The Continuing Condi Confabulation

In her remarks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Rammallah yesterday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice continued to project a problematic policy for Israel as she confabulated(*).

Let me highlight with selections from her words.

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you very much, Mr. President...we know how hard you are working to build a truly democratic Palestinian state. You are someone who is yourself devoted to democracy, and I just want to take note of that.

[a democracy? like what other?]

When President Bush came into office in 2001, and it was a very difficult situation between Palestinians and Israelis, indeed the intifada was raging, large-scale Israeli military operations were taking place, many, many innocent Palestinians and Israelis were losing their lives. [hey, she corrected herself from yesterday. maybe someone read my blogpost?]

...I think that President Bush’s vision of a state of Palestine, an independent state of Palestine at peace with Israel, while it will not come in a single, dramatic moment, it will come because the commitment of the Palestinian and the Israeli people to their peace will not waiver.

[sorry but the commitment of Pals. can never match that of the Israelis who have constantly yielded on territory and security in order to reach peace with all its Arab neighbors as well of the Arab community in the borders of the Jewish national homeland]

It’s critical that in moving forward on the peace process we remember that other pillars were established at Annapolis as well, and those pillars cannot be separated; indeed, the work that is being done on the ground to improve the lives of the Palestinian people, the work that is being done to build the democratic institutions of a Palestinian state, the work that has been done to reform security services and to really improve their capability and to have them be professional security forces. I’m very much looking forward to going to Jenin because I think it is an example of this relationship between security provided by Palestinian forces for the Palestinian people, the willingness to fight extremists...

[but they don't fight extremists!] (**)

...I also want to note that settlement activity, both actions and announcements, is damaging for the atmosphere of negotiations. And the party’s actions should be encouraging confidence, not undermining it. And no party should take steps that could prejudice the outcome of negotiations and the United States will not consider settlement activity to affect any final status negotiations, including final borders. Borders are to be negotiated between the parties in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338...I think we’re on the record about our views of the settlement activity, and that has been American policy in the past. I think perhaps we’ve spoken as clearly about it as anyone, perhaps more clearly, the President and I. And it is going to continue to be the case that settlement activity is inconsistent with the atmosphere that really helps promote negotiations.

[Neither 242 or 338 deal with the rights of Jews to live, settle, thrive, develop and grow in the areas of Judea and Samaria and, indeed, Gaza. The right to do so, despite the bad 'atmosphere' Condi talks about, is enshrined in the decision of the League of Nations: The Administration of Palestine, while ensuring that the rights and position of other sections of the population are not prejudiced, shall facilitate Jewish immigration under suitable conditions and shall encourage, in co-operation with the Jewish agency referred to in Article 4, close settlement by Jews on the land, including State lands and waste lands not required for public purposes.]

...And just as Oslo was a basis, Madrid was a basis, Annapolis is a basis. And while we may not yet be at the finish line, I am quite certain that if Palestinians and Israelis stay on the Annapolis course, they are going to cross that finish line and can do so relatively soon.

[and just as the Pals. ignored their responsibilities and commitments as per Madrid and Oslo, they are and will ignore Annapolis]

Condi, what are you talking about?

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(*)

con·fab·u·late (kn-fby-lt)

1. To talk casually; chat.
2. Psychology - To fill in gaps in one's memory with fabrications that one believes to be facts.

(**)

Update from Jenin:

About 600 Palestinian security personnel were deployed in Jenin in May, some of whom were trained in Jordan under an American-sponsored program to back up the forces already there. Most have since been redeployed to other parts of the West Bank, including Hebron.

Lt. Gen. Keith W. Dayton, the United States security coordinator, told reporters that the exercise had been a “great success,” and that the Israelis said they had reduced their incursions into Jenin by about 40 percent.

Down by 40% still leaves 60% terror.