Peacemaker:

In comments that threaten Israel's hold on east Jerusalem, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told The Jerusalem Post on Monday that the US does not consider it legitimate for Israel to build homes in some neighborhoods of the capital which are located beyond the Green Line. In a conversation held in the ornate antechamber of her office, she went further than US officials have previously gone toward clarifying her government's position on the matter. Her remarks set the stage for a confrontation over the issue... Rice on Monday clarified that the US believes that portions of east Jerusalem are considered to be "settlements" and that Israel must stop building there as part of its commitment to implement the first phase of the road map.

This is another fairly elegant bait and switch - get Olmert to make a vague commitment on West Bank settlements in anticipation of the Bush visit then hit him with an explicit equivalence between the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Then when he says "but I didn't mean East Jerusalem" do the diplomatic equivalent of an eyelash flutter and say "but you said settlements." This should have some lovely effects on Olmert's already unstable coalition: can even Barak stay in the coalition if the cost is having Gilo cleansed of Jews?

In the meantime - we could not be more excited about the upcoming Bush visit. He's going to bring peace, we hear.

References:
* 'W. Bank, e. J'lem settlements equal' [JPost]
* Annapolis As A Rosetta Stone For How Anti-Israel Bait And Switch Diplomacy Works [MR]
* Israel will act 'expeditiously' on outposts [JPost]

Previously:
* Karen Hughes - Public Diplomacy Chief, Utter Failure - Finally Resigns [Video]
* State Department Tries To Cleanse Obviously Illegal "No Jews Allowed" Application But Is Too Fucking Stupid To Turn Off Track Changes
* State Department: How About An Unbiased, Totally Objective International Force In The West Bank?