President Barak Obama's first call to a foreign leader was placed to M. Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority. Obama pledged his commitment to finding solutions to the conflicts in the Middle East.

After Abbas, Obama called the Prime Minister of Israel and the President of Egypt.

Obama chose to make his calls to this group to send a message that he is serious about American involvement in the region. Is this a good development for the United States? For Israel? For attempts to bring peace?

Last year, President Bush and Condoleeza Rice publicly announced a muscular intervention into this world. Their meddling actually contributed to the conflict with Hamas.

History teaches us that trying to force a settlement between Israel and its Arab neighbors has failed time and again.Will this time be different?

Also, yesterday, President Obama publicly reaffirmed the special relationship between Israel and the United States.