It is becoming necessary to define the terms associated with the ongoing impasse between the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government.

To begin with, a clarification of the semantics associated with this process is imperative in view of the sole role that the United States has had in managing the talks for more than 20 years. With John Kerry visiting this crisis region seven times since he became secretary of state, clarity of the legal issues has become an urgent requirement.

I deliberately did not use the term “negotiations” because I firmly believe that what is taking place are discussions at best, but definitely not negotiations. To apply the term “negotiations” means that there is a mutual agreement on the outcome  — which at this moment is absent — and then negotiations become the relevant instrument to achieve the desired result.

It is clear, beyond any reasonable doubt, that in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, there never was a clear indication that serious negotiations took place. At best, discussions and conversations have proven, as everyone acknowledges, futile.