No one really knows what President Obama will say tomorrow in his much-anticipated speech to the Muslim world in Cairo. But it seems just about everybody has got an opinion on what he should say.
The New York Times rounds up opinion from some Muslim activists, journalists and politicians. Egyptian human rights activist Ayman Nour wants Obama to press for "freedom for all," while a former Yemeni prime minister thinks the president should focus on fighting poverty in the Muslim world. And journalist Omayma Abdel-Latif wants the U.S. to "stay out of our elections.
The Washington Post has David Makovsky saying that the president should say that "every step that Israel takes toward the Palestinians must be met with an Arab step to integrate Israel into the Middle East," Palestinian journalist Daoud Kuttab suggesting he open talks with the political arm of Hamas and the American Enterprise Institute’s Danielle Pletka writing that Cairo was a poor choice of venue because of the "autocrat" at the helm.
The Wall Street Journal talks to a number of U.S. experts. Among them, Richard Haass of the Council on Foreign Relations says Obama must talk about the Israeli-Palestinian issue but should not present a detailed plan in an Arab capital, former Bush adviser Elliott Abrams says "he should not adopt the view that the world’s troubles and those of Islamic countries are bound up in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict" and that he should speak about "freedom and the future" and former Middle East negotiator Aaron Miller says he should be the "breaker of icons" when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
In Politico, Princeton University professor Julian Zelizer says Obama should call for "regional coalitions that include Israel" to look for ways to contain Iran, while American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee policy analyst Yousef Manayyer says he should champion the Arab Peace Initiative.
And the Chicago Tribune reports Obama will talk about the "roots he shares with the Muslim world" and will rely on his "diplomacy of personality."
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
