The unique character of the revolt in Iran has been the power of the fast SMS/Twitter tools and the younger age group that used it. Those who grew up using their thumb as a main tool of communication  also know that they are breaking new grounds. There are no rules for this political game, and the modes of expression and their strategic models are written while hitting the ground.

The Iranian crowds are living through the "largest increase in expressive capability in human history," as defined by Clay Shirky, author of Here Comes Everybody.

Iranian youth know that the authorities can try to follow them, but they also know that fast and furious is the way to go. The authorities will always be a step behind.

The greatest effect of the whole phenomenon is that Iran has gained a new face. Instead of relating to Ahmadinejad as the only face of Iran, we now see a multitude of younger people. We have human rights movements that will make a difference for the future. The USA and Israel, which have often held a one-dimensional view of Iran, will have a new challenging set of questions to answer.

The recent re-election of Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has resulted in mass protests throughout Iran. Many Iranian protesters believe that the elections were rigged and that their reform candidate, Mir Hossein Mousavi didn't get a fair play. Much of the news out of Iran has been focused on the clashes between police and protestors.

Although the Iranian regime has banned foreign coverage of these protests, Iranian citizens have quickly filled the void by providing some dramatic images of these protests. I commend the Iranian people's determination to tell their stories through new media. Iranians are blogging, tweeting and uploading videos of these protests. These citizen semi-journalists are serving as part advocate for their cause and part journalist to tell a wider public about their story. This may be the future of journalism as we know it.

Much like the American public wanted change in the 2008 elections, Iranian people wanted change in these elections. Americans got the change they demanded. Iranians didn't. Let's hope that these protests and the efforts of citizen semi-journalists can at least pressure the regime to become more accountable (and perhaps more democratic) to an increasingly frustrated public.

I disagree with your assessment that Obama just talked. At least in Israel there are political ramifications, as his speech is seen as a signal of a new approach to USA-Israel relations. The government is already changing their tone about the two state solutions. The settlement movement declared Obama public enemy number one. They relate to him as "nigger" – "Koshon" in Hebrew.

His speech is seen as a marker of a new attitude that will be followed by action, including freezing of the settlements and giving a real chance for the Palestinians to voice their view on the solution. Obama found the soft belly of Bibi Netanyahu’s government. Most Jews in the USA, and the Obama administration, do not have any understanding of the messianic dreams of the settlers.

However, it could be that I am too optimistic, as I believe that you should watch what politicians do and not what they say. Still, I think that your judgment does not give a reasonable time span or perspective for a new policy to happen.

I think that not only are the settlers afraid of him, but so are Al Qaeda. They notice that Obama presents the Muslim world with new options. He ruins the one-dimensional Bush view of the "axis of evil." Bush made Al Qaeda's work very easy as a recruiting tool. Obama challenges all of us, Jews, Muslims and Christians, to listen to the "other" point of view.

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!

The reaction to the recent nationalist trend in the Israeli parliament has been very negative. As a result, the initiative to make life harder for the Palestinian–Israeli citizens was canceled.

See this YNetnews update for more details.

Still, the undercurrent of total polarization between Israeli Jews and Palestinian Israeli citizens will get stronger. Unless President Obama will signal a new beginning in his speech on the 4th of June, the peace process is frozen.

Polarization will get worse.