What Must Occur Before Real Peace Talks: 4 Key Issues

Mideast peace talks resume this week, with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton traveling to Egypt and Israel for negotiations between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Is religion helping or hurting the attempt to forge peace between the Jewish state and the Palestinians?

Until Palestinian political leaders and the Palestinian people accept Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state, peace talks will continue to be a meaningless charade. While the Islam that Hamas espouses may currently play a damaging role in the Palestinian's quest for statehood, religion does not play a key role in the conflict.

If Hamas were to conquer the West Bank, their terrorist methods combined with their radical Islamic faith would make any peace talks impossible. Currently, while the Palestinian Authority "represents" Palestine, this is a conflict over land, not religion.

Four key issues must be handled before real negotiations on Palestinian statehood actually commence.

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Please note that in discussing political issues, candidates positions and political party statements, Jordan Sekulow is offering analysis in his individual capacity as lawyer and commentator. He is not speaking on behalf of the American Center for Law & Justice. The ACLJ does not endorse or oppose candidates for public office. Nothing contained in this article should be construed as the position of the ACLJ.