Authority says
04.06.2009
U.S. President Barack Obama's speech to the Muslim world on Thursday was a "good start" towards a new U.S. policy in the Middle East, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said.
"His call for stopping settlement and for the establishment of a Palestinian state, and his reference to the suffering of Palestinians ... is a clear message to Israel that a just peace is built on the foundations of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital," said the spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh.
"President Obama's speech is a good start and an important step towards a new American policy," he said.
Mahmoud Ramahi, a legislator from Abbas rival Hamas, offered qualified praise for the speech.
"I have followed the speech closely. There are many positive points," he said.
"There is a difference between his policy and Bush's policy. I see a change in the U.S. foreign policy discourse. But the problem is still on the ground."
"Would they achieve a Palestinian independent state? If he does that, that would be a relief and good for all parties."
In Jerusalem, a spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had no immediate comment. Netanyahu has been at odds with Obama over the president's call for a Palestinian state and a halt to Jewish settlement expansion in the West Bank.
There was also no immediate comment from Hamas officials in Gaza after Obama's speech.
"The speech was historic and important and reflects a positive direction for the new administration (in Washington) and it is a new start," Iraqi government spokesperson Ali Al-Dabbagh said.
"The use of Koranic sayings plays a big part in a positive change of picture, but there is a necessity for action."
"The government of Iraq is comfortable with the clarity of the president in respecting commitments to Iraq and the timetable for withdrawal stipulated in the security pact."
"I think there is clear support of a right for a Palestinian state, and their right for a life, but Arabs are waiting for pressure to be exerted on Israel so it can stop its violations in Gaza and the West Bank."
Iranian leader: Speeches alone won't change U.S. image
Iran on Thursday said speeches alone would not change the image of the United States in the Middle East.
"Changes should be made in practice and not by making nice speeches to world Muslims," Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said hours before Obama's Cairo address.
Khamenei, who has the final say on all state affairs in Iran, said that Middle East nations "deeply hate" the United States for its policies in recent years, such as military attacks, political interference and discrimination.
"The new U.S. administration wants to change this image, but I'm telling them that this does not become feasible just by giving speeches," he said at a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the death of Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the supreme leader of the 1979 Islamic revolution.
The ceremony was also attended by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his main challenger in the June 12 election, Mir-Hossein Moussavi.
Both Ahmadinejad and Moussavi want to resume talks with the Obama administration but have called on the U.S. president to prove his promised changes in practice.
Источник: Haaretz
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