Welcome to Layalina Productions

The Layalina Review

VOL. V NO. 3, January 16-January 29, 2009

Arabs Skeptical about New Administration

In the Arab world, reaction to last week’s inauguration of Barack Obama has been mixed. Before the war in Gaza started, a World Public Opinion poll in 17 nations, including Egypt and Turkey, showed that optimism in the new administration would improve international relations.

Scott MacLeod of Time emphasizes that throughout the inauguration address, Obama spoke directly to the Muslim world about improving relations and that this could possibly change the direction of US-Middle East relations.

Arab media is not so optimistic. Raed Rafei’s Los Angeles Timesblog describes how Arabia media cautioned people not to be too hopeful about Obama and the new administration, and to wait and see how the president will act on his words.

Caryle Murphy writes for the Huffington Post that despite President Obama’s outreach to the Muslim world during his inaugural address, many Arabs need convincing that he is going to follow through on seeking "a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect." Arabs have been disappointed by American policy in the past and Obama’s lack of response during the war in Gaza leading up to inauguration reinforced the skepticism. Murphy goes on to say that Arabs are hopeful that the US will live up to "the universal ideals that it says it stands for" with the new presidency and administration.

Hala Boncompagni reports for Yahoo news that Obama has been urged by Palestinian leaders and Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak to make the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the recent Gaza war his top priority. According to Boncompagni, Israel expects policy not to change from their favor and many of the Arab Gulf states are assuming this as well.

In his diary for BBC News, Jeremy Bowen writes from Egypt that "If you live in the Middle East, whatever you think about the United States, you know it is going to have a very big impact on your life." He goes on to say that many Arabs are hopeful and intrigued by the new US president, but Bowen emphasizes that if President Obama wants to achieve what he says, he will have to act on the Gaza war soon.

In an article from Al-Arabiya's English publication, Ramzy Baroud writes that although President Obama has made some major efforts, his language has not changed from past administrations. Baroud cites Obama's support of the US commitment to Israel and his use of slogans such as "national security" and "spreading American ideals," which were repeated throughout the Bush administration. He concludes that Palestinians have little hope with the new administration.

In Foreign Policy, Marc Lynch advises Obama on how to succeed in improving relations with the Arab world. He argues that the president should follow through with his plan in Iraq, act on Gaza immediately and work with all countries and people in the Middle East.