Cautious Optimism as U.S. Eyes Iran

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Two people who work together and happen to be a Muslim (Souheila) and a Jew (David). Both have their roots in the Middle East. Both want to see a lasting peace in the region. Both are willing to talk to one another and to the world about all the misrepresentations and difficult issues that surround Jewish-Muslim relations. Walls of division, suspicion, hatred and fear have been created over the last decades. This is an attempt to bring down those walls.

Cautious Optimism as U.S. Eyes Iran

By Souheila Al-Jadda

JANUARY 29, 2009, 12:00 PM

I agree, David. We have to wait and see. Obama is making the right gestures, which is good. But Arab and Muslim publics are not easily fooled. If Obama chooses the same track of diplomacy towards Israel then little will have changed. But let us agree to wait at least 100 days before passing any judgment. What is the Hebrew equivalent of ‘be patient’?

Meanwhile, what are your thoughts on Iran? I just read this story, which reports that President Obama is drafting a letter to Iran. I think that it is in both the U.S. and Israel’s interest to begin a rapproachment with Iran. What do you think?