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One Mistake in the Fall

[Ha'aretz] Shmuel Rosner - On Tuesday, Secretary of State Rice said: "I understand as well as anybody that there are risks to announcing a meeting and then doing the hard work." Like many before her, Rice failed by demonstrating the arrogance of the mediator - the absurd assumption that all that is lacking in order to solve the Arab-Israeli conflict is the charismatic presence of an experienced diplomat. Rice in recent years has moved between too much interference in petty matters: on the one hand, as in her decision to make the effort to achieve the "crossings agreement" in Gaza, which was never implemented; a lack of concentration regarding important core issues on the other, as in her unrealistic agreement to enable Hamas to participate in the Palestinian elections. In both cases she twisted Israel's arm, and in both she was mistaken. Bush already made it clear in the speech announcing the conference that this is Rice's playing field. He does not share the messianic enthusiasm she brings to the Palestinian arena. Bush's friends, aside from Rice, are telling him that this is not the appropriate time or place for action.
2007-10-17 01:00:00
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