President Obama gave the first interview of his new administration Monday, sitting down with journalist Hisham Melhem for the Dubai-based Arab channel, Al Arabiya. The president talked about his hopes for presenting a new image of America to the Muslim world, where anti-American sentiment increased during the Bush administration. President Obama discussed plans for addressing the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and improving relationships with Arab allies. Following excerpts, Hisham Melhem discusses his own impressions of Obama's message and how Arab audiences responded. Quotes "I do think that 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. These things are interrelated." -President Barack Obama "You know, I have Muslim members of my family. I have lived in Muslim countries. My job is to communicate to the American people that the Muslim world is filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives. My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy." -President Barack Obama "In terms of content, didn't say much, but he -- again, he spoke about the humanity of both sides, the pain of the Palestinian child, the need for that Palestinian child for dignity and a place under the sun, and the need of the Israeli child for a sense of security. So there was this kind of mutual recognition." -Hisham Melhem, journalist Warm Up Questions 1. Where is the Middle East? What countries are in the region? 2. What do you know about the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians? 3. What does "Arab" mean? Discussion Questions 1. What did you think about President Obama's interview? 2. Do you think that the Obama administration will be able to help the situation between Palestinians and the Israelis? Why or Why not? 3. Do you think it is a good idea for President Obama to give his first interview to an Arab channel? Why or why not? 4. What similarities and differences do you notice between the positions of the Obama Administration and the Bush Administration towards the Middle East? Additional Resources Read the transcript Video Blog: Arabs View Obama With Cautious Optimism