The hope that Russia could succeed where the United States has failed in brokering an Israeli-Palestinian peace often surfaces as frustration with Washington’s management of the peace process grows. In 2014, Russian officials and observers complained that the Barack Obama administration pushed Moscow aside and then failed to accomplish anything. This is largely true. But could Moscow do better? Almost surely not.
The desire for Russia to take center stage derives from widespread perceptions that the United States is too partial to Israel and that Moscow would be more balanced. But being a successful mediator requires more than a collection of diplomatic positions.
