History as Obama Tells Muslim World: Assalam-alaikum

United States President Barack Obama yesterday called for a “new beginning between the US and Muslims”, saying both societies should start a new relationship that would bring an end to the cycle of suspicion and discord.
In his speech, a copy of which was made available to THISDAY by the US Embassy Public Affairs Section in Lagos, Obama urged Islamic nations to embrace democracy, women's rights and religious tolerance.
He also touched on sources of tension including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The US President, who spoke in Cairo University, Egypt, said the "cycle of suspicion and discord" between the US and the Muslim world must end.
Obama called the US bond with Israel “unbreakable” and insisted all Hamas violence must come to an end, but said Israel must abandon its West Bank settlements and recognize Palestinian as an independent state.
He said change could not take place overnight and that no single speech could eradicate years of mistrust.
During his speech, the US President noted his own background with Muslims in his family heritage and the contributions of Muslims in the US.
Speaking in one of the largest Muslim nations, Obama pledged to fight the negative stereotyping of Islam but said Muslims too should also not stereotype the US.
"And I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear," he said.
Obama noted that "just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire."
He said Islam was important in promoting peace and cited the Koran as saying, "Be conscious of God and speak always the truth."
The US President delivered his speech after meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the second stop of a four-nation trip to the Middle East and Europe.
A statement from the Embassy of Egypt signed by the press attaché, Muhammed Saber, said Mubarak and Obama held an enlarged session of talks at the Qubba Presidential Palace attended by the two countries' delegations.
“President Mubarak expressed his great welcome to the US President Barack Obama at their first meeting. President Mubarak said that during the summit, they discussed issues of common concern mainly the Middle East issue and the Palestinian issue and issues of the region as a whole, including Iran and the nuclear file among other issues,” Saber said.
Obama's speech was broadcast live by many networks around the world and marked his latest outreach to Islam since taking office on a pledge to reach out more directly to the Muslim world.
A spokesman for Palestinian Leader Mahmoud Abbas said the speech was a "good start and an important step towards a new American policy".
The AFP news agency quoted Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, as saying the speech showed "tangible change" but also contained contradictions.
Before Obama spoke, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had said the US was still "deeply hated" in the Middle East.
Some Israelis had been concerned Obama might step up his criticism of the Jewish state and possibly unveil new policies that would be less favourable to Israel, which receives billions of dollars in US aid each year.
A major Israeli newspaper showed a caricature of Obama wearing a Palestinian head scarf, indicating the belief among some Israelis that Obama favours the Palestinians.
But Obama said the bond between Israel and the US is unshakable. Some analysts say there is reason for Israel not to expect any major changes on the part of its traditional ally and supporter.
An Israeli government statement said Israel hopes President Obama's speech would help usher in a new period of reconciliation in the Middle East.
Political Science Professor Abraham Diskin of Hebrew University in Jerusalem was quoted by the Voice of America (VOA) as saying he was not optimistic Obama's strategy of softening the US image to the Muslim world would bring peace.
"There is no question that Obama is a great person, a bright person, a great speaker, and a person who definitely appears - and I believe truthfully - as someone who believes in a vision," he said, adding, "I am afraid that the result of the speech today, unfortunately, is going to be at the end of the road, more violence. Too many times, when people like Obama came with such a vision, it was understood as weakness."
While the speech contained no surprises in terms of US policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it did signal what many see as a new attitude by the US.
The US President has taken on the Middle East peace process early on in his term, unlike some of his predecessors who have stepped up pressure only at the end of their tenures.
Many perceive this as a sign the new administration is placing a higher-than-usual priority on resolving the conflict.