Half-Truths Dim Chances for Renewing Mideast Talks.

[elleng]

In recent years, the international community has made one central demand of Israel and one of the Palestinians to create conditions for a two-state solution: Israel must stop building settlements on land the Palestinians want for their state, and the Palestinians must dismantle terrorist networks and end violent attacks on Israelis.

This week, a casual observer could have concluded that each had carried out its duty and that peace talks would move forward. Israel announced a 10-month settlement freeze on Wednesday; as to the Palestinians, violent attacks against Israelis have essentially ended. As Palestinian officials like to point out, trained Palestinian security forces have been keeping order in West Bank cities for more than a year.

But the casual observer would probably be mistaken. There are unlikely to be peace talks soon. In fact, tensions seem set to rise, partly because the claims of each side amount to half-truths, as the other is the first to note.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/27/world/middleeast/27mideast.html?hp

[IndianaGreen]

1. The truth is that nothing has changed, and nothing will change!

The pursuit of the 2-state solution is a waste of time because the 2-state solution is now impossible.

[elleng]

2. I agree that nothing has or will change.

Seems that ANYTHING but status quo is impossible.