The Obama administration plans to abstain from a Security Council motion that would condemn Israel for building 1600 houses in east Jerusalem.

The abandonment of our ally in favor of pandering to the Palestinians on the eve of an attempt at shuttle diplomacy with Special Mid East Envoy George Mitchell acting as go-between is more proof of the naivete of Obama and his advisors. Do they really think it makes a bit of difference to Hamas what course we take in the United Nations? Obama apparently thinks they can negotiate with Abbas while leaving Hamas on the sidelines. Good luck with that.

And as far as appeasing Mr. Abbas, watch how quickly his demands escalate now that we've caved at the UN.

Mark Landler of the New York Times:

On Friday, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton confirmed that next week, the United States would start indirect talks, in which the administration's special envoy, George J. Mitchell, would ferry proposals between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

"Ultimately, we want to see the parties in direct negotiations and working out all the difficult issues that they must," Mrs. Clinton said to reporters at the State Department, after meeting with Kuwait's deputy prime minister, Muhammad al-Sabah. "They've been close a few times before."

Mr. Sabah said he expected Arab states to support the talks, despite Israel's announcement in March of plans to build new Jewish housing in East Jerusalem. The announcement opened a rift between Israel and the United States and temporarily derailed the peace process.

The Arab League is expected to endorse the decision of the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, to return to the bargaining table, when the organization meets on Saturday in Cairo.

Mr. Abbas's change of heart, administration officials said, came after reassurances from the United States, including a letter from Mr. Obama prodding the Palestinian leader to re-enter talks with Israel.

Separately, these officials said, Mr. Mitchell's deputy, David Hale, indicated to the Palestinians that if Israel proceeded with the construction of 1,600 housing units in Jerusalem's ultra-orthodox neighborhood of Ramat Shlomo, the United States would abstain from, rather than veto, a resolution in the United Nations Security Council condemning the move.

We have used our veto at the Security Council more than any other permanent member, largely in support of Israel. If not for the US, Zionism would be the equivalent of racism, Israel would largely be prevented from defending itself from the frequent attacks by first, the PLO and now the Palestinian Authority, and several other damaging resolutions attacking the Jewish state would be in effect.

That history has now been tossed under the bus. The order of the day is to force Israel into an agreement it feels would be a threat to its security. And hanging our ally out to dry at the UN facilitates the day when the Palestinians and their allies will feel emboldened enough to start another war.

Obama's policies are virtually guaranteeing  it.

Hat Tip: Ed Lasky