The Quartet’s “roadmap,” which aims at filling the diplomatic vacuum created by the failure of the Oslo process and the Sharon government’s rejection of the Palestinian Authority as “an entity that supports terror” has only confirmed the assessment of diplomatic paralysis.

The roadmap is based upon assumptions rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and offers phased “performance-based” promises unlikely to be considered sufficient by Palestinians. An Israeli government led by Ariel Sharon is not interested in a diplomatic solution. One led by Amram Mitzna, Sharon’s challenger in upcoming elections, is championing ideas and a vision of Palestinian statehood far bolder than contemplated by the roadmap’s architects.