HE'D ONLY NEED TO SPEAK UP IF HE WERE PLANNING TO CHANGE ANYTHING:

Restrained Obama leaves many displeased: The president-elect's muted response to the Gaza attack leads to criticism and even charges of prejudice. (Paul Richter, January 7, 2009, LA Times)

The displeasure is threatening the incoming administration's chances for a honeymoon in the Middle East, where millions have held high hopes after the bitter conflicts that occurred during the Bush years, analysts say. Obama has announced plans for a major speech in a Muslim capital early this year to begin forging a new and positive relationship with Muslims who have been alienated by Bush.

But Riad Malki, the Palestinian Authority foreign minister, expressed disappointment with Obama this week during an appearance at the United Nations. "We expected him to be open and responsive," he said.

While Obama has avoided interfering with Bush on Gaza, he has condemned with "the harshest of words" the November terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, said Al Quds al Arabi, an Arabic language newspaper published in London. "It seems the rules change when the attacker is Israeli and the victim is Arab or Muslim," the newspaper said.

In an apparent acknowledgment of the growing pressure, Obama broke his silence Tuesday after Israeli shells struck Palestinians in a U.N. school in Gaza, killing at least 30 people.