Israel, Palestine, and Peace: Yeah, Right.

The goal between Israel and Palestine is peaceful resolution of several issues, like recognition of one another, borders, Jerusalem, and water rights, while maintaining the appearance of power in their respective cultures.  While the leaders of these nations are reasonable actors, the weight of their interests are exceptionally deep, and parts of their citizenry do not share the reason at the top.  That is not to say all the goals are valid, nor is it to say that all the citizens of these nations are unreasonable—that is far from true.  However, the stakes are high, and some actors are not willing to see change.

The conflict between Israel and Palestine is deeply rooted in history, tradition, and core beliefs.  However, the willingness of both nations to engage in some type of negotiations to form a two-state solution is a tremendous start.  The obvious problems today are that each side is attempting to wield some amounts of power, and the other side will not budge as a result.  There is no necessity to actually earn peace.  While most of the world looks on and hopes that negotiations go well, there is a much stronger impetus on saving face.  Openly conceding a point to the other side, or even showing weakness appears to be slap in the face to the greatest values that each society holds dear.  Timeline manipulations will not work.  Hardball moves will not work.  Nations like Iran, and subcultures in Palestine strongly believe that any peaceful concession is a loss.  Each nation having power in this struggle is not a positive for the negotiations in general, because while they would like to avoid war, they would prefer it to the appearance of even a slight one-sidedness.

Israel specifically wields power with general sense of backing from Western culture.  Many of the strongest military nations are pro-Israel.  Additionally, the housing project that was going up along a border was frozen for a time.  That said, the moratorium on that building was set to expire, which would cease negotiations talk.  It was supposed to give the feeling of power, but Palestine just wanted to walk away.  That is a power for them.  Ultimately, their lower concern of resolution is a power for each group in a way.

Palestine has an uncontrollable level of power because of violent attacks from non-government groups, however those types of attacks could actually increase with a deal, so it works against them as well.