Is Secretary Rice Trying to Clear Some Fog?

Recently, there had been a trend whereby the US seemed to be asking Israel to continue making unilateral moves in an effort to follow the peace roadmap. I have been concerned about Special Envoy Wolfensohn asking Israel to ease up on border crossings as a "humanitarian gesture" and other remarks made that the onus was on Israel to make all the moves while the PA Prime Minister Abbas did not have to do anything to disarm the terrorist groups.

There seems to be another switch and one that I am grateful for. It would be dangerous for Israel to be pressured into easing up border crossings, especially after the homicide bombing the last week in October that killed 5 Israelis. I was very relieved to read this tonight.

The differentiation Rice is making between the demands from Israel and the Palestinians and the emphasis on having Abbas live up to the road map before Sharon, is, according to experts, a growing trend in the US administration.

David Makovsky, director of the Project on the Middle East at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said the feeling is that now the US was expecting the Palestinian leadership to "reciprocate" for the Israeli disengagement, before moving forward.

"The administration believes that in some point Abbas needs to deliver," he said, adding that the US had not yet gained confidence in Abbas and was not yet willing "to invest political capital" in his leadership. Jerusalem Post

Perhaps the about face came after learning that two major terrorists that were killed by IDF were riding in a car with in a vehicle bearing a license plate belonging to the PA's official security. Find out more: Clarity & Resolve

The following is more like the President Bush administration that I have long admired.

"The secretary acknowledged that Abbas has to do more, even before the elections, and said that Sharon needs an indication that Abbas is willing to do so, before taking actions himself," said one of the officials who met with Rice. Jerusalem Post

This appears to be a definite clearing up some of the fog that the State Department has been spewing lately in regards to Israel. Abbas, you must do something about those degenerate, barbaric, murdering terrorists in your midst! Clean your house to prove that Israel will be dealing with a real peace partner.