Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet with President Obama today. Talks between the two leaders were originally scheduled to come on the heels of a meeting between Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu cancelled those talks last week after Israeli commandos raided a Gaza-bound ship, killing nine activists.
The cancellation of the U.S. - Israeli talks has led to lowered expectations for the U.S. - Palestinian talks. Muna Shikaki, a correspondent for Al Arabiya TV, says "the White House is trying to downplay this meeting with Abbas and the Palestinians are doing the same thing."
