If we drop a ball what will happen to it? It will fall to the ground because of the gravitational force acting between two masses, an inherent property of all matter. If we have a Muslim minority in a country what will happen? They will try to impose Islam on everyone else, because of jihad, one of the basic tenets of Islam which commands them to do so.

The above is, in short, what the problem is with the prospects of the Washington DC peace negotiations. The dignitaries sitting in the room will not all of a sudden start hovering in mid air. Gravity will keep them in their seats. The Palestinians will not all of a sudden behave any differently - jihad will command them to act. The prospects for achieving peace are nil.

We have seen US presidents come and go. We have seen Oslo I, Oslo II, Taba, Wye, Tenet, Mitchell, Zinni, Sharm El-Sheikh, Roadmap, Annapolis come and go. What remains constant is the refusal to accept the obvious reason why peace cannot be achieved.