Prospect: clouded by pessimism

Under such a misaligned backdrop, heavy skepticism and pessimism hover over the upcoming direct peace talks.

Some Palestinian factions, including the Gaza-ruling Hamas, which virtually controls half of Palestinian territories and whose charter calls for Israel's destruction, have already clearly voiced their opposition to the talks.

Dissenting voices are also loud among the PLO, the internationally recognized Palestinian leadership led by President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement.

The strong resistance has prompted Abbas to vow that should Israel initiate new settlement construction projects during the process of direct peace talks, the Palestinian side would immediately leave the negotiating table.

Palestinian media also struck a doubtful tone, warning that by agreeing to the talks without securing any guarantees, the Palestinian side would lose its ammunition to fight for its interests, thus dooming the process.

Meanwhile, Israeli observers noted that the first test for the direct negotiations would come late next month when the 10-month moratorium on new construction projects in West Bank settlements staged by the Israeli government expires.

Netanyahu issued the suspension order under heavy international pressure, but the move failed to satisfy the Palestinians, who demand a total settlement freeze both in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Should Israel refuse to extend the moratorium, analysts warned, the already grudging Palestinians would be very likely to withdraw from the talks.

The prospect of the resumed process depends much on how well Netanyahu can navigate between Scylla and Charybdis, said Gershon Baskin, co-CEO of the Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information.

On the one hand, Netanyahu has to prevent his ruling coalition from falling apart, he said, noting that the premier's hawkish right-wing allies normally oppose any concession on the settlement issue.

On the other, he has to persuade the cabinet, including the same right-wing partners, to extend the suspension decree in order to prevent the newly-reborn direct talks from collapsing once again, Baskin added.

In Washington, analysts are also cautious. While calling the resumption of talks "a step in the right direction," Andrew Tabler, a Middle East expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said: "It will be difficult, as the number of issues between both sides are many."