Palestine - lame ducks, dead ducks and revived ducks

She now understands that embarking on protracted negotiations over proposals that do not have the remotest chance of succeeding is a recipe for disaster.

The Israeli media are the winners from this novel Arab foray into the Israeli press. They would certainly welcome the boost to their flagging advertising revenues at this time of global economic downturn. They no doubt hope that this process will continue and that shuttle diplomacy and furtive backroom meetings will be replaced by full page ads on a weekly basis to inform the public about matters that impact on their very lives and on which they have not had any input in the past.

The reality is that in the absence of substantial amendments to the Arab League Initiative there will be many more dead ducks and lame ducks on the hit list as the Initiative sinks to its inevitable denouement.

Sweet and sour duck might then be appropriate to serve on the menu as the public flock to hear ex-politicians on the speaker circuit telling why Oslo, the Road Map and the Arab League Initiative ended up becoming fatally flawed exercises in peace making efforts between Arabs and Jews.