(Washington Post) Charles Krauthammer - John Kerry made 12 trips to the region, aiming to produce a final Middle East peace within nine months. It is month nine. The talks have gone nowhere. But there never was any chance of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas concluding a final peace. Now in the 10th year of a four-year term, Abbas doesn't have the legitimacy. With half of Palestine (namely Gaza) controlled by his rejectionist mortal enemy Hamas, he doesn't have the authority. And he doesn't have the intention. Abbas openly refuses to (a) recognize Israel as a Jewish state, (b) yield the so-called right of return (which would flood Israel with millions of Palestinians, destroying the state demographically), and (c) ever sign any agreement that ends the conflict once and for all. The Israelis are tired of the diplomatic Ponzi scheme in which they are required to release terrorists to keep Abbas at the table. Until when? Until every murderer has been freed - at which point Abbas will go to the UN anyway?
2014-04-04 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive