Peace Talks in Israel fail again

Abbas is supposed to have agreed to defer any action on the Goldstone report partly because the US promised a renewal of peace talks. But as this article points out special envoy George MitchellGeorge Mitchell has achieved precisely nothing in nine visits.

The media has always suggested that Obama might be tested by his enemies but in this case he is being tested by his ally Israel and israel has found if it sticks to its own positions and refuses to freeze settlement building the U.S. will do absolutely nothing except a few rhetorical rumblings. Indeed the whole idea of peace being achieved is mocked. It is quite possible that there will be a second Intifida and also Israel may find that they will not be facing someone as co-operative as Abbas much longer. This is from antiwar.com.

""""US Envoy Wraps Up Another Round of Failed Peace Talks in Israel

Posted By Jason Ditz

US Special Envoy George Mitchell today wrapped up his latest meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuBenjamin Netanyahu and once again failed to obtain any guarantees regarding to settlement freeze or any indication that the right-wing Israeli government was willing to budge an inch to see peace talks resumed.

Though few details of the meetings have been made public, Mitchell appears to have achieved virtually nothing despite nine visits to the Middle East since his January appointment.

Yet Mitchell insists that President Obama is not at all discouraged and remains committed to continuing to press on with the peace process

The Israeli government has repeatedly ruled out anything resembling a freeze on settlement construction, which his been the principle requirement of the Palestinian Authority for negotiations. In addition, last week Israel's Foreign Minister advised people to "learn to live with" the state of perpetual war, accusing those who expect peace of being "delusional." """"