Scepticism is high and expectations low for the Middle East peace conference in the US. The weak political positions of the key participants, the seemingly intractable differences between Israelis and Palestinians and the shadow of Iraq give good cause for such views.
For all the negatives, though, there is one over-riding positive that has to be held up as proof of a will to overcome the obstacles. This is the fact that the leaders and representatives of 50 governments and interest groups are participating. Joining the leaders of Israel, the Palestinians and the US are representatives of Saudi Arabia and Syria, nations that do not recognise the Jewish state's right to exist. To what degree they contribute to pushing the peace process forward is uncertain, but their presence alone has to be seen as an achievement.
US leader George W. Bush is fast approaching the twilight months of his presidency. Like his predecessor, Bill Clinton, he has turned to trying to broker peace in the Middle East as a lasting foreign policy legacy. The effort is worthy, but attaining success where there has until now been limited will shown by the US leader augers poorly for success. Creating a Palestinian state living in peace beside Israel will take far greater resolve and time.
Politically, Mr Bush is weak. So too is Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who has failed to shake off criticism over the invasion last year of south Lebanon, and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, who has lost control of the Gaza Strip to rivals Hamas.
The credibility of the US in the Middle East is at a low due to the invasion of Iraq. Muslims and Arabs contend that the US favours Israel. But the issues that stand in the way of a deal outweigh these difficulties. The borders of a Palestinian state, the status of Jerusalem and what to do with the millions of refugees left by the creation of Israel in 1948 have been left unresolved despite decades of negotiations.
No solution will come easily or quickly. There will also be no progress, however, without key officials coming face-to-face. Thanks to Mr Bush, top-level meetings are taking place for the first time in seven years. This is a significant achievement that has kick-started a process that has for too long been on the international diplomacy back-burner.