Will the latest round of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks end up like all of the previous efforts that failed to resolve the big issues? Perhaps part of the problem comes from just who's involved with getting the neighbors to work together.

Why should this process be primarily an American or European-led process? With the right incentives coming from a newly-engaged China, taking up real responsibility for one of the world's most important international peace and security issues, perhaps we'd get a different result. It wouldn't even take much of a grand strategy. It really comes down to a financial accounting issue.

This process is outlined in a piece published in The Mark on today's International Day of Peace, China Can Solve Israeli-Palestinian conflict. An excerpt:

That morning, an utterly forgettable American envoy named Joe walked into the room and sheepishly addressed the Israeli and Palestinian leaders. He turned out to be an accountant. Querulous introductions followed. Next, he outlined some harsh truths.

Four civilians, including a pregnant woman, killed in the West Bank as a new round of US-sponsored Mideast peace talks is set to begin. The poor victims never had a chance. Yet another example of "heroism" from the "Palestinian resistance". It makes me want to throw up.

The murder is bad enough. But it's the picture of hundreds of Palestinians dancing in the streets, celebrating the villainous murder of innocent civilians (see the article with photograph in the link) that turns one’s stomach. Read more