IF YOU CAN FIGURE THIS OUT, CONTACT US – AT 7:18 P.M. ET:  From the Israeli newspaper Haaretz:

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told U.S. Jewish leaders on Wednesday that he would never deny Jews their right to the land of Israel, according to participants of the two-hour roundtable discussion.

And...

During that interview, Abbas also lauded Barack Obama's administration and its efforts to bring forth a two-state solution.

"This is the first time we hear from a U.S. administration talking about that the solution of a two-state solution is in the vital interest of the United States," said Abbas.

"The two-state solution is no longer only a Palestinian interest or an Israeli interest or a Middle East interest, but it is also an American interest."

From the Jerusalem Post:

Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas said Thursday he feared the concept of a two-state solution to end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians "is beginning to erode," AFP reported.

"I would like to express concern that the situation is very difficult," he was quoted as saying in remarks at a Washington think tank.

COMMENT:  Normally, Arab leaders who come to Washington wait until they return to the Mideast to display the second of their two faces.  They say one thing in English in Washington, an entirely different thing in Arabic to their "brothers."

Abbas apparently isn't that patient.  He did the two-faced thing, in English, right here.  The man's got guts.  Round of applause from the Helen Thomas Appreciation Society.

June 10, 2010