As I understand it (??) the first phase in the "Mitchell Process" is "confidence-building." Developing ways, small & mundane at first, then incrementally more significant, in which each side can actually begin to trust the other to keep its word. A long and winding road, I'm sure. (And a very Rocky one, if to Dublin. Sorry.) But one which the Northern Irish were able, however begrudgingly, to travel. (Hopefully, they will find their way back it from this latest detour.) / But the Palestinians & Israelis: No. Apparently they will trust each other to kill each other whenever possible, and that's all. / There are various analogies and parallels, imperfect but interesting, between the two situations -- even such that when they began flying the Palestinian flag in the nationalist Belfast Falls Road, the unionist Shankill put up the Israeli white & blue in reply. (And I don't think that was necessarily reflective of Paisley's great love for the Jews either. He's just too busy Kicking the Pope to be bothered with Tel Aviv.) / BUT -- the Middle East conundrum is much worse than Ireland's. There is hatred; but then again, there is ***HATRED***. / Arrrgh. Let us pray.