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Olmert: I Made Condi Abstain on Gaza Vote

Israel PM claims he 'embarrassed' Rice in urgent call to Bush

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 13, 2009 9:25 AM CST

(Newser) – Israel’s prime minister says an urgent call to President Bush last week resulted in Condoleezza Rice changing her vote on a UN Gaza resolution, the New York Times reports, with Ehud Olmert adding that the secretary of State “was left pretty embarrassed.” Rice helped draft the measure urging peace, which passed 14-0 with the US abstaining; a State spokesman said that was always the plan.

Olmert told the story in a speech yesterday, reports the AP. “I said, ‘Get me President Bush on the phone.’ They said he was in the middle of giving a speech in Philadelphia. I said I didn’t care.” Rice later said she abstained in light of Egyptian-French peace efforts. The White House said today that Olmert's account is “inaccurate,” Reuters adds.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice abstains as Vietnamese representative Le Luong Minh votes for the resolution during a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza, Jan. 8, 2009.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice abstains as Vietnamese representative Le Luong Minh votes for the resolution during a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza, Jan. 8, 2009.   (AP Photo)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice returns to a meeting on the situation in Gaza at United Nations headquarters, Jan. 8, 2009.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice returns to a meeting on the situation in Gaza at United Nations headquarters, Jan. 8, 2009.   (AP Photo)
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice meet in Tel Aviv on Nov. 6, 2008.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice meet in Tel Aviv on Nov. 6, 2008.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
Guest
Jan 16, 2009 6:10 AM CST
So Condi is a field nigger, big deal.
Mad
Jan 13, 2009 3:29 AM CST
Actually, Olmert's account seems to make sense ... Why else would Rice abstain from voting on a resolution she helped author? With this WH one can never be sure of the truth
Guest
Jan 12, 2009 10:34 PM CST
what point does olmert think that he is making by reporting his ugly side to AP for the whole world to see. This has to be one of the most arrogant, ungrateful little joo that has ever lived. this whole world is trying to resolve this matter and he talk like this. shame on you... you miserable little man.

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