Tailwind for doves

摘要

The announcement looked far from auspicious. John Kerry, America's secretary of state, stood alone with neither Israelis nor Palestinians at his side as he read a terse statement announcing the resumption of talks between them after a three-year hiatus. What he said was vague and tentative. Officials, but not leaders, would meet "next week or so", though disagreements on a framework had yet to be bridged, suggesting that Mr Kerry was merely heralding talks about talks. Israel's media was so unenthusiastic it led with the news of Britain's royal birth. This was in marked contrast to the twilight of the Bush presidency, when Israeli and Palestinian leaders stood on a red carpet in Annapolis, surrounded by Arab officials.