Mideast peace push arrives too late

In the final days of George W. Bush's presidency, it is really ill-timed to see yet another attempt at pushing the Middle East process forward. At the very end of an eight-year rule, no steps taken by the current administration can resolve any of the major issues when it comes to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. This is being said given that it is a complex problem that does not afford quick fixes.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in her latest and last visit to the region, was still hoping that the peace process may bear fruit, perhaps one day in the time remaining until Bush leaves office. "The distance to peace has been narrowed although peace has not been achieved... The Annapolis process is vital, it is vibrant and it continues," she said.

Rice is pushing both Israelis and Palestinians to agree on a definition that outlines a deal before she leaves office. But what has really been achieved so far - neither is there an accord, nor have core issues at the heart of the conflict been addressed, including the status of occupied Jerusalem, the right of return, the state of refugees and the final borders of a Palestinian state.

All in all, Rice's visit is by far too late as the push of the last pushes for peace is simply unnecessary and futile. The US had plenty of opportunities over a period of two presidential terms to achieve major steps in pushing forward the peace process. It also had the power to bring together all the parties on to an agreed platform - one that would have facilitated the advance of areas of agreement and eliminated points of difference. Hence, is it not too late forRice to influence any outcome in the present and in the future as well?