Palestinians: Obama to visit West Bank

[rebel with a cause]

Source: Associated Press

PARIS - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will visit the West Bank next week as part of a swing through the Middle East, a Palestinian official said Monday, giving an important diplomatic boost to the Palestinians at a sensitive time in peace talks.

The Palestinians expressed satisfaction over the planned meeting with the presumed Democratic nominee, which comes months after Obama's likely Republican opponent, John McCain, passed on meeting with the Palestinians during a brief visit to Israel.

Obama is scheduled to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during his July 23 stop in Ramallah, said Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, who was in Paris for a Mediterranean summit.

<snip>

During the same visit, Obama is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and other Israeli officials. The Obama campaign declined to comment.



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25674760/

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I posted this article earlier with a different link due to a qlinch by MSNBC in their updating articles or something. By the time I found the article and the real link, the edit time had expired on my earler post. I asked the administraters to lock my thread so I could repost it with the correct information. Sorry about the mixup, and hope I have not taken so long that someone else has already posted this. :blush:

[no_hypocrisy]

1. This could be a real RFK moment for Obama.

It's been said that Robert F. Kennedy was profoundly moved and changed when he saw the mean, abject poverty of Appalacia when he visited West Virginia for the first time. He cried true tears of compassion and his mission changed on that day. He couldn't see an America with people being allowed to live such lives. Thereafter, all he talked about was change.

Wait until Obama sees his first Palestinian refugee camp.

[tomreedtoon]

6. Yes, an RFK moment...with lots of Sirhan Sirhans.

He is either tempting the fates, or he was told that he would be as safe as McCain. Of course, he was told this by the Secret Service people that told Texas that he didn't need their protection.

So this will certainly grease up...or bloody up...the way to a McCain Presidency.

[wvbygod]

7. I wish he would see a WV refugee camp too

He missed a real RFK moment to come here a while back.

[dtotire]

2. Our Policy MUST be Evenhanded

We cannot give one-sided support to Israel. We should guarantee its survival as a state, but ignoring the problems of the Palestinians is what causes the Arabs to distrust us.

[rebel with a cause]

3. I have to agree with you.

but then I have a fairness issue anyway. ;)

No seriously, there are always two sides to a story and you have to look at both sides to be able to judge the issue fairly. To only look at one side, even if it is your own, is to see the problem with tunnel vision. You only see what is best for that one side, not what is fair, reasonable or best for everyone.

[Dr.Phool]

4. Bush calls FDIC to shut down West Bank!

Put's Bernanke and Poulson in charge.

[LeftishBrit]

5. Good!

Hoping for a real breakthrough in peace negotiations there!

[tidy_bowl]

8. Am I the only one...

...who feels this is a bad idea? Why give a photo op to further view he sides with terrorists? Barack can ill afford to even give a hint to that IMO.