With the Middle East in turmoil and the West eager to encourage moderate forces in the region, Israel is under pressure to show some movement on the Palestinian issue.Let's parse this a bit.
The uprisings in the Middle East have been against unelected, authoritarian regimes over frustration over the economy and lack of freedoms.
The PA is an unelected, authoritarian regime with an economy that is wholly dependent on outside assistance and no freedom to criticize the regime.
According to the PA's own laws, Abbas' term as president expired in January 2009. Fayyad was never elected. The last elections brought Hamas into power.
Why is Israel under pressure to help create a new state that would not only be opposed to Israel's existence, but whose already existing institutions are illegal, undemocratic and anti-freedom? Aren't the exact same issues causing Arabs to revolt and demonstrate across the entire region?
The "peace process" has evolved into a religion, one not based on any logic or sense. This is only one tiny example where a statement that seems uncontroversial at first sight is in fact completely counter-factual.
Just no one in the media or in Western governments seems to have the ability to think beyond sound bites.
(h/t David G)