"Obama Gives First Interview To Arab Network"

RENEE MONTAGNE, host:

For his very first formal television interview after taking office, President Obama made an unexpected choice, al-Arabiya. Mr. Obama directed his message to the networks Arab audience. A key topic was Israeli-Palestinian relations.

President BARACK OBAMA: The bottom line in all these talks and all these conversations is, is a child in the Palestinian territories going to be better off? Do they have a future for themselves? And is the child in Israel going to feel confident about his or her safety and security?

MONTAGNE: The president sat for that interview after dispatching special envoy George Mitchell to the Middle East.