Israel Matzav

Abu Mazen and Fayyad send condolences to Netanyahu; still no word from Obama

In a surprising move, 'moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen and 'Palestinian' Prime Minister Salam Fayyad have sent condolences to Prime Minister Netanyahu on the loss of his father. Abu Mazen has even gone so far to call Netanyahu his 'peace partner' for the first time since Netanyahu took office.

But on Tuesday, Abbas and Fayyad were among the first governmental leaders to tell Netanyahu that they were sorry for his loss. The text of their letters was not released to the media.

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On Monday night, Abbas said that he considered Netanyahu to be his peace partner.

‪Speaking during a visit to Tunisia, Abbas said: "I choose you, Netanyahu, because you are our partner for peace.With who will I make peace? You are the prime minister and I have to deal with you. But you have to choose between settlements and peace."

‪Abbas said he was referring to remarks by Netanyahu to the effect that there is no partner on the Palestinian side in light of the split between the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

‪Noting that Netanyahu had said that Abbas must choose between peace with Israel and peace with Hamas, the PA president added: "We choose both. Hamas is part of our people and they were elected and have a majority in the Palestinian Legislative Council and no one can deny this."

‪Abbas said he did not care what Netanyahu thought about the reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas. "What is important is our interest – that the Palestinian land and people be united," he said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu has apparently not heard from President Hussein Obama.

Friends, relatives and diplomatic dignitaries visited him there to pay there respects.

Among them were visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba, US Senator John Kerry, and Australian Financial Services Minister Bill Shorten.

Survivors from the Entebbe raid in 1976, in which Netanyahu’s brother Yonatan lost his life, came to the homes, as did those who served with the prime minister in the army.

From the United States the presumptive Republican contender for the US presidency Mitt Romney spoke of his sorrow at Netanyahu’s loss. The two men have been friends since they worked together at a Boston consulting group in the 1970s.

In a Twitter message Romney said, “I extend my sincere condolences to the family of Benzion Netanyahu. This is a loss for all of Israel and for all who care about Israel.”

Obama's really got our back, doesn't he?

Labels: Barack Hussein Obama, Binyamin Netanyahu

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:48 PM