Last week, the BBC reported that leaders of Israel, Egypt and the Palestinians have been invited for peace talks in Washington. The talks offer hope, but the road ahead is always going to be difficult.
The swearing-in of the new Israeli government has ostensibly diminished hopes for Palestinian statehood. Back for a second shot at the Prime Ministership, Benjamin Netanyahu has been tight-lipped about how he will approach his Palestinian neighbours. Less ambiguous is the new Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, an outspoken ultra-nationalist, known for his anti-Arab policies and strong support for Israel's illegal settlements.
Israel's 32nd government in 61 years of existence does not inspire confidence in long-term peace prospects. But its willingness to break bread with the Palestinians must be matched by Palestinian readiness. And Israel is hardly alone in its leadership woes.
In July it will be two years since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip, leaving its rival, Fatah, in control of the West Bank. Despite being elected in a free vote, Hamas is internationally condemned as a terrorist organisation, which leaves Fatah President, Mahmoud Abbas, as the only internationally acceptable avenue for negotiating with the Palestinians.
Accordingly, any agreement reached would represent territorially just over half of all Palestinians (to talk of allegiances is more complicated). If it were not involved, Hamas would most likely regard such peace as illegitimate.
Hamas would then effectively hold veto power over any peace deal. A single act of violent disapproval would be enough to bring a hard-won agreement to its knees.
If this is the likely outcome of peace negotiated between Israel and Fatah, then it may be futile to pressure the Israeli government to commit to peace talks. Even if Israel were to have a revolutionary change of ideology and meet with Hamas, the two warring Palestinian factions would still have to be reconciled.
Leadership has long been a problem for the Palestinians. Never having had the chance to develop as a state, they lack the structures of governance and leadership normal in international states. The absence of a basic state structure is related to the violence and hopelessness that pervades Palestinian life. Without legitimate avenues of expression and overarching authority, there is little order or progress.
Although Israel may be tempted to sit back and observe Palestinian disunity with smug righteousness, the peace on which its own security depends rests upon a resolution to the bitter