A chance to address an international event that attracts presidents and prime ministers as speakers? In a nation that is predisposed to be friendly towards you, given you history of support for them? What is the benefit to turning an opportunity like that down?
Perhaps a prior commitment among about a million other things.
Agree that this is a head-scratcher. Palin is historically a strong supporter of Israel, even before she came on the national stage. Recall the photos of her gov’s office with the Israeli flag and the US-Israeli flags pendant that she frequently wears.
A visit to Israel would seem a natural launching point to shore up the “international” component of her portfolio - assuming, of course, there’s an imminent presidential run in her future. She would have an extraordinarily friendly audience, her message and history would be well received, and - given the events in the neighborhood there - it would be an extraordinarily well-timed event.
I’m a big SP supporter and, for a long time, thought she was positioning herself extraordinarily well for a prez run in 2012. I’m starting to get the feeling that she might have decided otherwise. Admittedly it’s hard to read her tea leaves and she’s certainly revels in being the non-traditional politician, but this one doesn’t make sense.