Obama is facing a rapidly growing list of monumental foreign policy challenges as he prepares to take the reins of power.

Forcing its way to the top of Obama's overflowing to-do list has been the conflict in the Middle East.

During a trip to the Middle East in the summer of 2008, Obama expressed his support for Israel to defend itself against rocket attacks fired by Hamas.

Barack Obama, U.S. President-elect, said, "I don't even care if I was a politician if somebody was sending rockets into my house where my two daughters sleep at night, I'm going to do everything in my power to stop that."

For some analysts, the recent flare-up in Gaza highlights the importance of restarting a comprehensive peace initiative in the region.

Shibley Telhami, Mideast Analyst, said, "If we don't have a two-state solution there aren't any good options on the table that are viable, that are credible, that could work, that people will accept and when you don't have viable options on the table you have more conflict, more bloodshed."

Obama also promised an ambitious foreign policy agenda that included withdrawing most U.S. combat troops from Iraq.

Barack Obama, U.S. President-elect, said, "I've been against it 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 8 and I will bring this war to an end in 2009."

(CCTV January 20, 2009)