Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in DC for talks

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.”