Why Pope Francis’s Peace Plan Won’t Pay Off

President Shimon Peres and Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization Mahmoud Abbas accepted an invitation from the leader of the world’s Catholics to participate in peace talks at the Vatican. Many remain skeptical that a “prayer for peace” will have significant impact on a long and bitter conflict. As Benny Avni of Newsweek details, one obstacle is the power differential between the two invited statesmen: Abbas, as chairman, is leader of the Palestinian Authority, while Peres as president is regarded as more of a figurehead, with most power residing with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The bigger struggle for the two leaders is with extremists within their own constituencies who resist negotiations and even recognition of the other party. The pope referred to Palestine as a state, as recognized by the United Nations, but the United States and Israel reject that designation. The conflict is destructive for the Middle East, and the Vatican must traverse a “minefield of political and religious sensitivities.” – YaleGlobal