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Last update - 02:29 05/11/2008
Arabs across the Middle East express preference for Obama
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Barack Obama, Hamas 

News coverage of the American elections on Tuesday flooded the Middle East, where it appeared residents of a region heavily implicated by U.S. foreign policy were rooting for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Palestinian, Syrian and Iranian leaders have expressed hope, either privately or publicly, of an Obama victory. Palestinians believe Obama is more likely than his Republican rival, John McCain, to work toward the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Damascus and Tehran, meanwhile, think he is more likely to advance diplomatic means of ending the two countries' international isolation.

Report: Hamas says McCain, Obama are both 'awful' options
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Hamas officials voiced skepticism on Tuesday that the United States presidential election would result in a change in U.S. policy in the Middle East and toward the group, Israel Radio reported.

Israel Radio quoted a Hamas spokesman in Gaza, Fawzi Barhoom, as describing the choice between the Republican candidate John McCain and his Democratic rival Barack Obama as one between two "awful" options.

However, Hamas' Damascus-based political chief Khaled Meshal said that the Palestinian militant group would welcome any change in U.S. policy especially if it corrected what he termed "bias" toward Israel.


He added that Hamas is prepared to work with any U.S. president.

Meanwhile, Israel Radio also reported that Deputy Prime Minister and Shas Chairman Eli Yishai said on Tuesday that Israel must demand a public commitment from the next U.S. president that Jerusalem will not be divided.

One of the key reasons Yishai cited for his ultra-Orthodox party not joining a coalition headed by Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni was her refusal to rule out reaching a compromise on Jerusalem in peace talks with Palestinains.



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      1.   And what do we learn from that....???? 13:06  |  Swiss (Dino) 04/11/08
      2.   i am feeling bad i agree with hamas !! 13:10  |  victor hardman 04/11/08
      3.   Of course 13:30  |  Mark Lincoln 04/11/08
      4.   Fortunately for Hamas, they have no option 13:40  |  Natallie Durson 04/11/08
      5.   I know Hamas always lies but . . . 14:38  |  Joe Camel 04/11/08
      6.   ya..jerusalem not divided 14:44  |  sam i am 04/11/08
      7.   THIS IS GOOD 15:15  |  indrajaya 04/11/08
      8.   3, Mark Lincoln 15:23  |  Harry 04/11/08
      9.   It`s Not Going to Change U.S. Policy 16:08  |  Tex 04/11/08
      10.   Pro-Israel bias 16:59  |  jj 04/11/08
      11.   It`s Hamas That Needs to CHANGE not US Policy 17:36  |  B`Galil 04/11/08
      12.   No News Here 19:03  |  Jasper 04/11/08
      13.   Hamas shows it`s smart 19:15  |  Joe Sittizen 04/11/08
      14.   Who gives a $%!t what Hamas says 19:22  |  Ben 04/11/08
      15.   Shas rabbi ` demand a public commitment` 19:27  |  what is with them? 04/11/08
      16.   hamas is nothing 19:34  |  real vision 04/11/08
      17.   Hamas 19:45  |  Chris 04/11/08
      18.   no split j`slem no two state solution 19:48  |  one Palestine State 04/11/08
      19.   Hamas says McCain, Obama are both `awful` options 19:57  |  Julian 04/11/08
      20.   to number 18 21:36  |  avi 04/11/08
      21.   dearest misinformed avi: history is not you forte is it? 22:02  |  get an education 04/11/08
      22.   re: dearest misinformed avi: history is not you forte is it? 22:14  |  ralph 04/11/08
      23.   #1 Swiss(Dino) 22:28  |  Nemesis 04/11/08
      24.   America is STILL an independent country not a colony of Iran 23:01  |  Realist 04/11/08
      25.   so ralphy boy where was i wrong? 23:11  |  please do tell 04/11/08
      26.   Ralph`s thoughtful non-rebuttal... 01:57  |  BBSNews 05/11/08
      27.   So are Africans, Europeans, Asians 02:44  |  Mark Lincoln 05/11/08
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