CNN

Finally a president who thinks of all people as being equal despite their ethnicity, background or religious beliefs....
President Obama have a very caring heart.. He cares for everyone.. may God be with him, as he works hard to make the world a safer environment for all humans...

Jon in California,

Shut up.

On this blog. I like the approach that Obama is taking, reaching to BOTH sides of the conflict. However, I remain skeptical about peace. These idiots only want to destroy Israel and I don't think it's going to end anytime soon.

I do wish President Obama and his staff the best of luck.

I am proud of this President as I haven't been any many years....I like to see a new way of thinking and responding to the world situation....the old ways are not working its time to try something bold and new

I pray he makes progress.....for so many innocents sakes.

God Bless Israel.

This war has not been going on for over 2000 years. It began in 1948 when the Israelis performed their ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians. Since then they have gotten away with genocide and murder. We should quit being Israel's enabler and unquestioning supporter. This is why we were attacked on 9/11.
This will end ONLY when an American president has the balls to tell Israel to give the Palestinians the West Bank and Gaza or we'll pull their funding and put THEM on list of terrorist countries, which is where they belong!

Don't blow it, Mr. President!

Let's see.....what is the reason the United States blindly supports Israel.........Well it could be Israel exports to us....no that can't be it....or perhaps their leadership in.......no, not that either........it must be how peace loving the Israelis.....hmmmm, still doesn't fit.

Genocide is genocide regardless of who pulls the trigger.

Ways to bring peace to the Middle East:

- Secure water rights for the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank
- Make Jerusalem into a holy city that NO ONE has claim over. NO ONE.
- Prosecute the Israelis who sent phosphorus weapons into Gaza a week ago with war crimes at the Hague
- Create the West Bank as the Palestinian State
- Fund free secular schools for the Palestinian children
- Arrest, try, and convict Hamas and PLO members who practice violence against Israel
- Set up renewable energy infrastructure for both the Israelis and the Palestinians

Obama has made a skillful choice with George Mitchell. He is a man with proven negotiating abilities, high credibility both in the United States and abroad, and impartiality. With this appointment Obama is signaling to all leaders in the Middle East his desire to play fair in mediating this conflict.

It remains to be seen if Obama will be able to counter the considerable pressure that pro Israel groups in the United States will bring to bear on the President. George Bush sure cave in very quickly!

Until Iran and it's proxies (Hamas and Hezbollah) accept Israel's right to exist, any attempt to negociate peace between Israel and the Palestinians will be a complete and utter waste of time.

Matt January 22nd, 2009 5:08 pm ET
I'm going to laugh myself into a seizure at all the naysayers if he finds a way to help bring peace to the region.
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Matt - being the "superbly superior" American that you are - just bring Hamas to your house. We would all applaud you !!!!!!!!

(Try not to have a seizure - seizures are NOT fun!)

President Obama will succeed where others have failed because for the first time, America is recognizing that there are real victims here – the civilian Palistinians. George Mitchell will succeed once again because he has the heart to stay neutral and see the greater cause. Here in Egypt we are praying for you President Obama and I believe you are already opening the fists of the opressed who have nothing to defend themselves with except clenched fists against rockets and tanks. Jutice always prevails, it just needs patience and faith.

JC January 22nd, 2009 4:23 pm ET
I figured Oprah would go to the Middle East; the Jews and Muslims would all sing and hold hands, and problem resolved.
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Actually, JC - why doesn't Oprah just give all of them a car? She can afford it - and Ellen can boogie with them - problem solved !!!!!!!!!!!!

How about sending over former President Carter?

Do the words "Camp David Peace Accord" sound familiar?

Bev January 22nd, 2009 4:50 pm ET

We're looking more like France every day….Scary
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Have you ever been to france, or you just running your mouth? Whats wrong with France?

Certainly not an easy task, but any effort for peace is good and I admire them for getting right down to work and at least trying. For the sake of all the innocent people suffering on both sides of this conflict, I hope at least some progress is made.

I think we should train some militants and prop up another government. Look how well that worked for us before with Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. Or keep selling weapons to the extremists like we always do.

There is a way to achieve peace and it's by giving justice to the Palestinians. You can do it, Obama!

HE has spoken...now we will have peace in the Middle East.

JillBo – So it's alright for a cop, while pursuing someone who's shooting back at him, starts shooting at this man even if he doesn't have a 'clear shot'? Even if they are have this private shooting in the middle of a mall full of people? Blame the children for their suffering is too low even for a die-hard Israel supporter, and I know a few of them.
Hamas has to dealt with. They are terrorist, no doubt about it, and happen to live in one of the most crowded places of that area.
So it's not alright to Israel, in order to kill one of them, kills twenty or thirty people along with their inended target.

I love reading all the comments from the nay-sayers! I guess it's just better to give up on this issue because it's too hard right? Idiotic! I don't have an answer for this violence but I believe it serves the "US" interests if we at least show that we care about ending these wars. We do contribute $11B to Israel and their military might so we aren't neutral in this fight. If we ever hope to have any semblance of peace with the 1.5 billion Muslims in the world we'd better find a way to show we're a centrist nation and not blindly aligned with the 7 Million Israelis. The people crammed into Gaza have humanitarian needs as well and we need to support their rights and not punish them simply because they do have some terrorists in their midst.

LOL! Fat chance of that ever happening in our life time or say the next 1,000 plus yrs.

JillBo January 22nd, 2009 5:25 pm ET
Until Hamas renounces its goal of the total destruction of Isreal, peace will not happen. How do you negotiate with someone whose goal is your destruction? WAKE UP
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I fully agree! Peace between Jews and Arabs will literally take an act of God! Until Hamas, and Iran, and folks like them recognizes Israel's right to exist NOTHING will change! Not even American policy! Israel will not be and cannot be allowed to be wiped out, simple as that!
Crude Gazan rockets started this mess! This is exactly what happens when you bring rocks to the gunfight you started! The tragedy is the loss of innocent life, which is the fault of Hamas!

These people have not been fighting for 2000 years, more like 100 since the start of Zionism and more intensely for 60 years since the founding of Israel.

This is a very difficult issue at hand. First of all, I wish the new president good luck regarding this issue. These people have been fighting for over 2000 years and there seems to be little to no advancement with a permanent peace treaty. Secondly, if there is a peace treaty, how will it be maintained? Both sides are not willing to compromise on the Gaza issue. I wish George Mitchell good luck with his future meetings.

Here is a thought...stop the flow of arms into Gaza that are harming the people of Israel before expecting them to aid the very people that are raining bombs on them.

we need to save $$$ due to current economic mess. The MidEast problem sucks money out of every human being's pocket in one way or another. Obama is not only looking at it as a human suffering issue (both sides), but as a long-term economic issue as well.

Fact: More Israelis have died from friendly fire incidents than from Palestinian rocket attacks.

Congratulations Mr. President. Israel suffered terrorist attacks for months and now Israel is to blame.

How long will America have to suffer before you blame her?

@ Jon in CA

If Israel "just wanted to live in peace" they wouldn't be occupying Palestinian land with settlements and calling it theirs. They also wouldn't be subjecting the Palestinian people to some of the harshest apartheid the world has ever ignored. You reep what you sow.

Congratulations Mr. President for bringing in a known quantity with a great track record. This will not be easy but you have someone who can be even-handed and fair to both sides. That is the only way to bring about peace, you can't be leaning to one side or another and act as an arbitrator.

So is Obama going to rest on the 7th day or get around to the problems facing America?

that's what every prezzie has said.
nothing will happen.

Telling Israel to open border crossings really takes guts, since Washington DC is really Jerusalem West.

Until Hamas renounces its goal of the total destruction of Isreal, peace will not happen. How do you negotiate with someone whose goal is your destruction? WAKE UP.

The reason the palestian women and children are suffering is because they hide their bombers in the population. How long would you tolerate rockets that target you and your neighbors? I am amazed at the restraint Isreal has practiced.

Telling Israel to open border crossings really takes guts since Washington DC is really Jerusalem West.

Steele Curtain, you are an ignorant individual and i pity those that would look up to you as a father, mother or whatever it is that you are. CNN, you better post this

It's been reported Obama's initial call as President was to Palestinian Leaders. I guess he needed to know what the Palestinians are demanding so he can start pressuring those bad, horrible, Israeli
people who simply want to live in peace.

Has Obama's prayer rug been set-up in the White House yet???

Keeping peace in mind is a good thing. And reminding everybody, no peace is forever. At leaset if they can let both sides sit down and negotiate that will be a big step forward.

finally the pics of gaza children and women got to the biggest heart in the world THE OBAMA HEART , now do what your heart and conscious want you to do god bliss you and be with you for the next 8 years and many more afterwards

@ Obama Victim

I heard Palin was still looking for a bridge now that she lost the election.

I'm going to laugh myself into a seizure at all the naysayers if he finds a way to help bring peace to the region.

Is he a Christian, and does he know anything about the history of the Jewish people?

THANK YOU Mr. President for using the best "diplomacy" possible. Americans know this is NOT an easy feat, but we understand that this battle began with MEN and can end with MEN, if they just realize they are fighting for naught.

The Gaza border is nothing but a piece of land... a LAND that will be there when all these men "fighting" about it are gone.....

How many lives will die over this senseless fight?

MEN STARTED THIS FIGHT, MEN CAN END IT. GOD never fought over this land, and I'm sure he is NOT happy about all the BLOOD lost in the lives of thousands of innocent men, women and children on BOTH sides.

I pray that peace is reach so NO ONE else will die in vain.

Matt January 22nd, 2009 4:38 pm ET – Your complete ignorance is amazing. What if instead of Palestin (Hamas) it was say, the KKK. And instead of Israel it was say, the south side of Chicago. Would you be demanding that the south side 100% cease their actions against the KKK? Yet the KKK and Hamas have the same goals: Hamas wants to eliminate all Jews and the KKK want to eliminate all blacks.

Yet in typical lib modus operandi, your definition of fairness and what's right only applies to what you want.

Hypocrites! All of you.

This is an extremely tall order. Anyone who can get these two warring factions to cease and desist should be knighted by Queen Elizabeth. Seriously, if he can manage to pull this off he will go down in history as the greatest peacemaker of all times.

To Vi: Gitmo is a symbol of shame abroad for the US and a big tool for terrorists group to enroll more people for their cause creating more problem in protecting the homeland.
Closing Gitmo and puting all these suspects into fair trail will send a big signal to our allies that the America they know is back and consequently it means more trouble for the terrorist.
Stop watching FOX they've been brain washing you all and feeding the republicans with nonsenses.

This fight has gone on for centuries before Israel was even named a "country".The hatred goes back even further than Christ.Everyone should just step aside,let them take the gloves off and knock the snot out of each other.Problem is,no one will step aside for more than 3 seconds.

President Obama won't have any better luck with this than anyone else has because some fruitcakes on both sides will keep firing rockets until they start fighting again.

no one else has been able to do this,,,,,,,,,the chance that this empty suit will accomplish anything?? anyone interested in a bridge??

And, America will DISCONTINUE the UN-CONDITIONAL SUPPORT of ISRAEL!

I wish you GOOD LUCK Mr President. This is a tough road considering these people have been fighting for 2000 years. I truly hope you succeed where others have failed.

i admire his courage. Finally, someone spoke for poor Phalestinian's people that they are human too and they have the right to the very basic human needs.
He is a man of honestly and fairness and i hope he'll be able to spread the justic and human rights through out the world once more.
Portland, or

Let's see if he pulls a Jimmy Carter, and convinces the Israelis to give up land for peace, again. Yeah, that one really worked Jimmy... Obama will follow suit, trust me.

We're looking more like France every day....Scary

Maybe he can also negotiate a peace treaty between Little Miss Ice Chip Also-Too-Such-As Palin and "the media". She allegedly despises them so vehemently but now wants to pen a book deal with them.

-with people like hillary in charge...i really don't blelieve in peace..

@Jim Harvey

LOL!! So Bush wouldn't have interfered? He proclaimed himself dictator of the world. End-running NATO, our allies, and the constitution to interfere in other lands.

Ithink obama should worry more about israel, iran and palestine right now then guantamo bay. Isreal and palestine have been at war for thousands of years. Do i see a war with guantamo bay.No. We need guanatamo bay!!!! Obama when he was running never talked about it. Israel and palestine are in a crisis right now. The stock market too!!

Inspiring!
This man has been in office for 2-days and is already taking on another problem that Dubbya has ignored for the past 8-years – and there are many!

I think he should worry more about israel and palestine and iran now and less about guanatamo bay. Nobody is at war with guantamo bay. Israel and Palestine are and have been. Take care of bigger matters first

Thank God, at last Palestine has been recognized as well as Israel in this conflict, I think George Mitchell will do a good job and it will be no easy task for him as it was no easy task with the IRA in Ireland.
That proves that diplomacy does work given the chance, nothing about it is easy but if the outcome is lasting peace then that is what we want for the whole region,another great move by Prez Obama.

You know what?

Both the Palestinians and Israel STARTED this whole conflict, and they can certainly END IT, or come to some agreeable resolution.

Both of these countries SHOULD use some basic common sense. WHAT the hell are they fighting over a piece of LAND that only GOD OWNS!!!

They continue to fight over a LAND that will be there till the end of time. HOW MANY men, woman and children have to die before they realize how STUPID the argument on both sides is? I mean really? HOW many lives will be lost over this fight over a piece of land?
It's really ignorant on all levels.

The BIG MALE EGOS is the root of all evil, they start something and then never want to end it. How utterly stupid.

Israel needs to be given an ultimatum that will cost them 100% of our support if they continue their treatment of the Palestinian people this way....end of story. Enough is Enough.

Good luck Mr. President !
I'm not sure that either one of these countries truly wants peace.

Appoints Mitchell, closes Gitmo.

The Great Surrender has begun.

Never thought I'd see the day a US president gets it – both sides need to shape up and do things differently. 60 years of bashing their heads on the same wall and neither side has had the wisdom or courage to stop banging their heads and think about alternative ways to live with one another. As someone once said doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results is the definition of insanity.

Good luck to you on that one Mr. President. I hope you succeed where others have failed.

You mean the Shrub and Darth didn't miraculously accomplish this the last day? Oh well -

Better make sure Hillary gets that refresher course on how to dodge sniper fire (both real and imaginary) before she heads over there. And make sure she doesn't take the plane Biden took to Iraq, I hear that's a favorite target of the 'terrorists'.

King of the World Obama... Getting himself into deep doodoo.

Question: How many Presidents have had the courage to do this AT THE BEGINNING of their terms?

Answer : ZERO. This man has more fortitude than anyone to hold the office in a long, long time.

President Obama will settle the Middle East conflict fairly. He has all my confidence and I get up every day happy and thankful that he has been elected.

Ain't gonna happen-not meant to be.

I figured Oprah would go to the Middle East; the Jews and Muslims would all sing and hold hands, and problem resolved.

Perhaps the Palestinian Hamas leadership will realize that their BEST Hope for Peace and a Palestinian Country is to engage with the new American Administration now.

I know it's hard to give up years of hatred since my family was from Ireland and all I ever heard of growing up was the hatred of England but, history shows opportunities for a fair deal don't come along very often and President Obama offers you that hope right now.

You make me proud,Sir!