Peace Process Optimism

Despite widespread skepticism over the ensuing renewal of peace talks between Israel and Palestine, The Economist says the negotiations are more promising than Bush’s attempts. This is mainly because the Bush administration began two wars and saw the peace process as something of a distraction. Though while the Obama team took an early interest in the conflict, the exclusion of Hamas at the bargaining table still presents an enormous obstacle to a truly unified agreement; some would say it makes it impossible. Still, “it would be a mistake to put the chances of success entirely at nil,” says The Economist.