Israel Matzav

Confirmed that Romney will do the opposite of Obama on Israel: 'As of now,' Romney will not meet with Abu Mazen

It has been confirmed to me that 'as of now' (yes, that's a direct quote from my source) Republican candidate Mitt Romney will not meet with 'moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen. As noted in Monday night's announcement of his trip here, Romney does plan to meet with 'Palestinian' Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. Here are some possible explanations:

1. Romney won't meet with someone with a terrorist past (see first link above).

2. Romney won't meet with someone who is still in office more than three years past the expiration of his term.

3. Romney is seeking a 'new Palestinian leadership' like George W. Bush did in 2002.

4. Some combination of 1 and 3, or 2 and 3.

5. The failure to list Abu Mazen on Romney's list of meetings was an oversight (highly unlikely).

I am hoping to get some comment from the Romney campaign later today, but it appears that Romney is showing how he will fulfill his pledge to 'do the opposite of Obama' on Israel.

Fayyad, on the other hand, was never elected but is a technocrat whom Romney likely knows personally from Fayyad's term at the World Bank. Fayyad could be useful without there being a 'Palestinian state.'

Hmmm.

Labels: Abu Mazen, Campaign 2012, Mitt Romney, Salam Fayyad

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:18 AM