Millions of dollars in unprecedented direct US aid and billions of dollars in overall aid. Dozens upon dozens of trips from the most powerful diplomats in the world. A series of prisoner releases reaching back to the early days of Olso. Undemocratic strong-arming by Israeli leaders overeager to ink an accord. And yet somehow:

Not a single word has been set on paper and there is no real agreement on the smaller points, let alone the core issues, of a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, PA Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki said on Wednesday. Negotiations between the two sides continue on almost a daily basis in an effort to reach a deal by the end of 2008... He struck a pessimistic note when he added that "until this moment," with four months left to go until that deadline, "they [the Israeli and Palestinian negotiators] did not start writing one single word on paper. The reason for this is that they do not really agree on any issue or sub-issue yet.

Which is weird to me. Because given the total lack of Palestinian public support for a peace deal and the overwhelming level of Palestinian support for continued mass terrorism against Jews - wouldn't you think that their leaders would be rushing to make peace? Seriously - totally weird. No way anybody could have seen this coming.

What I'm really curious about is which side the State Department will blame. Could be anyone.

References:
* PA Responds To $150M In New US Funding By Explicitly Rejecting Israel's Right To Exist. Again. [MR]
* Fatah Moderates Respond To Billions In Aid By Stressing Unity With Terrorists [MR]
* Yawn. Another Condi Trip To The Middle East (Plus: Cabinet Excuse For Releasing Palestinian Murderers Not Overly Sound) [MR]
* Peace Just Around The Corner As Olmert And Abbas "Fast-Track" Final Status Talks [MR]
* PA minister: No agreement on any issue [JPost]
* New Poll Shows Peace-Loving Palestinians Somewhat Less Than Peaceful [MR]
* New Poll: "Overwhelming Majority" Of Palestinians Support Murderous Rampages Against Israeli Schoolchildren, Rocket Attacks Against Civilians (Plus: It's Israel's Fault) [MR]
* Bush: Oh Hell Yes It's Peace Yet! [MR]
* Rice On Inevitable Failure Of Misguided Peace Talks: It's Israel's Fault (Plus: Hamas Takeover Of The West Bank Proceeding On Schedule) [MR]

Previously:
* Abbas To Award PA's Highest Medal To Hamas Terrorist Responsible For Sbarro Massacre
* Olmert Settlement Position Triggers Palestinian Blah Blah Blah
* Peace Process Talks Stalling Today Because Of Something. Or Because Of Something Else. Etc.