Obama's speech to he muslim world was generally well received and it seems like Hamas might have drank some kool aid, speaking to Al- jazeera
Ahmad Yousuf, a senior Hamas official, told Al Jazeera that Obama's speech reminded him of Martin Luther King's "I have a dream speech".
http://english.aljazeera.net/...
Reaction from Mahmoud Abbas
A spokesman for Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, described Obama's speech as a "good start".
"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," Nabil Abu Rdainah said.
US Media
NY Times
The president delivered a sweeping message that was forceful and, at times, scolding as he promoted democracy..."
WashPost: "The speech at times had the feel of a history lesson as Obama listed the accomplishments of Muslims in America..."
Politico: "(It) was remarkable and historic not so much for the delivery or even the words, but for the context, the orator, the moment"
Pundits
Brad Blakeman, Republican strategist
The President's Cairo speech overall was a very good one. I give it a A-
The President hit all the major points of the conflict between the Muslim world and the West. He set forth the areas of tensions, he stated America's beliefs and intentions, he held out hope for progress, and challenged the parties to leave the past behind and work toward attainable and sustainable goals of peaceful co-existence.
Stephen m. Walt Professor of International Affairs, Harvard:
I would give it an A- overall, but I’m a tough grader
I would have liked to see a few more specifics, and some listeners probably heard some lingering American hubris despite Obama’s best efforts not to give that impression. But overall, his willingness to confront a set of complex and challenging issues head-on and to speak both plainly and eloquently was remarkable. Now let’s hope his actions match his words.
Julin E. Zelizer ,Professor of History and Public Affairs, Princeton:
The speech was very strong
President Obama reached out to everyone and challenged everyone as well. The point was to call for a new beginning, rejecting long-held beliefs and biases that have prevented progress and peace.
James Zogby ,President, Arab American Institute:
It was an agenda-setter, a menu designed to address a wide range of problems across a broad region
It was a "big speech". More like a "State of the Union" than the Philadelphia "Race speech". It was an agenda-setter, a menu designed to address a wide range of problems across a broad region. In that regard, it was evidence of how massive an undertaking will be required to heal these many divides.
In speaking with friends in the Middle East, this morning, I was impressed how many parts of the speech resonated. Everyone could take away something - peace activists, advocates for democracy and women's rights, religious minorities, etc. In that regard, the menu worked.
More here
http://www.politico.com/...
Israeli President
President Shimon Peres praised Obama's Mideast speech as a historic opportunity in a guest column in The Times
Obama's journey to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Peres wrote, "reflects both the need for an historic change in the Middle East and a unique chance of achieving it."
Peres said that the international options that are being discussed ? the Saudi peace initiative as well as the so-called "57-state solution" proposed by King Abdullah of Jordan ? could create a favorable momentum that would lead to the resolution of the Israeli-Arab conflict.
Israeli Settlement Leader
"Hussein Obama gave priority to Arab lies"
http://thepage.time.com/...
Guess you can't please everyone sigh.