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Obama embarks on Mideast phone diplomacy
New President Barack Obama on Wednesday made a flurry of calls to Arab and Israeli leaders in a signal that Middle East peacemaking is a top priority following Israel's blitz on the Gaza Strip, according to the White House.A Palestinian spokesman said that Obama had told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that he was the recipient of his first call as the 44th U.S. president.
"He said he would deploy every possible effort to achieve peace as quickly as possible," the spokesman added. "President Abbas urged him to work towards peace based on international resolutions." The close Abbas aide admitted surprise at the speed with which Obama moved. "We were not expecting such a quick call from President Obama but we knew how serious he is about the Palestinian problem," said Yasser Abed Rabbo. "The speed of the call is a message signaling to all concerned parties that the Palestinian people has one address and that's president Abbas." Posted by: Fred 2009-01-22 |
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