The US legislation also set aside a fund of US$20 million (Bt730 million) to promote democracy, human rights, freedom of the press and peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

While the Palestinian people are ill-served by a Hamas-led government that refuses to renounce terror or work toward lasting peace with Israel, it is just as distressing, as pointed out by former US President Jimmy Carter, to see restraints placed on free and balanced discussion of the facts. Carter pointed out that the American-Israel Political Action Committee, an influential lobby group, has succeeded in preventing American politicians from criticising any policies of the Israeli government.

"It would be almost politically suicidal for members of Congress to espouse a balanced position between Israel and Palestine, to suggest that Israel comply with international law or to speak in defence of justice or human rights for Palestinians," said Carter.

Few American politicians have ventured to visit Palestinian cities to see for themselves the squalid and dehumanising conditions that local residents are forced to live in. Carter is among a handful of American politicians who advocate what they described as a "more balanced approach" to the US policy on the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Of course, part of the reason for the US's steadfast support for Israel must have a lot to do with the shared values of the two democracies, the fact that the Jewish state is a vitally important strategic ally in the volatile Middle East, and the genuine sympathy of the American public. But lifting the taboo on free and open discussion of issues related to Israel should improve the likelihood of the US government developing a more even-handed approach. This should also improve the overall effectiveness of its Middle East policy.

As it is, the US's ability to make a positive contribution or begin a meaningful engagement is very limited while Palestine continues to be manipulated by outside powers and their meddlesome politics that do more to push Palestinian political parties and stakeholders toward civil war. The rise of Hamas in Palestine, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Council of Islamic Courts in Somalia goes on unimpeded as the US watches from the sidelines while its long-term interests in the region are being compromised.

One can always blame Arab nations' incompetence, the radicalisation of their societies and their inability to govern themselves under democratic rule not only for the slow pace towards peace between Israel and Palestine but also for the failure to prevent new conflicts and violence in the region. However, one cannot ignore the fact that the issue of Palestine is anchored in Israeli unilateral militarism and strong American bias in favour of Israel.

But even as the US and the international community continue to look for a fair and balanced strategy that will bring a political solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, the Palestinians themselves must begin to put their house in order. In recent weeks it has been distressing, though not exactly a surprise, to see Hamas and Fatah militias, each with the help of its foreign backers, slugging it out on the streets of Gaza. Muslim clerics and other mediators have managed to get both sides to agree to a two-day-old cease-fire, which may or may not hold.

In the meantime, as King Abdullah of Jordan was trying hard to get the Hamas and Fatah leaders to the negotiating table, a Palestinian rocket fired from Gaza and aimed at Israel veered off course and struck a home in the northern Gaza Strip, wounding a two-year-old boy. Another rocket hit a community centre in the southern Israeli town of Sderot, causing damage but no casualties.

If more rockets fall on Israel, the flimsy truce may fall apart, thus threatening a planned summit between Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Peace, it seems, will take some time and an unstinting effort from all sides to achieve.