Soccer Dad

Palestinian confidence building measures, anyone?

Daily Pundit, JoshuaPundit and Israel Matzav all criticize Secretary of State Rice's approach to Abu Mazen, demanding more concessions from Israel and bolstering the "moderate" Abbas.

Here's the NY Times

The United States is proposing to expand the presidential guard of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to 6,000 men from the current 3,500, as part of a $26 million plan to shore up Mr. Abbas’s position and reduce the security chaos in the Palestinian Authority, according to donors who have been briefed by Lt. Gen. Keith W. Dayton, Washington’s Security Coordinator for the Palestinians.

The Washington Post

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pledged Wednesday to "redouble" U.S. efforts to alleviate the economic plight of Palestinians facing escalating tensions and the threat of a humanitarian crisis. But U.S. officials cautioned not to expect any significant breakthroughs as prospects for a renewed Arab-Israeli peace process seem further away than ever.

and in a second article

The Bush administration's effort to foster a bloc of moderate Arab states to stand against growing militancy in the Middle East has come up against a brick wall, with several close U.S. allies bluntly telling Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Tuesday that they do not want to be pitted against other Arab governments and movements, according to senior Arab officials. The solution, the allies told Rice, lies with stronger U.S. leadership in solving the Arab-Israeli conflict.

America's "moderate Arab allies" want the United States to do more to solve the Arab-Israeli conflicts. As does the International Crisis Group.

Dr Rice shouldn't be putting up with this "pressure." She should have gone to Abbas and said, "You say you want peace. Peace isn't something that happens. Neither is prosperity. We need confidence building measures from the Palestinians. You must do something. See to it that Gilad Shalit is repatriated to Israel immediately then we have something to talk about.

For the past 13 years the Palestinians have been demanding more autonomy, more freedom. Every time Israel cedes more to you, you use that freedom to attack Israel and strengthen your terror infrastructure.

Demonstrate that you can govern for the benefit of your people and the people of Israel. Do that and we'll work on getting you more.

But you must stop expecting something for nothing. You can't continue to expect to be rewarded for terror and duplicity."

Rather we have Dr. Rice asking Israel to give the terror ruled PA even more freedom. How about a real confidence building measure from the Palesitnians for a change?

Tehcnorati tags: Israel, Condoleeza Rice, Palestinian Authority.