Obama's Peace Process

Haaretz has a hard to believe report claiming that "the United States and Egypt, along with France, are planning a joint move to restart Israeli-Palestinian talks on the basis of the June 4, 1967, borders, territorial exchanges and a complete freeze of construction beyond the Green Line, including East Jerusalem." That is apparently based on statements made by Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

What I do believe is this part of the story....

Meanwhile, a senior diplomatic source told Haaretz yesterday there were gaps between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Abbas on the very definition of the negotiating process. Netanyahu demands the process be defined as "starting" negotiations, aiming to disregard understandings reached in talks between the Palestinians and his predecessor, Ehud Olmert. Abbas insists the process must take those understandings into consideration, and demands it be defined as a "resumption" of negotiations. The Americans propose a compromise in the form of "re-launching" the negotiations, said the source.

After a year of this administration's forceful engagement, even-handedness, shuttle diplomacy, Muslim outreach, and diplomatic overtures, the parties can't even agree on what to call the talks -- if they ever have them.