The negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians were born in a breech position following a traumatic pregnancy with innumerable obstacles and problems along the way. The signs are not encouraging, indicating that the newborn suffers from very serious genetic defects. The baby is currently in the neonatal ICU connected to a respirator. Professor John Kerry stands at the side of the bassinet and prays.

Even if they survive, the life expectancy of these negotiations is short, difficult and frustrating. The odds that they will grow, to accomplish "mitzvot and good deeds," as they say in the Jewish tradition, are not great. We all need a miracle or somebody with especially creative thinking.

The sides are so far apart on the issues that it is difficult for them to reach even the most basic of agreements. For example, the identity of the new US representative on Israeli-Palestinian Peace talks, the person who will need to roll up his sleeves, dip his hand into the cesspools and try to fix the plumbing. The two names being heard in Washington are Dennis Ross and Martin Indyk.

Another name has been just added to the list of candidates for the post of American envoy — former ambassador Daniel Kurtzer, who served as the American ambassador to Israel. The decision is yet to be made, and all options are still open.