OPINION: Any thinking is welcome, even the wishful kind

By Richard Ferrer
  • Richard Ferrer has been editor of Jewish News since 2009. As one of Britain's leading Jewish voices he writes for The Times, Independent, New Statesman and many other titles. Richard previously worked at the Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, edited the Boston Jewish Advocate and created the Channel 4 TV series Jewish Mum Of The Year.
 3 April 2014, 3:13 pm
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry climbs up the stairs of the plane to leave Tel Aviv, Israel Tuesday April 1, 2014, continuing on to NATO meetings in Brussels after meeting in Israel with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the Middle East peace process talks. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

By Richard Ferrer, Editor Jewish News

Try telling John Kerry there’s only so many ways to skin a cat ­­– or make peace in the Middle East.

The US Secretary of State – dubbed “the hardest working man in diplomacy” by the website politicususa – this week revealed his new plan to resuscitate the moribund talks about talks.

His latest greatest big idea to get both sides talking again would see Israel committing to show “great restraint” to not issue new housing tenders in disputed areas and the Palestinians withdraw their application to join 15 United Nations bodies.

John Kerry cuts a lonely figure as he leaves Tel Aviv after yet another false start.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry climbs up the stairs of the plane to leave Tel Aviv this week.

Most controversial, Kerry’s initiative – which by Wednesday night already looked doomed – would see the release of Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard in exchange for 400 Palestinian prisoners.

As a US naval intelligence analyst during the mid-1980s, Pollard passed vital security information to Israel, including details of Iraqi, Iranian and Libyan non-conventional weapons programmes.

He was convicted of passing classified information to an ally and received a life sentence with no chance of parole – the most severe penalty ever handed down by a US court for an offence of this nature.

Pollard (who, reportedly, has refused to play any part in a deal that would see the release of Palestinian prisoners), would be free within weeks.

In a region where cautious baby steps seem like giant Neil Armstrong leaps, Kerry’s new push adds up to wishful thinking.

But, then again, with leaders on both sides showing little interest or imagination, at least someone is still thinking.

And after all, any thinking, even the wishful kind, beats abject surrender to the stagnant status quo.

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