OLMERT RECOGNIZES P.A. FLAG

FUNNY. THE ONLY TIME I'VE SEEN PALESTINIANS RAISE AN ISRAELI FLAG WAS JUST BEFORE THEY SET IT ON FIRE.

Olmert Recognizes PA Flag (INN)
Many in Israel and abroad were surprised when the flags of the State of Israel and the Palestinian Authority flew side-by-side for the first time, at the official Prime Minister’s Residence. For the first time in the history of the State of Israel, the red, black, green and white flag of the Palestinian Authority stood next to the official state flag of Israel bearing the blue Jewish Star flanked by two stripes on its field of white, last Saturday Night. It was the first of several surprises.

The meeting between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas came days earlier than expected, with government spokesmen saying security concerns had advanced the meeting and delayed the announcement.

Several agreements were ironed out within that first meeting. These included the release of $100 million in frozen tax money for the PA, loosening of travel restrictions on PA Arabs in Judea and Samaria and increasing the number of permits for them to work inside Israel's pre-1967 borders.

In addition to the usual smiling photo ops, both men seemed intent on creating a message of unity, warmth and formal diplomacy.

The Jewish Prime Minister addressed Abu Mazen – Abbas’s nom de guerre – as “Mr. President.” Until now, Abbas has been referred to as the PA Chairman.