US President Barack Obama pledged on Thursday to “seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world”, imploring America and the Islamic world to forge new alliances to confront violent extremism and heal religious divides.

“We have a responsibility to join together on behalf of the world we seek,” he said. “A world where extremists no longer threaten our people, and American troops have come home; a world where Israelis and Palestinians are each secure in a state of their own, and nuclear energy is used for peaceful purposes; a world where governments serve their citizens, and the rights of all God’s children are respected.”

He dwelled on Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan but reserved some of his sharpest words for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He offered no major initiatives on the West Asia peace process although he put Israelis and Palestinians on notice that he intends to deal directly with what he sees as intransigence on key issues, asking both to shift ground significantly.

The speech in Cairo, which he called a “timeless city”, redeemed a promise he made nearly two years ago while running for President.

“I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition,” he said. “Instead, they overlap, and share common principles — principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.”

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