"Hebrew Socialist Republic?"

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas refuses to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, saying "It is not my job to give a description of the state. Name yourself the Hebrew Socialist Republic -- it is none of my business." Not surprising; to accept Netanyahu's demand on this score undercuts Palestinian standing on their right of return. Netanyahu, on the other hand, now says that he will not make this recognition of pre-condition of opening negotiations. Right. The idea then would be to sucker Abbas into negotiations, string him along as usual, then throw the demand back at him; when Abbas refuses again to accept it, then Netanyahu can fall back to the Sharon mantra: Israel has "no partner for peace." And the dance goes on, and the West Bank settlements keep going up, and the humiliation of a people continues.

I do wonder how all this is playing in the Obama White House.