I've made point number two myself several times, but I'd offer one caveat. True, Israel didn't offer the Palestinians anything close to a final deal at Camp David / Taba, with the major problem exactly as described : ludicrous and unworkable borders. But at the time, the Israeli leadership did one notable thing: They were willing to negotiate on all the major compromises necessary (from them) for peace, and take those compromises in a treaty to their people. The Palestinian leadership wasn't willing to do that in 1999-2000, and I'm not sure any Palestinian leader has ever been willing to take severe limitations on the Right of Return to his people - the major compromise required from the Palestinian side for a two-state solution.
Now, of course, both sides are too blind, too stupid, and too cowardly to consider the long term consequences of no peace, or the compromises required to reach a deal. Both sides are more interested in their own internal politics than even thinking of real negotiations. Both sides have a ready list of excuses to evade serious talk. Both sides played for time during the Kerry Talks, waiting for the inevitable collapse. Both sides - and their supporters - are killing time with phony controversies, faux battles, and mock victories - all so that they don't even have to think of hard necessary choices, much less act.
I've made point number two myself several times, but I'd offer one caveat. True, Israel didn't offer the Palestinians anything close to a final deal at Camp David / Taba, with the major problem exactly as described : ludicrous and unworkable borders. But at the time, the Israeli leadership did one notable thing: They were willing to negotiate on all the major compromises necessary (from them) for peace, and take those compromises in a treaty to their people. The Palestinian leadership wasn't willing to do that in 1999-2000, and I'm not sure any Palestinian leader has ever been willing to take severe limitations on the Right of Return to his people - the major compromise required from the Palestinian side for a two-state solution.
Now, of course, both sides are too blind, too stupid, and too cowardly to consider the long term consequences of no peace, or the compromises required to reach a deal. Both sides are more interested in their own internal politics than even thinking of real negotiations. Both sides have a ready list of excuses to evade serious talk. Both sides played for time during the Kerry Talks, waiting for the inevitable collapse. Both sides - and their supporters - are killing time with phony controversies, faux battles, and mock victories - all so that they don't even have to think of hard necessary choices, much less act.