National Prayer Breakfast: National Prayer Breakfast 2010 Washington DC – President Obama urged Democrats and Republicans to not question one another’s motives and to make an effort to move beyond the cynicism and skepticism that has weighed down the politics of Washington, saying: “Civility is not a sign of weakness.”

In an appearance today at the National Prayer Breakfast, Mr. Obama conceded that policy differences would often separate the political parties. But he challenged lawmakers and religious leaders to step beyond their comfort zones and unify on at least some daily challenges, not only when a calamity like the Haiti earthquake strikes.

During the address President Obama evoked the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “”Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” He called for more civility in political discourse, as he characterized Washington politics as a “tower of babble” that “can lose the sound of God’s voice.” He went on to say: “Surely you can question my policies without questioning my faith…Or for that matter my citizenship,” a line which drew applause.

Like many around the world, we had great hopes for the new administration of President Barack Obama. His speech in Cairo and his initial demand that Israel freeze all settlement activity were welcomed warmly.

President Obama was the first American president to publicly acknowledge that the creation of a Palestinian state is in the national security interestsof the United States. More recently, he observed that it is not in the interests of Americans or Israelis to have millions of Palestinians lacking freedom and devoid of hope.

Sadly, the Obama administration backed away from its call for an end to all settlement growth, and Israel continues to entrench the occupation, flouting international law and its obligations under previous agreements.

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