Prospects for Mideast peace dimmed a little more last night when Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas canceled his appearance as the guest of honor at a dinner with prominent Jewish leaders at the Millennium Hotel, scuttling the whole event.
“After hearing President Obama‘s speech, he probably felt like celebrating — but not with the Jews,” said one source.
But another source said Abbas might have been feeling antisocial after hearing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s powerful speech yesterday defending Israel and lambasting Holocaust deniers.
The canceled dinner for 35 was being catered by the kosher Prime Grill restaurant and thrown by Danny Abraham, the Slim Fast billionaire who’s made it his life’s mission to bring peace to the Mideast.
Abbas wasn’t the only no-show during UN General Assembly week. Barbra Streisand had confirmed at the last minute that she’d attend the Important Dinner for Women at Cipriani 42nd Wednesday night.
But the diva was missing at the event, attended by Queen Rania of Jordan, Nicole Kidman, presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett, PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, Martha Stewart, Tina Brown and British First Lady Sarah Brown. A rep for Streisand, who was at the Clinton Global Initiative yesterday, said she could not be reached.
Earlier, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown caused a stir when he was honored at a VIP-packed gala dinner but only stayed 15 minutes. Guests at the Appeal of Conscience Foundation event at the Waldorf-Astoria Tuesday were disappointed when Brown accepted his award from Henry Kissinger, made his acceptance speech at a press conference, and then made a hasty exit.
One said, “The event is traditionally one of the highlights of UN week and a must on the VIP diplomatic circuit.” A rep for No. 10 Downing Street told us, “It was always made clear to the organizers that Mr. Brown would only be there for 15 minutes, as he had other UN commitments.”