Pat Dollard | Young Americans

Related: Israeli Defense Minister Tells Obama To Shut His Fucking Mouth

Harretz.com

A lawmaker belonging to the Hezbollah militant organization on Thursday dismissed a speech given by United States President Barack Obama earlier in Cairo as being like a “sermon,” without signaling real change.

“The Islamic world does not need moral or political sermons. It needs a fundamental change in American policy,” said Lebanese MP Hassan Fadlallah.

In the address, Obama said he sought a “new beginning” in relations between the United States and the Muslim world on Thursday, addressing grievances over the Arab-Israeli conflict, two U.S.-led wars and tensions over Iran.

A spokesman for Hamas, however, said there was change in tone in the address. But he complained that Obama did not specifically mention the suffering in Gaza following the Israeli offensive against the Islamist group this year that killed more than 1,000 Palestinians.

“There is a change between the language of President Obama and previous
speeches made by George Bush, he said. So all we can say is that there is a
difference in the statements, and the statements of today did not include a
mechanism that can translate his wishes and views into actions,” said Fawzi Barhoum, whose group the U.S. considers a terrorist organization.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that Obama’s speech to the Muslim world was a “good start” towards a new U.S. policy in the Middle East,.

“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.”

Iraq welcomed Obama’s comments.

“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.