US secretary of state Anthony Blinken’s trip to the Middle East is increasingly looking like a flight of fantasy.

Mr Blinken says Israel has accepted his ceasefire deal, what he calls a final bridging proposal.

The problem is it is not clear if there is much of a workable proposal there yet to accept.

The brutal reality in Jerusalem is it is impossible to find anyone here who shares America’s optimism, which is looking increasingly delusional.

In contrast to his public professions of support, many Israeli observers believe Benjamin Netanyahu does not want a deal for political reasons and has found a way to stymie progress.

He fears a deal would lead to hardliners in his government walking out and collapsing it. And he is still holding out for the ever diminishing prospect of achieving his over ambitious goal of “total victory” over Hamas.

Read more:
A key sticking point in Gaza ceasefire deal
Emotional Biden speech officially marks passing of baton

US calls on Hamas to agree ceasefire bridging proposal – after it gets Israel’s backing

US Gaza ceasefire vote – why did it fail?

Benjamin Netanyahu rejects calls from US for Palestinian state after Gaza conflict

As Nahum Barnea – one of Israel’s most respected political commentators – put it: “What blew everything up was Netanyahu’s insistence on an Israeli military presence along the entire length of the Philadelphi corridor,” as the strip of land between Gaza and Egypt is called.

That insistence is a marked change in position from what Americans negotiated two months ago and which Hamas reportedly accepted. Hamas will not approve the plan as things stand and Egypt is unhappy with Israel staying on the border too.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

But Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar doesn’t seem to want a ceasefire either. He has shifted demands too and Hamas is believed to be on the verge of expanding its war, with suicide bombers like those sent to Tel Aviv on Sunday night.

If all of the above is true, then the main function of these talks is simply keeping up appearances. There is a good reason for that, the US believes if they completely collapse, Iran and Hezbollah will follow through on their threat to avenge the assassinations of two senior figures.

That would be very unfortunate for the region and for the Biden administration particularly were it to happen in the middle of the Democrats’ convention.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

But talking for the sake of talking is not going to end this conflict, bring the hostages home or end the unimaginable suffering of the people of Gaza, however much wishful thinking on the part of the Americans.

Related posts:

US imposes ‘Russia-like’ sanctions on Ireland’s notorious Kinahan crime gang Flights delayed and millions told to stay indoors as smoke from Canadian wildfires engulfs US east coast ‘Bad Spaniels’ dog toy cannot mimic Jack Daniel’s, Supreme Court rules Teenager dies after ‘taking part in viral spicy chip challenge’ popular on social media Super Bowl winner killed in New York plane crash US woman accused of killing two of her children arrested in UK Police officer jumps onto subway tracks to rescue man Man dies after climbing into jet engine at US airport Iran and the US were once friends – what happened? Woman seriously injured after being compacted in bin lorry Town flattened as tornadoes bring devastation to US Midwest Megaupload founder to be extradited to US but says ‘don’t worry, I have a plan’