More Than Just a Photo-Op

Mr Levy is just being silly. Israel is not going to talk seriously with anyone until the Hamas problem is settled. They have no one to talk to that can make any deal, let alone one they might accept. Israel attention is fixed on Iran and for that problem they need Obama. But Obama has another much more serious problem. Afghanistan and Pakistan, and of course what to do about Iran. You were right about one thing - Obama has time, unlike Bush, to keep trying. But at the end of today, the real problem is Hamas. At some point, something real bad will happen that pushes this whole tinder box into a big fire. Maybe then something can be done. Obama is right to get involved, but there is no grand plan here. Just stay in the game and hope.

There is little silly in Mr Levy's analysis. In a context fraught with international issues that would challenge any US President, Obama has set about trying to bring together two very accurately described "dysfunctional polities" not only to commence talks, but as others have said elsewhere, to discover they actually want to talk peace as much as both the President and most others beyond the region desire it.
The backdrop is complicated not by Hamas alone. They have had to mouth platitudes about how they won't stand in Mr Abbas' way if he does indeed negotiate with Israel, just to maintain some credibility, having been battered in the W Bank and having brought down on the innocent civilians of Gaza a vastly disproportionate Israeli reaction.
Netanyahu is promoting a level of Israeli public denial that is hard to credit, and it is this trick - that there's no occupation, that all the Palestinians are terrorists and there's no one amongst them who's a partner in peace, that we can go on like this indefinitely - that he cunningly pulls off. Ask Israelis not whether they want a two state solution, but whether they really believe they can maintain the status quo and consign successive generations to living permanently by the sword, and after the bluster has diminished there'll be an embarrassed silence.
The President has to to persist with his stealth plan to get the talks resumed and I add my voice to those who support him in recognising that this is not going to be a "bang their heads together" and "I'm locking the door and throwing away the key until you talk" effort. This is a gradual process and having spoken directly to the Arab peoples, it is now time for President Obama to address the people of Israel. If he was also shown that there are many American Jews who support Israel and know that talks are essential and are prepared to speak out and say so, it might provide a new impetus and the start of an erosion of denial.

Since 1948, the Arabs have never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity (thank you, Abba Eban). Since 1948, the Arabs have tried to destroy Israel (either directly--wars, or by proxy--terrorist organizations).

Arab nations need to:

Grant full and unconditional diplomatic recognition to Israel.
Stop trying to destroy Israel (through funding or direct action).
Unconditionally acknowledge Israel's right to exist.
Stop preaching hatred of Israel in mosques.
Stop preaching hatred of Israel in schools.
Stop preaching hatred of Israel in the Arab media.

Until then, NO DEALS.

I wonder who will deliver the first PUNCH...