WHY WON'T RICE DO FOR OLMERT WHAT SHE DOES FOR ABBAS: How many times have we heard that Israel has to make concessions in order to bolster the stature of Abbas? Why has Rice not made any kinds of demands on the Palestinians that they make a concession to strengthen the position of Olmert?

True, back in January 2006 Arutz Sheva reported:

...the U.S. has informed the PA and Arab countries that Olmert's stature must be strengthened as the elections approach in order that he "continue the process that Sharon started." So reports the PA's Arabic-language Al-Manar newspaper.

The PA and Arab countries did not respond, but no matter. Back then, Olmert was operating from a position of strength. Now he has an approval rating of 3%--making Abbas with all his problems look like FDR in comparison.

So why has Rice not come out with calls for the PA to do for Olmert what Israel has been called upon to do for Abbas? Some possibilities:

o Rule 1 of diplomacy in the Middle East: the PA is never called upon to make concessions.
o The PA won't make concessions in any case
o The US would prefer to see Olmert replaced with a stronger leader. That is not an issue with Abbas since it is the Israelis that are called upon to make concessions anyway.
o When an Israeli leader is weak, he is voted out; when a Palestinian leader is week, chaos breaks out.

So until the political process in Israel currents itself, the US is not going to waste political capital and good will on Olmert any more than it has to.

Technorati Tag: Israel and Rice and Olmert and Abbas.