Obama and Olmert--before the Gaza fighting
Obama and Olmert--before the Gaza fightingIsrael News Photo: Flash 90

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, facing increased criticism for his silence on the conflict on the Gaza conflict, finally commented Tuesday that he will "hit the ground running" when he takes office January 20.

The next president told reporters, "The loss of civilian life in Gaza and Israel is a source of deep concern to me, and after January 20th I am going to have plenty to say about the issue... I will hit the ground running."

His absence of any substantive statements has been based on the principle that "there is only one president at a time." One aide told Reuters, "During this transition period, we are not engaging in any action that could send confusing signals to the world about who speaks on behalf of the United States."

However, critics have noted that President-elect Obama joined President George W. Bush to denounce the Mumbai terrorist massacre. He also has spoken about the financial crisis gripping the United States. Morton Klein, president of the Zionist Organization of America, commented that "he is not screaming 'there's only one president' when he's talking about the economic stimulus package.'"

If the crisis is over by January 20, Obama will be able to start his term untarnished as having either favored or condemned Israel, former American envoy to Israel Edward Walker told Reuters.



However, a continuation of the fighting would place the President-elect in a hot spot with the Arab world.

Martin Indyk, another former ambassador to Israel, estimated that Obama "will have to mobilize Arab leaders in support of a major effort" because the fighting has weakened his potential Arab supporters.

Arab world criticism of the U.S. has been almost universal, and Al-Qaeda's deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahri called President-elect Obama's silence a "gift to Israel."

The intelligence monitoring SITE reported that al-Zawahri said, "This is Obama whom the American machine of lies tried to portray as the rescuer who will change the policy of America. He kills your brothers and sisters in Gaza mercilessly and without affection."