Israel Matzav

What if they held a summit and nobody came?

'Moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen is considering asking the US to postpone this fall's scheduled summit with the United States, Israel and any Arab countries willing to recognize Israel's 'right to exist' because the 'Palestinians' are not yet ready to reach an accord with Israel on 'fundamental issues' such as borders, Jerusalem and 'refugees.'

The Palestinians, they added, are also "disturbed" by the fact that several Arab countries have hinted that they would stay away from the conference, which is slated for November.

In addition, they warned, the conference is likely to aggravate the power struggle between Fatah and Hamas, which has come out strongly against it.

PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, who visited Jeddah and Amman last week, apparently failed to persuade the Saudis and Jordanians to take part in the conference. The Egyptians are also reported to have expressed reservations about the planned conference, warning that the lack of preparations for it would turn it into a mere photo opportunity.

"Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan have made it clear that they see no point in attending the conference because of its unclear agenda," one PA official said.

"The Palestinians would like to see as many Arab countries at the conference as possible. We are going there to discuss fundamental issues that are of interest not only to the Palestinians, but the majority of Arabs and Muslims."

It's incredible that after all these years the 'Palestinians' still don't get it. They are of interest to the Arab countries so long as they are a club with which the Arab countries can bash Israel and keep their own 'streets' demands for democratic reforms at bay. If the 'Palestinians' are actually going to reach a deal with Israel (which I don't believe they will although with Olmert in power you never know what kind of 'deal' we could reach), the Arab countries are not interested.

"We don't want to repeat the mistake of the failed Camp David summit [in 2000], when the late president Yasser Arafat was left alone to face heavy pressure from the Israelis and Americans," the PA official explained. "If the Arabs are not going, then we're also not going."

What a joke. Heavy pressure from whom to do what? Concede 2% of the 'West Bank' in exchange for comparable territory in 'Israel proper'? And by the way, who was defending Israel seven years ago anyway? Surely not Slick Willie Clinton!

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:57 PM