The Palestinians are the problem behind the failure to achieve peace.

From Rubin Repots, July 30, 2010, by Barry Rubin:

...The leaders of France, Germany, Italy, the United States and others have telephoned Palestinian Authority (PA) leader Mahmoud Abbas and begged him, pleaded with him:----negotiate with Israel so we can give you a state as soon as possible. We will give you a lot of gifts if you do it, so we can then bestow even more goodies on you! And Abbas says "No!"

Why? Why if Palestinians are so eager for a two-state solution, for a country of their own, for ending the "horrible" "occupation" (which mostly ended in 1994-1996), putting a stop to the "suffering" of their people, putting a stop to violence, enabling their children to go to school, raising living standards, and all the other benefits of putting an end to this long-standing conflict?

...the PA, and Hamas of course, that is sustaining the conflict. It refuses to make peace because:

• It still hopes for total victory.
• It believes that if it can sabotage a negotiated agreement there will be an imposed one giving the PA everything it wants without compromise or concession on its part.
• It doesn't want to end the conflict forever, accept less than 100 percent of British mandatory Palestine, and give up the demand that Palestinians can go live in Israel in order to subvert that country.
• It fears that any compromise will ensure that the PA, or the individual leaders who make a deal, is branded as a traitor.

... When [Abbas ] first came to Washington, about 15 months ago, Obama urged him to negotiate with Israel. Abbas refused.

Last September, almost 11 months ago, Obama announced there would soon be direct talks. Abbas refused.

...Moreover, the Arab League meeting ...is generally being reported as giving the green light for Abbas to negotiate with Israel. On the contrary, it is the exact opposite: it sets preconditions. This is a defeat for U.S. policy and may be the deathknell for direct negotiations this year. After all the flattery, distancing from Israel, and going easy on Arab regimes, the Obama Administration has failed to get them to deliver what his three predecessors obtained easily without such measures: direct Israel-Palestinian talks.

[It is obvious, daily, observable reality that] ...the Palestinians are the problem behind the failure to achieve peace...