President Barack Obama spoke to Arabs and Muslims from his own experiences and from his heart. Without conceding much but being honest with his audience, he clearly won over the hearts and minds of many people that have so far rejected America.
By speaking honestly, even on issues that are not pleasing to hear, he succeeded in erasing the biggest blemish on all US administrations, hypocrisy when it comes to the Middle East conflict. By speaking of the need to recognise the right of Israel to exist, he highlighted the similar need to recognise the rights of a Palestinian state to exist.
By mentioning the Holocaust, he was able to call settlements illegitimate. And by honouring the Islamic faith, he was able to underline the need to honour Christian and other minorities in Islamic countries.
In his address at the University of Cairo, Obama was clearly talking about the future while not failing to show respect to the Islamic faith and to the accomplishments of Muslims for generations.
He laid out his personal story by talking about his father’s Islamic roots, his growing up days hearing the Muslim call to prayer and working side by side with American Muslims. He quoted the Koran appropriately while reminding people that he is a Christian and pointing out America’s commitment to the Abrahamic faiths.
He even showed understanding for the existence of Palestinian Christians and didn’t shy away from speaking out about the rights of Coptic Christians in Egypt or Maronites in Lebanon.
Politically, Obama spoke forcefully against violent religious extremists without ever mentioning the word “terror” or “Islamic extremists”.
While putting the Middle East conflict second to the post-September 11 wars, he gave the Palestinian-Israeli conflict the same weight as he did the combined wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The US president moved much closer to the international consensus by declaring settlement in the Palestinian territories illegitimate, a major shift in US foreign policy.
“The US does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements,” he told a cheering Egyptian crowd.
President Obama committed himself to personally get involved in solving the conflict.
He recognised the Palestinian refugee problem and even made a positive hint at Hamas, saying that the movement members “have support” among Palestinians and called on them to use that fact in a responsible way.
It was no accident that Iran and the nuclearisation of the region were given less importance than the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Obama hinted at Israel when he said: “I understand those who protest that some countries have weapons that others don’t.”
While opposing nuclear weapons worldwide, including Iran, he favoured civilian use of nuclear energy for Iran.
Perhaps the harshest words Obama used were reserved for undemocratic Arab leaders. He spoke about the need for freedom of expression and transparency while criticising leaders who rule against the consensus of their own people, or those who believe that elections alone equals democracy.
Obama spoke with conviction about the need to give women equal opportunities, especially in education, but criticised those who try to impose what women should or should not wear, a reference to the French ban on the hijab.
The US president has a tough act to follow. Now he delivered the much anticipated speech in the Muslim world, the pressure is even greater on the American administration to deliver what it has promised. Failure to do so will be much worse than if the promises had not been made in the first place.
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