His message was sweeping and forceful — promoting democracy in Egypt, warning Israelis against building new settlements, and acknowledging that the US had fallen short of its ideals, particularly in the Iraq war. It also evoked a new and nuanced tone, and some of Obama’s language drew appreciative applause from his audience of 3,000 invited guests in the Major Reception Hall at Cairo University.

He spoke of “Palestine”, rather than the more ambiguous term often used by American leaders, “future Palestinian state”. And, in reference to the Palestinians, he pointedly mentioned “the daily humiliations... that come with occupation”.

He described the bond between the US and Israel as “unbreakable”, and urged Hamas, the Islamic militant group in control of the Gaza Strip, to stop violence. But in his next breath, Obama said Israel must curtail its expansion of West bank settlements and recognise Palestinian aspirations for statehood.

Obama said: “The only resolution is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states, where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security,” he said.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, called it “a good start and an important step towards a new American policy”.

“America is not and never will be at war with Islam. We will, however, relentlessly confront violent extremists who pose a grave threat to our security,” Obama said.

“I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear. But that same principle must apply to Muslim perceptions of America. Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire.”

... contd.