Obama News In Gulf From New Gulf Daily

Netanyahu offers an apology, but no shift in settlement policy - From article.wn.com - 20 hrs 13 mts ago JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel told his cabinet on Sunday that the ill-timed announcement of new housing plans for a Jewish neighborhood in East Jerusalem during a visit here by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. last week had been “regrettable” and “hurtful.” Mr. Netanyahu also said that the government had set up a committee to “examine the chain of events and to ensure procedures” that would prevent such an incident from happening again. But he did not indicate that the building project would be cancelled — a move that might mollify the Obama administration and ease the start of indirect, American-mediated peace talks...

Biden to leave mideast amid unease - From article.wn.com - 3 day 19 hrs 46 mts ago TEL AVIV — Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. came to Israel early this week to promote new Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and tighten the bonds between Israel and the United States. He left Thursday amid increased uncertainty over the nature and timing of those talks and with a sense of unease hanging over the American-Israeli relationship. Room for Debate Israels Challenge to the U.S. The Israeli government tests the Obama administration’s policy of restraint. Post a Comment The cause of both was the unexpected announcement during his visit that Israel would build 1,600 housing units for Jews in East Jerusalem, where Palestinians hope to build the capital of their future state....

Gates appeals to saudis to back sanctions on iran - From article.wn.com - 4 day 22 hrs 11 mts ago RIYADH - Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Wednesday appealed to Saudi leaders to back a US-led drive for tough sanctions against Iran in a visit to Riyadh and came away hopeful, his press secretary said. We are certainly hopeful that the Saudis will use whatever influence they have which is considerable in this region and throughout the world to try and help us in our efforts at the UN so we can get meaningful sanctions enacted against Iran, press secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters. Gates told the Saudis that after Iran had largely rebuffed US overtures for a conciliatory dialogue, the Obama administration was...

Biden sees moment of real opportunity in mideast - From article.wn.com - 6 day 17 hrs 23 mts ago Filed at 5:02 a.m. ET JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israelis and Palestinians face a moment of real opportunity to make peace after agreeing to resume American-brokered talks, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said Tuesday as he launched the highest-level visit by an Obama administration official to Israel. Mondays announcement of indirect talks, which will be held through a U.S. mediator, broke a 14-month deadlock and marked President Barack Obamas first substantive diplomatic achievement in the region. But the new peace push is sure to face enormous challenges, including sharp divisions among the Palestinians and a hardline Israeli government seen as unlikely to make wide-ranging concessions. I...

Pm maliki emerges as front - From article.wn.com - 6 day 21 hrs 27 mts ago Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki, a Shia who helped ease sectarian strife, has emerged as the front-runner in Iraqs parliamentary election but could yet face a tough battle to cling to power. The international community meanwhile continued to heap praise on the country for having held the election despite a wave of election-day attacks. Maliki polled well according to early forecasts from Iraqs second general election since the 2003 ouster of Saddam Hussein that saw millions defy bomb, mortar and rocket attacks which killed 38 people to cast ballots. President Barack Obama, who has promised to withdraw all US troops from Iraq by the end of next year, paid tribute to the courage and...

Early estimates see maliki coalition leading iraq elections - From article.wn.com - 7 day 2 hrs 21 mts ago Tuesday, March 09, 2010 - Powered by Ben Hubbard Associated Press BAGHDAD: Early estimates from a range of Iraqi parties on Monday predicted a coalition led by Iraqi Premier Nouri al-Maliki would take the lead in the parliamentary election, though official results were not expected for a few days. Europe and the United States praised the courage of Iraqi voters for casting their ballots despite a wave of violence, saying the country was now moving forward to a democratic future. Stepping out onto the White House lawn to make a special statement on the Iraqi elections, US President Barack Obama hailed the “strong turnout” and said the day would go down as “an important...

Wall of mistrust that is hard to dismantle - From article.wn.com - 7 day 2 hrs 21 mts ago Few in the Middle East expect a sudden breakthrough to emerge from Joe Bidens efforts to restart negotiations that have languished in mutual distrust for more than a year. Although President Obama promised to put the conflict at the heart of his foreign policy when he assumed office a year ago, he has been distracted by domestic battles and...

Coming to israel, biden flags u.s. support vs iran - From article.wn.com - 7 day 19 hrs 1 mts ago JERUSALEM (Reuters) – The Obama administration has boosted U.S. defense ties to Israel and will close ranks with its ally against any threat from a nuclear-armed Iran, Vice President Joe Biden said on Monday ahead of a trip to Israel. Biden, the most senior U.S. official to visit since Israel President Barack Obama took office in January 2009, is widely expected to caution his hosts not to attack Iran pre-emptively while world powers pursue fresh sanctions against Tehran. In an interview with the biggest-selling Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, Biden emphasized...

Obama hails iraq vote milestone - From news.bbc.co.uk - 7 day 21 hrs 56 mts ago The US president praises the courage of voters as Iraq completes its election despite several bloody attacks.

Barack obama praises strong iraqi election turnout - From article.wn.com - 7 day 21 hrs 56 mts ago US President Barack Obama has praised the courage of the Iraqi people, after millions turned out to cast...

Us hails iraq vote - From article.wn.com - 7 day 21 hrs 56 mts ago The US president has praised Iraqis who turned out to vote in their countrys election on Sunday and pledged that all US forces would meet their deadline to pull out by the end of next year. By any measure, this was an important milestone in Iraqi history, Barack Obama said on Sunday, declaring his respect for the millions of Iraqis who refused to be deterred by acts of violence, and who exercised their right to vote today. Today, in the face of violence from those who would only destroy, Iraqis took a step forward in the hard work of building up their country, Obama said at the White House. The United States will continue to help them in that effort as we responsibly end this war and...

Strong turnout in iraq election, say forecasts - From article.wn.com - 7 day 21 hrs 56 mts ago Iraqs election saw a strong turnout of at least 50 percent in most areas, initial forecasts showed Monday after a ballot hit by mortar and bomb attacks that killed 38 people. Millions voted in the poll, winning international praise for their courage and determination in a crunch test of the war-shattered nations young democracy less than six months before American combat troops quit the country. US President Barack Obama paid tribute to all those who cast ballots in the nationwide poll on Sunday, the second parliamentary election since US-led forces ousted dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003. I have great respect for the millions of Iraqis who refused to be deterred by acts of violence, and...

Biden to try to boost middle east peace prospects - From article.wn.com - 8 day 19 hrs 34 mts ago US President Barack Obama dispatches his vice president to the Middle East to try to build support for reviving peace talks despite deep skepticism on both sides. Joe Biden will meet Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian and Jordanian leaders starting on Monday, but a main component of his trip will be public diplomacy - reassuring anxious Israelis about Obamas commitment to their security while explaining why they should be willing to make concessions for peacemaking. Biden, who will be the most senior American official to visit Israel since Obama came to office in January 2009, faces a tough sell, Israeli officials and analysts say. Obama may enjoy superstar status in other parts of the world,...

U.s. fears election strife in iraq could affect pullout - From article.wn.com - 12 day 2 hrs 30 mts ago WASHINGTON — The deadly suicide bombings in Iraq on Wednesday highlight the central quandary facing President Obama as he tries to fulfill his campaign pledge to end the war there: Will parliamentary elections, scheduled for Sunday, throw the country back into the sectarian strife that flared in 2004 and delay the planned American withdrawal? Notes from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and other areas of conflict in the post-9/11 era. Go to the Blog » Related Murky Candidacy Stokes Iraq’s Sectarian Fears (March 4, 2010) Bombers Kill Dozens as Iraq Vote Nears (March 4, 2010) Times Topic: Iraq Elections Senior Obama administration officials maintained in interviews this week that Mr....

Netanyahus stink bomb - From article.wn.com - 13 day 1 hrs 59 mts ago Uri Avnery I avnery@actcom.co.il THIS week the Netanyahu government let off a stink bomb under the chair of Mahmoud Abbas. For months now, Abbas has angered the prime minister. He has refused to start peace negotiations while the settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are continually expanding. Everyone knows that the proposed negotiations are meaningless and will lead nowhere. Benjamin Netanyahu needs them to deflect American pressure. Barack Obama needs them to show some achievement, tiny as it may be. But Abbas knows that his acquiescence would help Hamas to present him as a collaborator. Now Netanyahu has decided to teach Abbas a lesson. For three days, day after day and...

Both sides stand their ground on health care (intelihealth) - From us.rd.yahoo.com - 14 day 3 hrs 11 mts ago WASHINGTON (The New York Times News Service) -- Three days after an extraordinary forum moderated by President Obama to bridge the gulf between Democrats and Republicans over a health care, leaders of both parties drew clearer lines in the sand on Sunday.

Iaea says it cant confirm iran nuclear program is peaceful - From article.wn.com - 14 day 3 hrs 12 mts ago Istanbul, Turkey – The UN’s top nuclear official on Monday said the Islamic Republic was not providing the “necessary cooperation” to guarantee that the Iran nuclear program is for exclusively peaceful purposes. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) assessment comes as Iran has been stepping up uranium enrichment levels and expanding its nuclear fuel cycle plans in recent weeks, moves that have prompted President Barack Obama to warn of tougher sanctions against Iran. “The agency continues…to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran, but we cannot confirm that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities because Iran has not provided the agency...

Obama: health - From us.rd.yahoo.com - 17 day 2 hrs 38 mts ago FROM THE BLADES NEWS SERVICES WASHINGTON - President Obama declared yesterday that the time for debate over health care has come to an end, closing an unusual seven-hour summit with congressional leaders by sending a clear message that Democrats will move forward to pass major reform legislation whether or not Republican support materializes. Mr. Obama rejected Republican preferences for ...

Health care summit goes daytime tv (san diego 6) - From us.rd.yahoo.com - 18 day 1 hrs 16 mts ago President Barack Obama has spelled out one key goal of his health care summit, saying political leaders must determine whether there is too big a gulf to find consensus on...

Us says does not seek crippling sanctions on iran - From article.wn.com - 18 day 1 hrs 18 mts ago WASHINGTON - Israel lobbied the United States on Thursday to promote crippling sanctions against Iran to curb its nuclear program, but the Obama administration said it did not want to hurt the Iranian people. Irans uranium enrichment in defiance of three rounds of U.N. Security Council sanctions has spurred world powers to consider tougher measures to halt what the West fears is a covert nuclear weapons drive. Israel, which sees a mortal threat in the prospect of an Iranian bomb, has backed the talks while hinting at preemptive military...

Clinton eyes quick resumption of mideast talks - From article.wn.com - 19 day 3 hrs 52 mts ago Posted | Comment | Recommend | | | WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State said Wednesday she hopes long-stalled peace talks between Israelis and the Palestinians will resume. Her assessment comes as the Obama administration criticized for designating two shrines on Palestinian territory as national heritage sites. Groundwork is being laid to restart the talks with the help of U.S. envoy , told a congressional committee. She didnt say exactly when the negotiations might resume but her remarks come amid a flurry of U.S. diplomatic activity in the region. They come as the United States, and their Mideast peace partners are trying to organize a strategy session among...

Us slams israel over designating heritage sites - From article.wn.com - 19 day 3 hrs 52 mts ago WASHINGTON – The Obama administration criticized Israel Wednesday for designating two shrines on Palestinian territory as national heritage sites. The criticism came as Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said she hopes long-stalled peace talks between Israelis and the Palestinians will resume. Clinton told a congressional committee that groundwork is being laid to restart the talks with the help of U.S. envoy George Mitchell. She didnt say exactly when the negotiations might resume but her remarks come amid a flurry of U.S. diplomatic activity in the region. They come as the United States, Russia and their Mideast peace partners are trying to...

A (nobel) crown of thorns - From article.wn.com - 21 day 20 hrs 33 mts ago By Victor Kotsev We are waiting for the United States to give us [its] undivided attention, Jordans King Abdullah said in an interview this month, speaking of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. If we dont get a clear mandate over the next month or so, Im not convinced we will be able to move forward. The kings words and a grim picture he painted of decades of instability as an alternative, added gravity to US President Barack Obamas own assessment. Speaking to Time magazine, Obama last month voiced his dismay at the absence of brave leaders among the Israelis and Palestinians. Ill be honest with you, this is just really hard, he acknowledged. If we had...

Obama to propose limits on insurance rates - From www.khaleejtimes.com - 21 day 20 hrs 35 mts ago WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama will propose giving U.S. officials the power to limit rate hikes by health insurance companies - part of a new health care overhaul plan he will unveil Monday in a last-ditch bid to salvage his signature issue.

Possible funding cuts for huntington drug and crime prevention program (wsaz newschannel 3 west virginia) - From us.rd.yahoo.com - 24 day 7 hrs 52 mts ago The Obama Administrations proposed budget for 2011 shows a one-third funding cut in the Weed and Seed initiative. Less money for the community program is causing concern for everyone involved in the Huntington area.

Obama courts damascus in hope of ending middle east deadlock - From article.wn.com - 26 day 5 hrs 35 mts ago As Barack Obama moved formally to repair US relations with Syria by nominating an ambassador to serve there after a five-year hiatus, William Burns, Americas top career diplomat, held talks in Damascus yesterday with the Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad on an array of security issues in the region. The sudden flurry of activity reflects a gamble by Washington that engaging more closely with Syria it can persuade it to take steps on a number of fronts that it sees as being vital to improving stability in the Middle East with regard to all its neighbours - Iran, Iraq, Lebanon as well as Israel. Emerging from his meeting with President Bashar, Mr Burns said the nomination of...

Obama names first us ambassador to syria in five years - From article.wn.com - 27 day 8 hrs 43 mts ago WASHINGTON (AFP) – President Barack Obama Tuesday nominated career diplomat Robert Ford as the first US ambassador to Syria in five years, as he seeks to engage Damascus as part of a wider Middle East peace push. If confirmed by the Senate, Ford would be the first US ambassador to Damascus since Washington recalled its envoy after Lebanons former prime minister Rafiq Hariri was killed in February 2005 in a bombing blamed on...

U.s. to return envoy to syria after five - From article.wn.com - 27 day 8 hrs 43 mts ago WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama took a major step toward improving strained ties with Syria on Tuesday, announcing his intention to reappoint a U.S. ambassador to Damascus after a five-year absence. The White House said Obama had nominated career diplomat Robert...

Obama nominates first us ambassador to syria since 2005 - From article.wn.com - 27 day 8 hrs 43 mts ago US President Barack Obama has formally nominated career diplomat Robert Ford as the first American ambassador to Syria in five years. There has been no US envoy in Syria since Damascus was implicated in the murder of ex-Lebanon PM Rafik Hariri. The White House...

Russia on board, but not in line - From article.wn.com - 27 day 23 hrs 4 mts ago By M K Bhadrakumar United States National Security Advisor James Jones, who is usually taciturn, needed 20 words to sum up Russias current foreign policy. Russia is supportive and is on board, and has been a steady friend and ally on this with President [Barack] Obama. he told Fox News on Sunday. The this Jones referred to was Obamas move to deepen pressure on Iran. He was speaking just as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Moscow to press Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to back punitive sanctions on the Islamic republic. Curiously, Vladimir Nazarov, deputy secretary of the Russian National Security Council, was telling the media around the same time that the...

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