Israel Matzav

Abu Mazen's Chutzpa; Rice's Cowardice

'Moderate Palestinian President' Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen called US Secretary of State Condaleeza Rice on Friday to ask her to press Israel to 'stop escalating tensions.'

According to Al-AP, in the telephone conversation Friday, Abbas called for US intervention on behalf of the Palestinians to get Israel to stop launching airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rdeneh said.

You would think that the US Secretary of State would tell Abu Mazen that if the 'Palestinians' would stop shooting rockets at Israel from the Gaza Strip, there would be something to discuss, but until then, he has no reason to call her. You would be wrong.

Instead, according to Al-AP quoting Abu Rdeneh, Rice committed to press Israel to work to instill calm in the region and urged Abbas to do so as well.

There's that good old misplaced even-handedness again.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:13 AM