A series of recent comments from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would suggest that the parties of the peace talks are heading in the direction of the negotiating table. The Egyptians are exerting efforts to bring the leaders together, with what analysts believe is the firm backing of the United States.

However, the facts on the ground remain the same and leave little room for optimism. Israel has only implemented a partial settlement freeze and the Palestinian public does not appear to be supportive of the rebooting of talks until Israel stops all construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Points of contention

Over the last few days, Netanyahu has been speaking publicly of his desire to launch immediate and unconditional talks with the Palestinians.

The hawkish Israeli leader Monday said "There is a certain change in the air... We are serious in our intentions to reach a peace agreement."

The Palestinians maintain Netanyahu is not really prepared to enter talks without setting his own conditions, having already listed a series of demands he expects to be met by the Palestinians.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told Voice of Palestine radio on Tuesday that "The current Israeli government hasn't opened page one of the Road Map, and yet they talk about peace and resuming negotiations."

Israeli spin doctors argued that Netanyahu's expectations are open to negotiation and should not be seen as preconditions. The Israelis added that it is the Palestinians who are setting terms for a return to negotiations, with their insistence that Israel must halt all settlement activity.

The Americans and the Egyptians are trying to find a way to break this impasse. Israeli political scientists and Peace Now activist Galia Golan said that there is something in the works that could bridge the gap between the parties, but it is still unknown what the formula is.

Golan said on Tuesday that "What could break this deadlock would be some new and original form of negotiations both so that Abbas could say that he is not going into more and more talks that lead nowhere and also that he can justify giving up this condition of a total freeze."

When Abbas met Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Egypt on Monday, there was no indication of an immediate restart of talks, but Palestinian officials did tell reporters that they are waiting to see the results of American-Egyptian diplomatic efforts over the next week or two.