Obama to launch PR campaign to sway Israelis, Arabs on peace

In light of the difficulties it has encountered in advancing the diplomatic process in the Middle East, the Obama administration plans on launching a public relations blitz in Israel and the Arab states.

The New York Times reported on Monday that President Barack Obama plans to grant a number of interviews to Israeli and Arab television stations as part of his campaign to sway public opinion in the region in favor of his vision for peace.

Obama's special envoy to the region, George Mitchell, told the newspaper that a misconception has taken hold according to which the U.S. is leaning solely on Israel to halt construction in West Bank settlements.

"It is completely inaccurate to portray this as, 'We're only asking the Israelis to do things'," Mitchell told the Times. "We are asking everybody to do things."

Mitchell granted a rare interview to the Times at a time in which the administration has come under criticism for its perceived policy of only making demands of Israel.

The former Maine senator added that, contrary to popular belief, Arab states have not rejected President Obama's request for good-will gestures toward Israel.

"We've gotten, over all, a very good response, a desire to act, some public statements to that effect from the crown prince of Bahrain, the president of Egypt," Mitchell told the Times.

The envoy said the statements on Israel that he has heard from Arab leaders in closed-door sessions significantly differ from the public pronouncements reported in the press. Mitchell told the paper that the Arab states are ready to undertake new measures.

Although Mitchell did not specify which measures the Arab governments would adopt, observers speculated that they may include the opening of Israeli commercial interest offices in Arab states and vice versa; granting travel visas to Israelis; permitting El Al planes to fly over Arab countries en route to destinations in Asia; and granting interviews of Arab leaders to Israeli media outlets.

The Saudis, Mitchell said, "want to be helpful. They, like everyone we're talking to, want a peace agreement that will lay the foundation for the end of this conflict. I truly believe that's what they want."

Mitchell added that a compromise has yet to be reached with the Netanyahu government over the issue of settlements, though he did add that any eventual deal will likely not be one which "everyone is going to stand up and cheer about."

"The phase we're now engaged in is a means to an end," Mitchell told the Times. "It is not an end in itself. The end is getting a peace agreement."