Obama's Video Message to Israeli Presidential Conference

Susan Rice is attending the conference on behalf of the U.S. Some of what Obama said:

"I'm especially honored to send my greetings to a great statesman, the host of this conference, President Shimon Peres. His life stands as an extraordinary example of how courage and perseverance can help shape the future and turn harrowing challenges into historic opportunities," said Obama. "Shimon has also contributed to a deep and much abiding friendship between the United States and Israel."

Watch the video here.

Peres Says Israel Should Back Obama on Iran

Israeli President Shimon Peres cautiously endorsed new U.S. outreach to Iran following a longer-than-expected visit with President Barack Obama on Tuesday, telling The Associated Press that the American leader should be given a chance to resolve differences with Iran through negotiation.

Peres is the first top-level Israeli to visit the new president. A more important gauge of relations between Israel and the United States will come later this month, when Israel's hawkish new prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, meets Obama at the White House. Netanyahu has not ruled out military action against Iran and as a candidate opposed giving up land for peace with the Palestinians.

Peres said he emerged from the nearly hour-long session reassured that the United States under Obama will prize Israel's security and will not allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons. MSNBC

Shimon Peres speaks at AIPAC

Hillary Working For a Two State Solution

The Middle East boggles the mind. Israel bombs the life out of Gaza. We give $900 million for reconstruction of Gaza. Hamas starts its shenanigans again. Israel threatens to start bombing Gaza again and the madness goes round and round. Both sides seem so righteous and so stubborn. It's what might happen if you put the hard left in the U.S. and the hard right together on some land. 

Hillary has entered the fray for the first time as Secretary of State. If anyone can help, it's Hillary. She's ambitious and wants to make a mark. A peace deal would be a stroke of genius:

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton promised Tuesday to work with the incoming Israeli government, but delivered a clear message that could put her at odds with the country's next leader: Movement toward the establishment of a Palestinian state is "inescapable."
At the same time, Clinton said she would not dictate orders to Israel, saying the Jewish state would determine its interests. In her first visit to the region as secretary of state, she also pledged "unrelenting" support for Israel's security.
Prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu opposes Palestinian statehood and has been critical of peace talks. But after meeting Clinton, he said the two had "found a common language."

Though Netanyahu opposes a Palestinian state (I totally don't get that), he seemed to conclude that they could work together:

Haaretz: Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu met with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Jerusalem on Tuesday, saying following their meeting that he had "found common ground with Clinton in attaining the common goals of our two countries."

"We need to think creatively in order to move forward and create a different reality, both in terms of security and politically, and this is a common goal for both sides," Netanyahu added.

Clinton met with Netanyahu after having met with President Shimon Peres and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni earlier in the day as part of a 36-hour visit, her first trip to Israel in her new capacity as secretary of state.

Netanyahu did not offer details on his meeting with Clinton, but mentioned that the conversation between them "was deep, important and good."

"We spoke about the Iranian issue and the Palestinian issue and we promised to meet again after the establishment of a government [in Israel]. We will work together closely in order to bring peace and prosperity to the region," Netanyahu concluded.

Hillary's also working to create better relations with Syria, which is next to Iraq. That's part of the regional strategy for peace.

Obama Talks With Peres, Berlusconi, Zadari

This afternoon, President Obama spoke to President Peres of Israel to extend his congratulations to the Israeli people on their general elections yesterday. The President remarked that the Israeli people should be very happy about the democratic example they have set for the world. They had a good discussion, and the President complimented President Peres on his recent op-ed in which he reaffirmed his strong commitment to achieving a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

This morning, President Obama and Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi had a friendly and productive call. The President stressed his commitment to a strong U.S.-Italian relationship. They discussed cooperation on a range of issues, including the global financial crisis, upcoming G-20 summit in London and NATO summit in Strasbourg-Kehl, G-8 summit in July, Iran, Middle East peace efforts, and energy security. President Obama also thanked Prime Minister Berlusconi for Italy’s strong support in Afghanistan.

President Obama also had a productive conversation with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari this morning. President Obama expressed his support for Pakistan’s democracy and his commitment to a strong partnership with Pakistan. The two leaders agreed on the importance of maintaining a strong bilateral relationship to address issues of common interest, such as counter-terrorism and economic development. And in line with Ambassador Holbrooke’s mission, both leaders agreed to work together to advance peace and prosperity in Pakistan and the region. WhiteHouse.gov

78% of American Jews Voted Obama

Israel’s leaders extended congratulations to Sen. Barack Obama after he won the U.S. presidential election Tuesday (Nov. 4).

Said Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, “America has once again proved that it is the greatest democracy, which sets an example to all the other democracies in the world. Obama has proved to the world his abilities and leadership skills.” [1]

Israeli President Shimon Peres hailed Obama’s victory as an end to racism and a symbol of change. “I want to congratulate the newly-elected President: young, fresh, promising, representing a change and introducing change. The changes that I can mention – it is an opportunity to escape the present world crisis and enter into a new era of cooperation, of productive economy and of human solidarity. In a way, it is an end of racism. There is no longer any way that any white man can claim superiority, nor any black person feel discrimination. We are the same people, and this election is a great statement to that effect. For us, America is a great friend and a great hope…Nobody should look at whose side the President is on – he just has to be on the side of peace.” [2]

Israeli Foreign Minister and Vice Prime Minister Tzipi Livni also praised Obama: “This is a mark of merit for American democracy. During Barack Obama's recent visit to Israel, and especially during the tour we conducted together in the city of Sderot, the people of Israel were impressed by his commitment to the peace and security of Israel. Israel looks forward to continued close strategic cooperation with the new administration, the new president and the US Congress, in order to continue to strengthen the lasting special relationship between our two countries.” [3]

According to exit polls, 78 percent of American Jews voted for Obama. [4] American Jews have long been supporters of the U.S. Democratic Party, turning out 80 percent for Bill Clinton in 1992 and 78 percent for him in 1996. [5] In the two most recent presidential elections, 79 percent of Jewish voters cast ballots for Al Gore in 2000 and 74 percent for John Kerry in 2004. [6]

The day in 100 seconds

Obama Meets with Israeli Palestinian Leaders

Obama's on a roll. He's doing the U.S. proud.

JERUSALEM — Senator Barack Obama opened a day of talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders on Wednesday, sharing breakfast with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak before traveling to the West Bank to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Mr. Obama, who shuttled between morning meetings at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, also visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial. Wearing a white yarmulke, he rekindled a flame and paused for a few moments of quiet reflection as he laid a wreath on a tomb that contains ashes from Nazi extermination camps.

“At a time of great peril and promise, war and strife, we are blessed to have such a powerful reminder of man’s potential for great evil, but also our capacity to rise from tragedy and remake our world,” Mr. Obama said after visiting the memorial. “Let our children come here, and know this history, so they can add their voices to proclaim “never again.” And may we remember those who perished, not only as victims but also as individuals who hoped and loved and dreamed like us, and who have become symbols of the human spirit.”

Mr. Obama later met with Mr. Abbas and the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, Salam Fayyad, for one hour — 15 minutes longer than scheduled — at the Mukata, the Palestinian president’s compound in Ramallah.
.....
Mr. Obama received a warm reception from President Shimon Peres of Israel, who said his fondest wish was for a “great president of the United States. That is the greatest promise for us and the rest of the world.”

As he strolled with Mr. Peres just before their meeting, Mr. Obama said: “I’m here on this trip to reaffirm the special relationship between Israel and the United States, my abiding commitment to Israel’s security and my hope that I can serve as an effective partner whether as U.S. senator or as president in bringing about a more lasting peace in the region.”

“You are a person who has forgotten more than I will ever know on these issues and so I look forward to a robust discussion, having an opportunity to get your insights and your wisdom,” he told Mr. Peres.

.....

Mr. Obama also met with the opposition leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, who told reporters that Israeli-Palestinian relations and Iran were the main points of his morning conversation. “The senator and I agreed that the primacy of preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear power is clear, and this should guide our mutual policies,” Mr. Netanyahu said in a statement.

He added that Mr. Obama told him “he would never seek in any way to compromise Israel’s security, and that this would be sacrosanct in his approach to political negotiations.”

Obama's Trip Details

Update: Details and map of his trip

Update: Obama lands in Afghanistan
More details on Obama's trip overseas. Here are the people he'll meet:

Time: The campaign also provided a fuller list than we have seen to date of the foreign leaders with whom Obama will be meeting. They include: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Conservative Party Leader David Cameron; German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier; French President Nicolas Sarkozy. In Israel, he will meet with President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu. And in Ramallah, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salaam Fayad.

I'm hoping Obama's trip is more than swooning folks, though it's exciting to know that Obama inspires so many, and yes, I want to see them swoon. 

I hope, and I think that he will, have meaningful discussions with all the leaders he meets.
Then, I hope Americans are satisfied that he's ready to be commander in chief and he gets back to the economy because people really want to hear more details on that. 

There's no sign that foreclosures are letting up. What's going to happen to the surplus of houses?
The economy is such a mess. It's like all the pieces of the puzzle went awry. How to put it back together?
Obama needs to blow McCain out of the water with more economy details.