So Netanyahu gave a highly anticipated address where he took the unprecedented step of endorsing a two-state solution. It was hailed by Obama - not the least prominent international advocate of a Palestinian state - as an crucial confidence building measure, "a step forward."

In response the US-backed Palestinians in charge of the West Bank said that they are going back to war...

Palestinian Authority officials in Ramallah on Sunday expressed outrage and shock over... Netanyahu's call for the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian state and his demand that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state. The officials... also warned that Netanyahu's policies would trigger a new intifada. Some of Abbas's top advisors accused Netanyahu of "burying the peace process" and said the ball was now in the court of US President Barack Obama.

... and the Iran-backed Palestinians in the Gaza Strip launched rockets at Israeli civilians:

A Kassam rocket fired by Gaza terrorists hit the Ashkelon Beach region on Sunday afternoon. No one was wounded and no damage was reported. The attack came hours after an explosive device was detonated near IDF troops patrolling the Gaza border fence... According to the IDF, approximately 670 Kassam rockets, mortar shells and Grad missiles had been fired at Israel since the beginning of 2009.

At times like this, when it seems clear that Obama is trying to be "even-handed" between a pro-peace side and an anti-peace side, it's important to remember the nuanced insights of foreign policy experts like Stephen Walt:

It is often said that Israel lacks a "partner for peace," but so do the Palestinians. So if the Obama administration is serious about settling this conflict, it will have to exert real pressure on both sides.

I think it's unfair to compare political science to phrenology, as some conservative critics have done. Phrenologists were at least sensitive to evidence.

References:
* Israel PM calls for demilitarized Palestinian state [CNN]
* Obama: PM's speech an important step [JPost]
* PA: Netanyahu has buried peace process [JPost]
* Kassam hits Ashkelon Beach region [JPost]
* An unconvincing defense [Walt]

Previously:
* Pro-Obama Jewish Groups Soliciting Creepy "Pledges" To Help Obama Detonate The US-Israel Alliance
* Carter To Palestinians: I Wish I Knew How To Quit You
* This Week In Gaza - Israel Completes Fuel Pipeline, Hamas Attacks Another Charity