The International Mideast Mediators (US, Russia, EU and UN) have in a recent meeting pressed on the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to continue negotiations within Annapolis framework that adopts a multi-pronged approach towards a solution to the dispute. Notwithstanding the impossibility of achieving a solution by the end of Bush's term, Rice has played up the need to fulfil their obligations by both sides. The bitter reality is that various efforts undertaken with the purpose to restore peace and normalcy to the strife-torn region have come to naught and the Palestinian Arab victims continue languishing in refugee camps at the hands of ruthless Israeli troops. The Palestinians form the largest stateless community in the world and they are denied rights available to the citizens of any state. The efforts to promote peace in ME have failed primarily because of mistrust and suspicion existing between the parties to dispute. In the absence of mutual trust and confidence, peace remains elusive as the contracting parties succumb to their imaginary lingering fears. Israel views an independent Palestinian state as a vital threat to its existence, while the Arabs are under the threat of Al-Naqba. The demagogue and hawkish elements on both sides have missed no opportunity to hamper the steady progress of peace negotiations. At the same time the unconditional support extended to Israel by the West has encouraged the former to adhere to inflexible, rigid stance. Israelis activity of establishment of Jewish settlements on occupied Palestinian territory has often hindered the implementation of peace agreements. In 2003, a new roadmap was designed by the US with the cooperation of the EU, Russia and the UN. This plan required PM Abbas to end all armed Palestinian activity and all acts of violence against Israelis. In return, Israel was to begin the process of dismantling settlements built since March 2001. In Aqaba (Jordan), Sharon mustered up courage to promise the curbing of settlements. Two days after the Aqaba meeting, the three main Palestinian terror groups staged a coordinated attack at the border crossing from Gaza into Israel. Disguised in Israeli army uniforms, they killed four Israeli soldiers. Later on, a suicide bomber detonated a bomb on a crowded bus in Jerusalem killing twenty people. Israel immediately suspended all negotiations and the peace process fell off a cliff. Last year in November, the US hosted a peace summit at Annapolis and the resultant document committing the parties to resolve the outstanding core issues was adopted. But tragically no result has been achieved. The process has been hobbled by the internal political dissensions within Israel. In order to reach an agreement envisioning amicable solution to the dispute, the leaders of both parties must break their pre-formulated moulds and get ready for out-of-box thinking. Secondly, there is need to free the peace process from being hostage to militants extremist agenda. Thirdly, Israel and the western powers must stop driving a wedge between Palestinian factions whose trivial differences inhibit the growth of national consensus on vital issues. The writer is a law student E-mail:  naumanasghar18@yahoo.com