With a clear sense of cautious optimism, Palestinian officials have stated, “…when the Israelis admit that they took your land and that they should give you compensation for it…we consider this progress in the Israeli position.”

Israelis, on the other hand, are playing it more carefully, and discretely. While Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, made no mention of ‘progress’, he clearly expressed a positive approach towards the talks by affirming that they “…will continue for several more days and will be concluded due to the upcoming elections, with the intention of resuming them after the elections.”

Could this mean that some progress will be achieved before Palestinian and Israeli negotiators pack their bags and go home?

The issues remain unchanged; Palestinian refugees, Jerusalem, borders and security, and Israeli settlements. What could possibly give reason for optimism, except Israel’s abidance by international law in solving these issues? The fact is there are quite a few factors dependent on claiming progress and inducing a sense of ‘public optimism’.

Both sides know that a final agreement is not in the making within the available timeframe. Both sides recognize the value in maintaining the process itself, with the possibility of a joint statement as the most likely outcome. The door for future negotiation is, thus, left open. The new Israeli Prime Minister will inherit a process with a focus.

DECLARED progress at Taba will almost certainly tip the scale in favor of Barak in next months’ elections. DECLARED progress will pave a smooth entrance for George W. Bush into the Middle East peace process. DECLARED progress is a pragmatically guaranteed means of ending the ongoing Intifada (uprising).

The complexity of diplomacy lies in the fact that one party’s behavior is a key element in the calculations of another. The outcome of the Taba talks will have significant consequences on all parties concerned. In this context, it must be cautioned that the consequences of UNDECLARED FAILURE will create further uncertainty, thus adding more volatility to an already explosive situation