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Originally I wanted this headline: “Prime Minister of Israel to Honor President of Terror.” But I figured it was too long.

The exact headline, from today’s New York Times, runs as follows: “Meeting To Take Place in Palestinian Territories.”

Can this be true? Yes, it’s true.

Miri Eisin (further from the Times) said that such a meeting between Ehud Olmert and Mahmoud Abbas, for the first time outside of Jerusalem, was “a possibility.”

Had enough? Too bad. There’s more. Like this from Eisin, who serves as Olmert’s spokeswoman:

“Miss Eisin said a meeting in Palestinian territory would be ‘a gesture of honor’ from Israel.”

That’s right – gesture of honor.

More -- you glutton for punishment? Okay, here’s the rest from Ms. Eisin: This gesture of honor would show that “this is a partnership, not a patron-client relationship.”

Isn’t that special?

Mr. Olmert is (apparently) untroubled by the deadly rockets flying into Israel from Palestinian territories. No problem.

Mr Olmert is (apparently) perfectly all right with the siege of Sderot.

As long as he’s prime minister, 1,400 rockets slamming into Israel is no big deal, just another day at the office.

Too bad about those Israelis already murdered by Kassam rockets from Palestinian territories – but the show must go on.

Anyway, Rabin already set the tone. Those dying Israelis are “sacrifices for peace.” Since Oslo, well over a thousand Israelis have been so sacrificed for this “peace.”

The killing of Israelis and the dying of Israelis continues without let-up, but Mr. Olmert thinks it’s proper to extend a “gesture of honor” to this Holocaust-denier.

Yes, Mr. Olmert is keen to demonstrate that this is a “partnership” between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. That the real partnership is between Mr. Abbas’s Fatah and Hamas – both of which are desirous of destroying Israel, the same gang, the same thugs, but different names – is of no apparent consequence to Mr. Olmert.

As Israelis hide in bomb shelters, as shops are closed, schools are emptied, as Israelis shudder at every siren and flinch at every sound, as Fatah and Hamas have kept not a single promise except to cleanse Israel of Jews, as Israelis fear for their loved ones in the face of this terror, all of it coming from the Palestinian territories, Mr. Olmert approves a meeting in just such a place, with a man named Abbas who presides over it all. Indeed, such a man, such a terrorist in a suit, merits a "gesture of honor."

Is this absurd? Is this obscene?

But yes, and Jacob bowed before Esau.