nor will lapid ever have any say in the matter.

Abbas will not let go of "right of return," and Israel will not settle for anything less than full recognition of the State of Israel and its absolute identity as a Jewish State. So, I know that Israel has released a whole bunch of terrorists and cold-blooded murderers. What concessions has Abbas made?

Olmert belongs in prison. And no one really cares what he thinks.

1. The Palestinians insist on Jerusalem being registered in any agreement as the capital of their future state. The Prime Minister is flat against this. 2. Mahmoud Abbas is totally opposed to recognizing Israel as the Jewish State. His last conversation with the Secretary in Ramallah Saturday morning is described as “very tough.” Kerry informed him that Netanyahu’s demand for Israel’s recognition as the Jewish state had been adopted as official American policy. When he heard this, the Palestinian leader dug his heels in still deeper against relenting on this point. 3. Abbas turned aside the critical refugee question by telling the US secretary that the decision was not up to him and would in any case not be binding on a single Palestinian refugee. 4. The clause in the US framework relating to the Jordan Valley border is opposed by Israel, the Palestinians and the Jordanians. 5. Neither has agreement been reached on the sum total of land the Palestinians will receive or Israel will cede.

It is not a waste of Kerry's and Obama's time or they would not waste their time and effort. Kerry thinks he might work out a deal; any kind of deal. Maybe he can get Abbas to mouth some platitudes about a Jewish state and give up the right of return, at least for now, so they can get the ball rolling. Why do you think Kerry is investing so much time and travel? The point is, this is a very dangerous and deadly game Prime Minister Netanyahu is playing with the Americans and yes, Netanyahu is playing a game (for whatever reason) with the Americans by accepting the unthinkable premise Obama demanded of him, that there can ever be a Muslim state in Israel's heartland dedicated to Israel's destruction, because that is what it will be; a mortal threat. Best to be honest with the American people. Best to tell them, a Palestinian state in Judea, Samaria, Gaza, etc., is out of the question (unthinkable) rather than play this dangerous game.

of the platform for which he was elected.