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The Mideast Peace Process Is in Tatters
(Washington Post) David Ignatius - The collapsed Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations were a determined effort by Secretary of State John Kerry and his special adviser, Martin Indyk, to create viable Palestinian and Jewish states. But despite Kerry's relentless enthusiasm, the two sides never really came close. They are further apart now than when the process began, with the mistrust even deeper. Abbas was a huge disappointment. He effectively shut down as a negotiator midway through the talks. After Kerry had gotten Arab League foreign ministers to support recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, Abbas went to the Arabs and got them to reverse this helpful position. When the U.S. began laying down its agreed framework, with "bridging proposals" to narrow the gaps on the most contentious final issues, such as refugees and Jerusalem, Abbas never responded. Rather than accept the framework "with reservations," as planned, Abbas balked.