‘US: We oppose unilateral steps, want peace talks to resume’

‘Neither side ‘should do anything to complicate efforts right now,’ says State Department, following Netanyahu’s Bloomberg interview on failed negotiations’

US: We oppose unilateral steps, want peace talks to resume | The Times of Israel

This has all the markings of a classic chicken-and-egg question. Which one comes first? Bilateral steps and then talks about peace? Or should that be the other way round? Or, as the past ten months have shown, could it be that neither measure has the remotest chance of moving any further beyond the already deadlocked position that now exists?

Then what alternatives do remain? What is there left to consider? Well, it may be that the case for taking unilateral steps here is being dismissed too lightly by the US. And everyone else.

No, not unilateral steps by either the Israelis or the Palestinians in this instance; these options are effectively denied them by their being in so conflicted a situation. But all non-Israelis, non-Palestinians are not so hampered by such confinements and considerations. The sky’s the limit as far as the rest of the world is concerned. Or, at least, it should be.

www.laxiankey.com – ‘ for those of us with better things to do.’

This would represent the taking of unilateral steps by the entire planet, a fundamental shake-up in a status quo that has remained essentially the same for generations. And one that looks likely to stay that way for several more unless something of this nature is applied to the problem.

The struggle between Israelis and Palestinians should not be seen as a spectator sport. We are all in this together and the sooner we realise that fact and do something about it is when the matter can finally merit some clear and satisfactory closure.