The two most important elements to resolving the terrible carnage tearing apart the Holy Lands are not evident, yet can easily be called upon - dialogue and the United States. Without these, Israel and the Palestinians will continue their deadly tit-for-tat war.
Almost two years after the start of the Palestinian intifada, nothing has changed. For each attack on Israelis by Palestinians, reprisals that are just as ruthless are launched. It is a game that is going nowhere and achieving only corpses.
Friday's killing of 12 Israelis by Palestinian militants in Hebron will be no different. The three Palestinians gunned down by Israeli troops after the attack will not be considered sufficient justice for what has become a simplistic policy of an eye for an eye.
This is no solution to a problem rapidly spinning out of control. The conflict may be complex and steeped in centuries of hatred, but in the 21st century, the sanest way to confront disputes is through dialogue.
Unfortunately, US President George W. Bush also does not hold to this philosophy. As the commander-in-chief of the world's only superpower, and Israel's closest ally, he holds the key to broking a cease-fire and an eventual peace deal.
But he is refusing to do anything. This may be because of the powerful Jewish lobby in the US, or perhaps his own convictions are that Israel is right and the Palestinians are wrong.