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Last update - 20:53 09/04/2009
WATCH: Did Barack Obama bow to Saudi King Abdullah?
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Saudi Arabia, Israel News 

U.S. President Barack Obama has drawn fire from conservative commentators in the press and the blogosphere after video surfaced on the Internet apparently showing Obama bowing before Saudi King Abdullah during the G-20 economic summit in London on April 1.

Political Web sites and editorial pages of newspapers with a rightist bent were critical of what they term as the president's "break with diplomatic protocol."

In the clip, Obama appears to bow before the Saudi monarch, lowering his head in the direction of Abdullah's hand as he shook it just moments before G-20 leaders posed for a group photograph in London last week.



"Such an act is a traditional obeisance befitting a king's subjects, not his peer. There is no precedent for U.S. presidents bowing to Saudi or any other royals," the conservative Washington Times wrote in an editorial.

The buzz surrounding the bowing controversy prompted the White House to issue a denial on Wednesday.

"It wasn't a bow. He grasped his hand with two hands, and he's taller than King Abdullah," an Obama aide told the Internet news site Politco.com on Wednesday.

Obama's overtures to the Muslim world are a centerpiece of his foreign policy, as demonstrated this week during his historic address to the Turkish parliament as well as his commitment to solve the stand-off with Iran over its nuclear program through diplomatic channels.

The U.S. "is not and never will be at war with Islam," Obama told Turkish lawmakers. "America's relationship cannot and will not be based on opposition to Al-Qaida."

Obama is also intent on actively promoting a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a position that could place him on a collision course with the government headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In an unprecedented move, the Obama administration is readying for a possible confrontation with Netanyahu by briefing Democratic congressmen on the peace process and the positions of the new government in Israel regarding a two-state solution.

In recent weeks, American officials have briefed senior Democratic congressmen and prepared for the possibility of disagreements with Israel over the peace process.

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      1.   It looked to me like he was kissing the King`s Hand 20:24  |  Alan SA 09/04/09
      2.   Time for invitation 20:36  |  Steve 09/04/09
      3.   Not his finest moment 20:42  |  MarkC 09/04/09
      4.   That looks like a bow, disgusting. 20:47  |  David 09/04/09
      5.   Kissing 20:53  |  Paul 09/04/09
      6.   Sign of respect nothing more 20:56  |  gus 09/04/09
      7.   Not Bush 21:10  |  Gil Michaeli 09/04/09
      8.   If you have to ask, it`s not a bow 21:11  |  Natallie Durson 09/04/09
      9.   And Bush walked arms around each other also took his shoes off.. 21:13  |  KLV 09/04/09
      10.   Thou shalt not bow down to them or serve them. 21:16  |  petra 09/04/09
      11.   Two hands my foot 21:32  |  Chris Perver 09/04/09
      12.   Did Barack Obama bow to Saudi King Abdullah? 21:35  |  AM 09/04/09
      13.   #1: 2 me 2! 21:50  |  Obama Hussein bowed! 09/04/09
      14.   Big Deal 22:00  |  Indian 09/04/09
      15.   natalie durson 22:13  |  Connie 09/04/09
      16.   # 6 gus...it will NEVER be Ok for the Pres 22:20  |  Lynn 09/04/09
      17.   #14 Indian...why didn`t he bow to Queen Elizabeth? 22:23  |  Lynn 09/04/09
      18.   I dont see anyone throwing shoes at him!! 22:51  |  Joe 09/04/09
      19.   Obama demeaned himself and the USA.... 22:52  |  Nemesis 09/04/09
      20.   He did bow 22:52  |  Semsem 09/04/09
      21.   So what if Obama bowed to the king of Saudi Arabia? 23:03  |  Maureen Ann 09/04/09
      22.   he may as well kissed his feet 23:05  |  Observer 09/04/09
      23.   He bent deeply from the waist - that`s called a bow 23:12  |  x-ray 09/04/09
      24.   Silly Gossip 23:18  |  Matthew Houston 09/04/09
      25.   Obama did bow 23:26  |  Brod 09/04/09
      26.   He stuck his head down and his arse out. Obviously dancing tango 23:36  |  x-ray 09/04/09
      27.   Obama bowing to the King 23:37  |  Sasha 09/04/09
      28.   Obama bowing to the King 23:37  |  Sasha 09/04/09
      29.   IF REALLY BOWED....!!! 23:41  |  Samy 09/04/09
      30.   Golda, grab some clothes. We`re leaving this planet on the next f 23:47  |  H 09/04/09
      31.   Of course he bowed... 23:50  |  flyingdoc57 09/04/09
      32.   How embarassing for Americans 23:57  |  John Stamos 09/04/09
      33.   Looks more like a teacher greeting a new kid in class 23:58  |  Mark B. 09/04/09
      34.   He bowed indeed. 23:58  |  Tshvekes Klapper 09/04/09
      35.   Our Muslim President bowed to his Muslim King 00:00  |  Steve 10/04/09
      36.   Israels supporters seek any sign 00:01  |  Natallie Durson 10/04/09
      37.   #38 Samy - The King really wasn`t that short 00:11  |  *BEN JABO 10/04/09
      38.   Did he "did not bow" the same when he met the Queen of England? 00:13  |  Emanuel 10/04/09
      39.   Sugar for the bird 00:13  |  Clickfool 10/04/09
      40.   #9 KLV TA 00:13  |  *BEN JABO 10/04/09
      41.   AMERICANS LOVE HIM,STILL. 00:15  |  Mike 10/04/09
      42.   #18 Brod, who gives a damn! 00:30  |  joker`s wild 10/04/09
      43.   BHO Monica head bobs 00:35  |  Ali Boobalikin 10/04/09
      44.   #15 Say Cupcake, you are being silly! 00:36  |  ballistic 10/04/09
      45.   #4 If an American President can shake 00:38  |  ballistic 10/04/09
      46.   I must admit 00:44  |  cesare 10/04/09
      47.   Barack Obama bowed 00:49  |  DOV KORET 10/04/09
      48.   No, He Was Checking To See If His Fly Was Unzipped 01:07  |  David H 10/04/09
      49.   #16 Lynn 01:17  |  Mark B. 10/04/09
      50.   Obama has not a clue about being President 01:29  |  Shepherd 10/04/09
      51.   boa 01:39  |  mike 10/04/09
      52.   obama is not american 01:41  |  harzion 10/04/09
      53.   Obama 01:41  |  Straight talk 10/04/09
      54.   obama`s culture is foreign to americans 01:43  |  harzion 10/04/09
      55.   in itself seems nothing much but rather awful 01:46  |  harzion 10/04/09
      56.   obama did nothing in five years in the senate 01:49  |  harzion 10/04/09
      57.   so thats why he invited jews to a passover seder 01:51  |  harzion 10/04/09
      58.   tall man 01:51  |  ron 10/04/09
      59.   it does not matter what we think about him 01:53  |  harzion 10/04/09
      60.   The Bow 02:05  |  The Gentile 10/04/09
      61.   Is this really more important than NOT smooching... 02:24  |  Aphemia 10/04/09
      62.   Medvedev the Midget 02:34  |  alex 10/04/09
      63.   And watch him 02:42  |  Anthony 10/04/09
      64.   #1 yes you are correct!! 02:49  |  lily 10/04/09
      65.   #8 Natalie, are you an African American? 02:57  |  John Allen 10/04/09
      66.   obama bowing 02:59  |  Rick 10/04/09
      67.   Definitely not a bow but showing courtesy 03:01  |  Mark B. 10/04/09
      68.   Obama bowed before his master 03:20  |  Kin 10/04/09
      69.   Only in an Israeli Newspaper would anyone care 03:38  |  mark 10/04/09
      70.   Obama `s subtle message 03:45  |  dick 10/04/09
      71.   American customs 03:46  |  sonny 10/04/09
      72.   Gotchaaaaa!!!!!!!!!! 03:48  |  Ghostdog 10/04/09
      73.   haha 04:45  |  haha 10/04/09
      74.   seeing is believing 04:45  |  Patrick Warner 10/04/09
      75.   John Allen#48 reNatalie, are you an African American? R U a Jew 04:58  |  American in NY 10/04/09
      76.   #27..ballistic 05:04  |  Nemesis 10/04/09
      77.   He was looking closely at the Kings Wrist Watch 05:35  |  Muslim 10/04/09
      78.   So What!!!!!! 05:54  |  wally 10/04/09
      79.   flyingdoc57 - Don`t grit your teeth! 06:36  |  Natallie Durson 10/04/09
      80.   I am so sorry to report, this pains me greatly... 06:57  |  BBSNews 10/04/09
      81.   Take Two 06:58  |  Shimon Cleopas 10/04/09
      82.   So What? 07:29  |  Yosemite 10/04/09
      83.   It wasn`t a bow, it was ...? 08:09  |  howiej 10/04/09
      84.   Leader of the Free World should not bow to a dictator 08:58  |  Peter Williams 10/04/09
      85.   # 4 David 08:59  |  Dr.Joji Cherian 10/04/09
      86.   Paul-kissing a monarch and holding hands,makes one equal,unlike b 09:04  |  Susanna/shoshana 10/04/09
      87.   Bush and the King 10:01  |  Clickfool 10/04/09
      88.   he was tieing his shoelaces 10:04  |  avinoam 10/04/09
      89.   He wasn`t wearing a yarmulka and didn`t pray before a wall 10:06  |  Joe 10/04/09
      90.   #15 Gee Connie, do tell, you`ve gone 10:16  |  ballistic 10/04/09
      91.   #76 Well Nemesis, 10:34  |  ballistic 10/04/09
      92.   "Right-wing" media upset? 10:50  |  FOX 10/04/09
      93.   the saudis are financing al qaeda which is attacking 11:12  |  harzion 10/04/09
      94.   the saudis are financing the wahabis in the uk 11:14  |  harzion 10/04/09
      95.   islam attacks the west 11:18  |  harzion 10/04/09
      96.   tall person bows to a shorter one to say hi 11:55  |  Mario 10/04/09
      97.   Yes, Mr.Obama did bow, so what..! 13:15  |  Stephen. 10/04/09
      98.   If the ruler of the USA makes obeisance to another ruler 13:55  |  Not empty courtesy 10/04/09
      99.   # 38 Samy....no, he did not 14:28  |  Lynn 10/04/09
      100.   # 44 Wormwood......Yeah, that landslide election 14:36  |  Lynn 10/04/09
      101.   # 36 Durson.....He can`t cancel anything 14:43  |  Lynn 10/04/09
      102.   saudi princes and rich merchants send huge 15:31  |  zevulun 10/04/09
      103.   stephen "bow to the keeper of mecca" 15:50  |  harzion 10/04/09
      104.   stephen "i am not sure all would understand" 15:51  |  harzion 10/04/09
      105.   who is the biggest media fan of obama`s 16:27  |  aviezer 10/04/09
      106.   a bow yes he can 16:31  |  jeff 10/04/09
      107.   # 97 Stephen....your adulation is noted 16:32  |  Lynn 10/04/09
      108.   Not sign of respect sign of weakness 16:42  |  Leo 10/04/09
      109.   #107. Lynn. 16:55  |  Stephen. 10/04/09
      110.   Obama has submitted to Islam. Goodbye America. 16:59  |  BF 10/04/09
      111.   Stephen of Geneve - yes he can be wrong 17:00  |  x-ray 10/04/09
      112.   gus of course you want your king shown respect and obeyed too 17:03  |  x-ray 10/04/09
      113.   Obama Bow 17:20  |  S 10/04/09
      114.   Lynn, your Obama hatred is noted... 17:45  |  BBSNews 10/04/09
      115.   #109 Stephen...exactly, adulation is also 17:48  |  Lynn 10/04/09
      116.   President Obama is not subsevient. 17:53  |  Lou Medel 10/04/09
      117.   #.103.harzion. 18:33  |  Stephen. 10/04/09
      118.   The Bow 18:34  |  Cynthia 10/04/09
      119.   The Bow 18:54  |  Cynthia 10/04/09
      120.   If it is just a bow why lie? 19:01  |  MB 10/04/09
      121.   It was clearly a bow 19:55  |  Great White North 10/04/09
      122.   # 106 jeff ....pity the way they treat women 20:14  |  Lynn 10/04/09
      123.   to #5 Paul 22:44  |  Hilda 10/04/09
      124.   to #5 Paul 22:44  |  Hilda 10/04/09
      125.   ri #6 Gus 22:45  |  Hilda 10/04/09
      126.   is it quake? 15:33  |  saif m.karar 11/04/09
      127.   It is only a sign of RESPECT to one`s ELDERS 18:36  |  Mathew Brit 11/04/09
      128.   Look, and Listen Closely 23:22  |  FOX 11/04/09
      129.   Blessings from obamerica! Socialist Republic 02:45  |  yeiel 12/04/09
      130.   Did Barack Obama bow to Saudi King Abdullah? 05:26  |  Marvin I. Wolfe 12/04/09
      131.   Did Barack Obama bow to Saudi King Abdullah? 05:29  |  Marvin I. Wolfe 12/04/09
      132.   DID Obama bow? 16:09  |  Keri 12/04/09
      133.   Hey Cynthia (108) 01:11  |  Silvia 13/04/09
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