Israel Matzav

Will the US risk a confrontation with the Saudis?

The talk from Jerusalem this evening sounds good:

“It is reasonable to obligate them [the PA] to renounce violence, to recognize the right [of Israel] to exist and honor international agreements,” [US Secretary of State Condaleeza] Rice told reporters.

Yes, it's reasonable. But when the 'Palestinians' refuse - as they have done consistently until now - and when 'moderate' 'Palestinian President' Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen tells Rice (as 'sources close' to him told the JPost) that

"Hamas will score many points on the Palestinian street if the international community continues to boycott the Palestinian government," the sources said. "All we are saying is that the international community should first wait to see the new government's policy. The unity government will certainly be better than the outgoing Hamas government."

And when Abu Mazen tells Rice that

he had no choice but to sign the agreement with the hope that it would prevent an all-out war between Fatah and Hamas.

Will Rice back down? And if she doesn't, what will happen when the Saudis start exerting pressure on the US to end the 'boycott' of the 'Palestinians'?

I'd like to believe that the US is really going to back Israel to the hilt and not try to force it to deal with the 'national unity' government that does not accept its right to exist. But I don't really expect it to happen.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:14 AM