A reader thinks I have been too hard on Mahmoud Abbas (see post below) He says that in the Time interview, Abbas also spoke about his birth place in terms which imply he accepts that not all Palestinians will be able to live in Israel:

'TIME: You were born in Safad, in what is now Israel. How did it feel when you went back for a visit in 1995?

ABBAS: Very sad. It's my country. I know every street and store. But now I'm not allowed to be there. That's life. I'm not asking for Safad. I'm not asking to return there.'

But the fact is that Abbas is still intent on pursuing the 'right to return', which he merely maintains will not be taken up by the majority of Palestinians. So I think the Time remark is just another straw at which some may wish to clutch; but in the interests of fairness, I am happy to note it.