PRESIDENT BARACK Obama has presented a more modest, conciliatory American face to the Islamic world, telling an Arabic television network that the United States had made mistakes but now wants to work in partnership with Muslim countries.
In his first formal interview as president, Mr Obama told the Dubai-based Al-Arabiya satellite network that his administration would adopt a more respectful tone towards Muslims.
“My job is to communicate the fact that the United States has a stake in the wellbeing of the Muslim world, that the language we use has to be a language of respect. I have Muslim members of my family. I have lived in Muslim countries,” he said.
“And my job is to communicate to the American people that the Muslim world is filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives.
“My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy. We sometimes make mistakes.
“We have not been perfect. But if you look at the track record . . . America was not born as a colonial power, and that the same respect and partnership that America had with the Muslim world as recently as 20 or 30 years ago, there’s no reason why we can’t restore that.”
Mr Obama was speaking as his special envoy for Middle East peace, former senator George Mitchell, arrived in Cairo at the start of a visit to the region that will take him to Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
The president said he had told Mr Mitchell to start by listening to all sides because, in the past, the US had been too quick to dictate terms to the parties. “Ultimately, we cannot tell either the Israelis or the Palestinians what’s best for them,” Mr Obama said.
“They’re going to have to make some decisions. But I do believe that the moment is ripe for both sides to realise that the path that they are on is one that is not going to result in prosperity and security for their people. And that instead, it’s time to return to the negotiating table.”
Mr Obama said that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict had to be viewed within a broader regional conflict that included Syria, Iran, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
He said that, despite widespread pessimism following the Israeli military action in Gaza, a two-state solution remained the best option for both Israelis and Palestinians.
“I think it is possible for us to see a Palestinian state – I’m not going to put a time frame on it – that is contiguous, that allows freedom of movement for its people, that allows for trade with other countries, that allows the creation of businesses and commerce so that people have a better life,” the president said.
“And, look, I think anybody who has studied the region recognises that the situation for the ordinary Palestinian in many cases has not improved. And the bottom line in all these talks and all these conversations is, is a child in the Palestinian Territories going to be better off? Do they have a future for themselves? And is the child in Israel going to feel confident about his or her safety and security?”
During her first press conference as secretary of state, Hillary Clinton defended Israel’s right to self-defence and said Palestinian rocket attacks on the Jewish territory could not go unanswered.
“We support Israel’s right to self-defence. The [Palestinian] rocket barrages which are getting closer and closer to populated areas cannot go unanswered.”
Mrs Clinton blamed Hamas for the death of an Israeli soldier on the Gaza border yesterday and the subsequent killing of a Palestinian man by Israeli forces.
“It is regrettable that the Hamas leadership apparently believes that it is in their interest to provoke the right of self-defence instead of building a better future for the people of Gaza,” Mrs Clinton said.
