U.S. Needs One Last Peace Process Push

For its part, the Obama administration has been preoccupied with dramatic events sweeping the Arab nations in the Middle East.

Washington now needs to make one major push to get Israel and the Palestinian Authority to each cross a historic and transformative threshold to avoid the slide to September. Only the U.S. has enough authority to synchronize this move. Because neither side will cross a historic threshold without the other — this must be in tandem.

There are reasons to act soon. First, the Europeans are increasingly urging the U.S. to join them in imposing negotiating terms. Though it is clearly preferable that the parties move on their own.