Why is it that despite the enormous attention given to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, progress seems virtually impossible? That every time a new administration tries its hand at reviving the "peace process", the whole thing feels like a farce? Looking at our latest effort, Barry Rubin has a theory, and it's all about mind-set, as he explains in this piece in The Jerusalem Post.
"The Obama administration has no idea what is about to happen. After all, it has won hasn't it and done something positive for the Palestinians, right? It demanded that Israel freeze all construction on West Bank settlements. Israel agreed, save only that it finish the approximately 3,000 units already begun. So the US government can deem itself successful, having delivered something along the lines of what it originally promised the Palestinians.
Moreover, this agreement was ultimately gained without any corresponding Palestinian or Arab concessions. It will be remembered that for some months the US tried to get the Arab side to budge. It failed. Nor did the US government give anything to Israel in exchange for the freeze.
So objectively, what happened? Israel made a big concession; Israel got nothing; the Arab side gave nothing. Isn't this a sort of Palestinian or Arab victory, proof of President Barack Obama's leverage with Israel, an example of Israeli flexibility?
And, after all, when the current apartments being constructed are finished, there will be a construction freeze. So all that's necessary is to wait a few months, right?
Take a step back, clear your mind, look at it. Of course that's what happened. The Palestinians and the Arab states "should" be happy.
But this is the Middle East, a place where even if all Arab or Iranian demands are met, this only triggers anger, blame, complaint and still more demands"
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