A. Striking a note of balance, Powell commented that both sides needed to curb violence, both sides needed to make an effort at restraining public discourse that would provoke violence. Palestinian assets in the form of tax revenues that the Israelis were collecting that belonged to the Palestinian Authority. That resolve will only last until the situation either appears ready for it in terms of negotiations, or until the first crisis.
Every administration begins by wanting to put the peace process on the back burner.
It is our national interests that require our engagement in this peace process. The extent to which this violence is spinning out of control endangers our overall interest. To that extent, we will have to become engaged. And so yes, I think that they're trying to buy time until they formulate a policy. They would prefer not to have to extend excessive amounts of political capital at this point nurturing a process that shows no sign of moving forward.