Senate Letter To Rice Is Just Politics

Of course, requiring reciprocity from the Arabs is a sure way to sink the already tenuous meeting--but at least it has been pointed out that something should be required of the other side:

The letter, signed by 79 senators and sent Tuesday to the U.S. secretary of state, stresses to the Palestinians the importance of the political, diplomatic and financial backing of the Arab community going into next month's Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in Washington.

It also asks Rice to insist that participating Arab governments stop their support of terrorism, recognize Israel's right to exist, end the Arab League economic boycott of Israel, and pressure Hamas to reject terror and recognize Israel.

But notice that the context is the Arab governments as a whole--Abbas himself and the Palestinians are not being asked to do anything in return for Israeli concessions.

In that respect, the Senate letter is more window-dressing than a serious request.

Sens. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) wrote the letter, which was signed by all six presidential candidates serving in the Senate.

Oh.

So instead of putting pressure on Abbas, on whom the US can--for a change--apply pressure, the Senate suggests making requests of the Arabs as a whole which they are free, and likely, to ignore.

Technorati Tag: Israel and Condoleezza Rice.