Global Journalist: Compromise in Middle East makes little progress

Stuart Loory: There is one thing certain about attempts to negotiate a settlement between Israelis and Palestinian Arabs and that is that neither side is willing to make significant compromises. The latest bone of contention is whether to allow construction of 1,600 new residences for Jews in East Jerusalem, which Palestinians say would be the capital of a new Palestinian Arab state. The decision was announced as Vice President Joe Biden was visiting in Israel with the hope of bringing both sides into proximity talks. Each side would talk to an American mediator, George Mitchell, who would shuttle between Ramallah on the West Bank and Jerusalem to try to bring Israelis and Palestinians together. Those talks have been postponed. The Israelis for a few days were arguing as much with the United States as with Palestinians, but now the situation seems to be quieting. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Moscow for a meeting of the Quartet — that is, the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations. They are all trying to bring Palestinians and Israelis to a negotiating table. Let’s start in the Middle East and ask Josh Mitnick what is going on. I understand that the Israeli inner cabinet has been meeting for hours, if not days, to try to figure out how to respond to objections to the new residences being built.