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Obama Speech Gets Mixed Reaction in Middle East

By VOA News
04 June 2009

Much international reaction to President Barack Obama's call for a "new beginning" in U.S. relations with the Muslim world has been cautiously positive - even from some traditional U.S. rivals.

Several Pakistani students told VOA they found the speech impressive but would be more impressed by concrete changes in some U.S. policies.

Good start

Some people in the Middle East are welcoming what they call Mr. Obama's frank talk about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called it "an important step" and "a good start" toward a new U.S. policy in the Middle East. Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said it represents "tangible change" from the approach of the previous administration.

New era?

The Israeli government issued a statement saying Israel shares "President Obama's hope that the American effort heralds the opening of a new era that will bring an end to the conflict."

But Israeli settlers in the West Bank, whose outposts the president criticized in the speech, called the U.S. president "naive" and "out of touch." The government statement made no reference to the settlements.

News agencies quoted officials and analysts from Iran saying the address represents a new tone from the United States.

Needed change

On her Twitter account, Jordan's Queen Rania said Mr. Obama's words were "genuine and thoughtful," and she called the speech a "much-needed change in tone."

The overwhelming number of comments posted on the White House Facebook page were positive, with users from around the world using words like "amazing," "awesome" and "brilliant." One man, Ahmed Elamrani, who said he was a Muslim from Morocco, said he "found Obama's speech great and full of hope" but added that he will "wait for actions."

The head of the Washington-based U.S.-Muslim Engagement Project, Rob Fersh, told VOA the president "hit exactly the right tone" regarding changes that need to be made to improve relations.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.