U.S. President Barack Obama said the time was ripe for Israel and the Palestinians to resume peace negotiations and that America was prepared to extend a hand of peace to Iran if it "unclenched its fist.", reported reuters. In his first interview with Arab television since taking office, Obama told Al Arabiya on Monday night that his administration would adopt a more comprehensive approach in its ties with the Muslim world. "It is impossible for us to think only in terms of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and not think in terms of what's happening with Syria or Iran or Lebanon or Afghanistan and Pakistan," Obama told the Dubai-based Arabic satellite channel. He praised Saudi King Abdullah for putting forward an Arab plan for peace in the Middle East. On Iran, Obama said he believed it was important to use all the tools of U.S. power with Tehran, including diplomacy. "It is important for us to be willing to talk to Iran, to express very clearly where our differences are, but (also) where there are potential avenues for progress," he said. "If countries like Iran are willing to unclench their fist, they will find an extended hand from us." Obama, who took office on Tuesday, said he had begun to meet his campaign vows by naming former Senator George Mitchell as Middle East envoy. Mitchell was scheduled to arrive in Egypt on Monday night on the first leg of a regional visit. "Sending George Mitchell to the Middle East is fulfilling my campaign promise that we're not going to wait until the end of my administration to deal with Palestinian and Israeli peace. We're going to start now," Obama said. He said his administration wanted to begin by listening and talking to those involved without prejudging their concerns.
