A “trapped” Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, seems more desperate than any other time in his leadership to strike a deal with the Palestinians, albeit a raw deal; a shortsighted deal that fails to even consider the imperatives of peace. The fact is that Barak needs some kind of peace deal to survive internal political upheaval, and lead his Labour party to victory in the upcoming Israeli elections.

Yet, by proposing to recognise a Palestinian state and withdraw from another 10% of the West Bank (leaving only 50% of all territories occupied in June 1967 under full or partial Palestinian control), Barak is, in reality, offering nothing. By proposing a new interim agreement that postpones negotiations on the issues of Jerusalem and the Refugees for another two years, Barak is wilfully failing to address the real causes of conflict, and in tern, driving the region into yet another dangerous abyss.

Such misperception of reality, and delusional interpretation of the current crisis in the peace process, cannot be accommodated by the Palestinians. With a deeply dichotomised Knesset and a weaker Barak, the peace process finds itself trapped in a gloomy phase of uncertainty and dismay.

There is an urgent need for Israel to finally address the real issues and put an end to the conflict by unconditionally implementing UN Resolutions 242, 338, and 194. This is the best deal; this is the only deal.