there also will be over time backdoor negotiations. other people sending messages. that will be a good sign too. diplomacy typically works at both levels. when you start to get down to the real brass tacks, the real things that divide people, it becomes extraordinarily delicate. it takes trusted partners to help push people over the finish line. >> larry: james, netanyahu has a coalition government. abbas is challenged by hamas. how much strength do these two men bring to the table? >> the real challenge in the middle east is precisely that. i think most people know the general outlines of how this has to be resolved with two states. the problem has been to get the right people in the room at the right time, pursuing the right solution. when it comes to prime minister netanyahu, he does have a fair amount of political power in israel right now. he has been saying things that give people great optimism.