Not Helpful
In the world of things that could convincing skeptics that Israel will get something in return for giving up the Gaza Strip, this is the very definition of unhelpful:
Rice warned Israel on Friday not to complicate the path to peace with the Palestinians by building new Jewish settlements just as the date approaches for Israelis to fulfill a promise to leave other, established settlements. "We don't intend that the Israelis try to create facts on the ground," Rice told reporters traveling on the plane with her to Israel. "They simply cannot engage in activities that are supposed to prejudge the final terms of a peace settlement," Rice said.
The article does go on to quote American and Israeli sources" to the effect that Rice's statements are window-dressing, and that she won't really pressure Sharon. I really hope that's true, but as Lynn B emailed me yesterday, what the hell else are Sharon's people going to say? And if the purpose is to provide Sharon with political wiggle-room, then why make public statements that are sure to damage his credibility?
Meanwhile, the Palestinians continue to try to create their own facts on the ground:
Israel Defense Forces troops killed an Islamic Jihad militant Saturday afternoon after a four-person cell, comprised of Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and Islamic Jihad militants, infiltrated the Gaza Strip settlement of Kfar Darom.
For those of you keeping score at home, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades is an offshoot of Fatah, controlled by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and the Islamic Jihad is one of those charming baby-killing "resistance" groups that Abbas is refusing to disarm. Everything’s going to be OK though - Rice is in Israel to pressure Abbas to (this just boggles the mind) maintain the Palestinian cease-fire.
[Cross-posted on IsraPundit]
Rice warned Israel on Friday not to complicate the path to peace with the Palestinians by building new Jewish settlements just as the date approaches for Israelis to fulfill a promise to leave other, established settlements. "We don't intend that the Israelis try to create facts on the ground," Rice told reporters traveling on the plane with her to Israel. "They simply cannot engage in activities that are supposed to prejudge the final terms of a peace settlement," Rice said.
The article does go on to quote American and Israeli sources" to the effect that Rice's statements are window-dressing, and that she won't really pressure Sharon. I really hope that's true, but as Lynn B emailed me yesterday, what the hell else are Sharon's people going to say? And if the purpose is to provide Sharon with political wiggle-room, then why make public statements that are sure to damage his credibility?
Meanwhile, the Palestinians continue to try to create their own facts on the ground:
Israel Defense Forces troops killed an Islamic Jihad militant Saturday afternoon after a four-person cell, comprised of Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and Islamic Jihad militants, infiltrated the Gaza Strip settlement of Kfar Darom.
For those of you keeping score at home, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades is an offshoot of Fatah, controlled by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and the Islamic Jihad is one of those charming baby-killing "resistance" groups that Abbas is refusing to disarm. Everything’s going to be OK though - Rice is in Israel to pressure Abbas to (this just boggles the mind) maintain the Palestinian cease-fire.
[Cross-posted on IsraPundit]
