Muslims see Obama shifting attitude, policy

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RIYADH – Muslims greeted President Barack Obama’s speech from Cairo Thursday as a mark of a changed American attitude toward them and a new policy on the Middle East.
Every word of the speech was quickly studied across the Middle East and the Muslim world.
“President Barack Obama’s approach to resolve the problems through reconciliation and not war is the need of the hour,” said President of the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry Abdul Rahman Al-Jeraisy.
“I look at Obama as a kind of American leader who has greater understanding about Muslims and Arabs. Obama’s visit to Saudi Arabia also proved that the Kingdom plays an important role, not only in the region but also in the international arena. I hope and I am optimistic to see two states – Palestine and Israel – live side by side in peace through the efforts of President Obama,” he said.
Dr. Thaiseer Al-Khunaizi, a Saudi political analyst and columnist said Obama had succeeded in capturing the sentiments of Muslims and Arabs.
“It was wonderful to listen first time to a US president, who with his impressive language and tone tried to spell out his policies on the Mideast peace. We don’t doubt the seriousness and the ambitions that Mr. Obama has as the world’s most powerful man, but the question is whether he could achieve what he has been saying to the Muslim and Arab world,” he said.
Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said the speech was “balanced” and paved the way for good relations.
“I feel that the speech was balanced and offered a new vision of rapprochement regarding relations with Islamic states,” Moussa told reporters in Cairo.
The speech showed that the United States “will deal with the region’s issues with a sense of balance, this includes the Palestinian question, the end to Israeli settlements, Palestinian rights which must be respected,” Moussa said.
Obama’s “realistic” speech proves he is a good partner for Muslim nations trying to work for peace in the Middle East, Turkish President Abdullah Gul was quoted by a news agency as saying.
“I find his position on regional peace very appropriate,” Gul told Anatolia news agency.