Here is the problem with the Israeli-Palestinian dispute: As one former Israeli official recently put it, the maximum the Israelis can offer in terms of concessions is less than the minimum the Palestinians can accept, and the minimum the Palestinians can accept is more than the maximum the Israelis can offer. …
[I]n this ongoing dialogue of the deaf there is a great lack of trust. The lack of trust, particularly on the part of the Israelis, represents the biggest stumbling block in all peace negotiations. … If [the Israelis] return the Golan Heights to Syria or parts of the West Bank to the Palestinian Authority, they want to be certain that those territories will not be used as jumping points from which Israel’s enemies can launch strikes deeper into Israel. …
Despite the obvious setback, senior Israeli and Palestinian officials say they are closer than ever to reaching a deal on the final status issues. …
The lack of trust between Arabs and Israelis can only be replaced by iron-clad U.S. guarantees— and as time is not a luxury any side can afford to waste, this is one dossier that the George W. Bush administration should pursue in conjunction with the new transition team as of [this] week, and not wait until January. Access the full article>>