Well, it has been a week since Obama gave his historical speech to the Muslim world in the Mother of the World (Um Al Dunya) in Egypt. Now that the sand has settled and reactions have tempered, it is fair to say that although there was alot of optimism and hype surrounding his landmark speech, not much is going to change. While Muslims can appreciate President Obama for recognizing Islamic achievement throughout history and the need to re-engage based on mutual respect, it will be his actions that will ultimately be judged--particularly concerning the Arab-Israeli/Palestinian-Israeli conflict. 

Israel is continuing its settlements and its policy of displacement. On today's Mosaic, Syria TV reports that a Palestinian man was forced to demolish his home with his own hands so that he would be spared the cost of having to pay for an Israeli bulldozer to do it. Israeli settlers are erecting Obama huts to protest President Obama's calling for a two-state solution and a halt to settlement building. Meanwhile, the Palestinians continue to bicker among themselves over who has the right to represent a people who are becoming more impoverished and more hopeless with every passing day. Arab leaders continue to prove their ineffectiveness as they watch from the sidelines waiting for their cue from Washington, or better yet, Tel Aviv.

Well so much for big talk and small action!

Read the www.forward.com article about the visit by Keith Allison, the only member of congress from the Muslim community. He made a video which shows the horror of Gaza daily life. But he does not use it as a weapon of propaganda. He is trying to make a point about the US Congress needing to be more open to other sources of information.

He is an example of a difficult balancing act, any Muslim American working inside the beltway-DC- of American power has to make do with. Maybe he is a bridge to other members of Congress who are not afraid of AIPAC. It could also be that GAZA has been a turning point, as it raised a lot of eyebrows even among American Jews. Obama in

Turkey repeated his 2 state solution emphasis, which contrasts with BIBI silence on the issue.

There is a shift in policy in different Obama initiatives that might make the BUSH era finally look like bygone. 5 main changes already happened. Envoys were sent to Syria, Iran invited to an Afghanistan conference, strengthening Turkey role as Mediator, support UK initiative to talk to Hezbollah, trying to talk to moderate Taliban. All these are connected to an Engagement trend,that will bear fruits sometime.

For Israel the challenge is how to answer these developments, as the new government is really a pro Bush in its mentality. Obama has a very hard partner in Israel and its AIPAC friends in DC. But by doing all this outreach to the Arab world, Obama is first trying to change the non Palestinian -Israeli world. Then he will deal with the hardcore issues that so many presidents before him failed at

Yes, I think there are many ways. But I think that trust and confidence is low. People are not willing to move forward. Nonetheless, it should be noted that mosques, churches and synagogues have been dialoguing in various parts of the country. There is an exchange happening, but it is not at a point of critical mass. It is low-level and while such exchanges are opening hearts and minds, there is always more to be done. The need is always there.

Perhaps writing a poem, painting a portrait, composing music, planting olive trees in the promised land.  Maybe we start a SIRIUS radio station that can be heard every where and where we just talk and get others to call, email and chat with us!

Ok- I believe you. Singing is not the way to go. But maybe creating together a new yet to be defined collaboration, aside from the blog could be an option. With Jamal, my Palestinian Mosaic partner, I created a film that expressed new ways of looking at the conflict. The Israeli-Palestinian one.

Is there a joint media effort that could make us a bridge, so other people will be less suspicious of each other? Especially across our kind of “divide.”

I read today at www.forward.com that Jewish communities finally decided that they can talk to other Muslim groups in the USA. 7 yearsafter 9/11... the truth is that both sides were not open to each other. Is there a way that we can bring Mosques and Synagogues closer?