Middle East Desk Update, October 1, 2009

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS ON THE FOLLOWING TOPIC:
-Israeli, Palestinian negotiators visit Washington

ROBERT BLECHER
[For Blecher's contact information, please call the MERIP office at +1-202-223-3677]
Blecher commented: "Mahmoud Abbas's retreat from his demand for a settlement freeze before meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, like his withdrawal of the Goldstone Report from consideration before the UN Human Rights Council, will only confirm for Palestinians that there is no price their president is unwilling to pay to sit at the negotiating table. By laying down two strong cards as the price of admission, he has again weakened his hand, both domestically and internationally."
Robert Blecher is a Jerusalem-based analyst with International Crisis Group

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