Hidden behind Obama's huge speech and movement in Middle Eastern relations, one thing struck me -- this moment was brought to you by diversity, American diversity.

The Europeans lack the moral authority to tell Israel the truth about their occupation and oppression of the Palestinians given the Holocaust. The old school post-war U.S. security only cared about Israel except as a strategic geopolitical position tinted by orthodoxy.

Who Barack Obama is, an African American, gives the outside view and the moral authority to speak truthfully about Palestine and Israel. Who Barack Obama is, an African American elected by Americans, the U.S. once again has moral authority in leadership of the free world.

Barack Obama as POTUS shows that the U.S. talks the talk and walks the walk. That's a big deal.

...Egyptian looking guy returns to the land of his immediate ancestors.

"By uttering that one word, "intolerable," Obama made a profound moral commitment before the entire world to help the Palestinian people..."

And Obama just guaranteed he won't be in office long enough to make a difference.

We'll see.

That remains to be seen. As an early Obama supporter, I'm increasingly discouraged by President Obama's many about-faces and half-steps (e.g. closing Gitmo, but continuing indefinite detentions, ramping up the "war" in Afganistan/Pakistan while doing little to draw down in Iraq, opposing disclosure of "sensitive" abuse photos, overwhelmingly mind-boggling spending, etc.).

In fairness, no other president in recent memory has faced more challenges, and on balance, I'm not sure if it's fair to expect more. But on matters of policy -- of principle -- President Obama has disappointed. When principles and core values seem to be on the table for negotiation, I can't help but have less optimism than Kamiya that on this issue - the strengthening of U.S./Arab relations in general (this really was not about Muslim relations worldwide, but more about Muslims in the Mid East), and the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict specifically -- mere rhetoric is not enough. Staunch, steady action is required and judging by the POTUS' other retreats on less controversial issues, I cannot help but be unpersuaded that real change is coming to the Israel/Palestine problem.

For example, why visit Buchenwald? Of course, that horrendous tragedy is worthy of presidential recognition, but why now? Why even draw the implicit parallel that the Jewish Holocaust somehow "justified" the occupation of Palestinian land. Israel, IMHO, had the right to a homeland independent of the Holocaust, why continue with this false justification, even by implication? Seems purely like a gesture meant to appease or to settle nerves. Well, appeasement will not work in this situation. Someone's feelings (or worse) will need to be hurt if real justice -- the "intolerable" Palestinian sitation -- is to be resolved. Why not condemn Israeli violence in Gaza? Why not be explicit in condemning the expansion of settlements as the internally illegal acts they are - as well as the provocative and outright peace-impairing acts they are? Why not criticize Israel as we even criticize our own country/leadership at times - as the generally good democracy which has committed some very significant bad acts?

Sure, one speech can't do it all. And I won't say this is a Jewish conspiracy as others surely will. There are legitimate concern about undue influence, no doubt, but there are very valid Israeli concerns that make the 'conspiracy' argument less potent. However, unless and until President Obama can show the backbone to use tougher rhetoric, without false attempts at "balance" (where balance doesn't exist), then how can we expect tougher action? And without tougher action, well...

I live in the region. I talk daily, I live alongside and work, with people whose lives have been profoundly impacted by this 60 year tragedy. Many of them, and many others around the world keep saying ‘these are just words – it is actions that will matter.’ Will there be millions who will disagree with Obama, on all sides of the divide? Of course. When was the last time everybody in the world agreed with everybody? But here’s the thing; the first step towards changing anything is to talk openly, to state things clearly, to offer new perspective, to alter a tone, to say some of the things people have been waiting for years to hear… Yes Obama’s speech was full of ‘words’ but they were important ones. And for having the courage and character to say them – we admire your president.

Everyone seems keen on the two state solution, but realistically, the Israelis and Palestinians are so economically and geographically linked that ultimately they will have share a single secular state. For there to be peace, people will have to abandon the idea that this region belongs to any one group. Religious and ethnic identity must take a back seat to a shared love of place. This will take a big shift in world view by both Jews and Arabs, but to think lasting peace can happen without it is the real fantasy.

There's a commercial in the U.S. that says "friends don't allow other friends to drive drunk" which means a true friend saves you from harming yourself. Barack Obama is a true friend of Israel because if Israel continues on its present course of taking more and more land there will only be two solutions left to the conflict: either keep the Palestinians in a giant prison without any rights or else have a bi-national State. Neither of these two options are acceptable, and the best choice is a two State solution.

The settlers take badly needed money away from the elderly, the poor, the hungry and the disabled and it's long past the time that those funds were spent inside Israel to help those who truly need it.

There is a fantasy among the right wing in Israel that either the Palestinians will disappear or else go to Jordan. They don't understand the grievances of people who see someone from Chicago or New York move to a settlement on land taken from them who now call it theirs. The settlers have made a two State solution close to impossible.

I am a moderate Democrat and a fervent supporter of Israel and I believe that President Obama is a true friend of Israel and a true friend sometimes has to tell you things you may not want to hear but in the long run are in your best interests, and he said those things yesterday in his speech.