OBAMA/SUPERMAN

OBAMA/SUPERMAN

Reaction After Obama Addresses Muslims

CAIRO (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama sought a "new beginning" between the United States and Muslims in a speech on Thursday but offered no new initiative to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, an omission likely to disappoint many.

Below are reactions to his speech delivered from Cairo University in Egypt:

NABIL ABU RDAINAH, SPOKESMAN FOR PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT

"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."

"President Obama's speech is a good start and an important step towards a new American policy."

ALI AL-DABBAGH, IRAQI GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN

"The speech was historic and important and reflects a positive direction for the new administration (in Washington) and it is a new start."

"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."

HAZIM AL-NUAIMI, ANALYST AT BAGHDAD UNIVERSITY

"He gave nothing new to Iraqis. He gave one promise, to respect the rights of minorites and work with consensus. In all he says, he tries to remove himself from all that happened in Iraq."

ISSANDR EL-AMRANI, INDEPENDENT POLITICAL ANALYST IN EGYPT

"I can't say I am overwhelmingly impressed by the speech. The strongest point was probably that the situation of the Palestinians is intolerable. I would have liked to see a more specific addressing of the question of Gaza, and the ongoing blockade of Gaza, the lack of availability of reconstruction materials."

"I think it will achieve its goal of generating some goodwill. I think whether among Egyptians or elsewhere there was a lot of scepticism about the speech, scepticism that contained also a nugget of optimism."

RANDA ACHMAWI, DIPLOMATIC EDITOR FOR EGYPT'S AL-AHRAM HEBDO

"America for the first time is adopting a very wise strategy in acknowledging the other and that was clear in every word chosen by President Obama."

"In this context, where we see an Israeli government who is refusing even the least principles of the two-state solution, he made clear the American vision ... There is nothing innovative."

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