US Vice-President Mike Pence’s announcement that Washington is expediting the relocation of its embassy to Jerusalem should help Palestinian leaders understand the speed with which they are being outpaced by events. Their refusal even to meet Mr Pence during his just-completed visit to Israel showed political ineptitude and ossified thinking that undermined their cause and the cause of restarting negotiations on a two-state solution.
The Palestinians’ determination to maintain the rage and their pretence that Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital has dealt the US out of the peace process is absurd. Chief spokesman Saeb Erekat’s claim that “the US administration is part of the problem rather than the solution” reflects their muddle-headed thinking.
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