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Mixed Reactions in Middle East as Obama Wins

By The Media Line news agency

Hours after Sen. Barack Obama won the United States' presidential elections, the Middle East greeted the president-elect with mixed responses.

The United States' allies in the region were quick to congratulate Obama. "This is a mark of merit for American democracy," Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni stated.

"During Barack Obama's recent visit to Israel, and especially during the tour we conducted together in the city of Sderot, the people of Israel were impressed by his commitment to the peace and security of Israel. Israel looks forward to continued close strategic cooperation with the new administration, the new president and the U.S. Congress, in order to continue to strengthen the lasting special relationship between our two countries," Livni added.

The Iraqi government stated it would cooperate with Obama to achieve the joint interests of the two countries.

"The government has a sincere desire to cooperate with the elected president in order to achieve the joint interests of the two sides, preserve the security and stability of Iraq, maintain the full sovereignty of Iraq and protect the interests of its people," government spokesman 'Ali Dabbagh said in a statement.

On the other hand, the Islamic Army in Iraq, one of the strongest armed rebel organizations in Iraq, has called on the U.S. to change its "dark foreign policy, which has destroyed the world's stability and peace."

Another U.S.-backed Middle Eastern administration congratulated Obama on his victory.

"I applaud the American people... and hope this election and President Obama's coming into office will bring peace to Afghanistan," President Hamid Karzai told a news conference.

President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayyid Al Nahyan, sent a letter to Obama, congratulating him on his victory.

In Pakistan, President 'Ali Asif Zardari sent his best wishes to Barack Obama, adding that he looked forward to working with him.

On the other hand, Iran sent an indirect warning to Obama, when its army warned the American forces in Iraq that it would respond to any violation of Iranian airspace.

"The American people have to change their policies in order to get rid of the quagmire created by President Bush for them," said Ghulam 'Ali Haddad 'Adil, a senior advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.

This statement followed a raid last month by U.S. forces into Syria, which was condemned by Tehran.

During his campaign, Obama said he did not rule out the possibility of direct talks with Iran in order to resolve their disputes. However, he asserted that he would toughen sanctions against Iran.

Meanwhile, Iran's protégé in the Palestinian territories, Hamas, has voiced skepticism over any change in America's policy in the Middle East and an end to Washington's hostility toward the Palestinian movement.

Hamas' spokesman in Gaza, Fawzi Barhoum, described the choice between McCain and Obama as one between two "awful options."

Before the election results were known, Hamas' Political Bureau Chief Khalid Mash'al has announced the movement was "ready for dialogue with any incoming U.S. president.

"We are ready to deal with any presidential candidate, but we will always stick to our rights. We acknowledge that the United States is powerful, but we are more powerful in our territory," Mash'al added.


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