(20 Jan 2009)
Israel-Gaza border, filmed from the Israeli side of the border with northern Gaza
1. Various of Israeli soldiers, sitting on top of tanks, reading about Obama in newspaper
2. Close of newspaper headline, pull out to soldier
3. SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew) Israeli tank crew member, name unknown:
"I wish him all the best. He has the strongest army in the world. If he can't sort things out here, then no one can."
4. Wide of soldier on top of tank, pan left to tank unit
Jerusalem
5. Israel President Shimon Peres entering room at presidential residence, sitting down
6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Shimon Peres, Israeli President:
"Obama has mobilised the greatest amount of good will and support in all walks of life. This mobilisation of good will is becoming his strength in its own right, and I think all of us expect to translate this occasion into a real opportunity to pacify, to meet with the dialogue and bring the solution of peace to all parties concerned."
Tel Aviv, Israel
7. Wide of Tel Aviv high rise buildings
8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Doron Rozen, Tel Aviv resident:
"I'm not sure he will be able to do something for the Middle East because it's very complicated, the conflict between Israel and the Arab people, and it will take a lot of years to solve this crisis."
9. Flags on poles outside opera house
10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ahvva Havshush, Tel Aviv resident:
"I hope that Obama will continue to support Israel and will bring peace to the Middle East."
Gaza City, Gaza Strip
11. Wide of main square
12. Gaza residents walking in street
13. Wide of people walking in street
14. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Vox Pop, Gaza resident:
"We don't expect any good from any American president."
Ramallah, West Bank
15. Man stacking newspapers in shop
16. Mid of newspapers headlines on display
17. Close of Herald Tribune newspaper with front page story about Barack Obama
18. SOUNDBITE (English) Mohamad Jabri, Ramallah physician:
"Personally, I am not sure that he will change anything for the best for the general situation in Palestine. I'm sure that it's going to be the same. I never get any hope from the American side that they will give any peace for the Palestinians or they will ensure the demolition of the occupation of the Palestinian territory."
19. Men drinking coffee on the street
20. Al-Manara square, main square in Ramallah
STORYLINE:
Residents of various cities in Israel and the Palestinian territories on Tuesday expressed their hopes and thoughts ahead of a new US administration, hours before the inauguration of US President-elect Barack Obama.
Early on Tuesday, as Israeli tanks and armoured vehicles continued to withdraw from Gaza, soldiers were reading newspaper coverage of events in Washington.
One tank crew member said he wished Obama well, adding if the new US president couldn't resolve the situation in the Middle East, then no one could.
Obama will take the presidential oath of office at noon (1700 GMT) on Tuesday in Washington DC, when he will be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States.
Residents of Gaza City, who have just endured a devastating three week Israeli assault, in which over 1,300 Palestinians were killed, including 416 children according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, expressed little optimism about Obama's presidency.
"Obama will bring nothing new and the United States' politics will be very weak and it will be controlled by the Israeli lobby and the Zionist forces," said one man.
The sentiments were similar in the West Bank.
As the fragile ceasefire appears to hold, Gaza's residents now face the task of reconstruction.
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