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