THE REORDERER-IN-CHIEF:

New U.S. Plan: Palestinian State Before Bush Leaves Office (Avraham Shmuel Lewin, December 27, 2006, Jewish Press)

In a move to counter the Baker-Hamilton report, the Bush administration is boosting its involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to a report in Israel's Yediot Aharonot newspaper on Sunday. Steps being planned include a series of measures that would embolden the Fatah movement and weaken Hamas.

According to the new plan, the final goal is the establishment of a Palestinian state with temporary borders within two years, before the end of President Bush's term in office.

The paper reports that last week, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held a seminar attended by the State Department's top political brass involved in the Middle East. It included U.S. ambassadors to countries in the region and Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton, who is currently acting on behalf of the State Department in the region.

If we recognize the state there is one.

Posted by Orrin Judd at December 28, 2006 11:45 AM