Rice's Reply

I asked an official of the American Consulate here in Jerusalem for an official response to the use of the term "Holy Land" instead of Israel (see yesterday's posting).

I have been informed today by a local State Dept. official that the use by Condoleeza Rice of the term "Holy Land" in that interview was due to the fact that it is a well-known term but that its use should not be considered as indicating any change in official Washington policy regarding Israel.

I would reinterpert that to a 'slip of the tongue' due to too many interviews within too short a time.

As for the other element, that her concern seemed to be for the suffering of the Pals. due to the suicide bombings was perhaps more pronounced than for the actual people killed and maimed by the act of terror, well, that got lost in transatlantic commnication, I guess.