The Results of the Mitchell Israel-Palestine Trip: Nothing

On Sunday, U.S. special envoy George Mitchell went to Israel for a second set of talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Before the discussion, he told reporters: "It has been and remains an important objective of American policy and of President Obama and the secretary of state personally to achieve comprehensive peace in the Middle East." He added: "We understand that there are many difficulties, that there are many obstacles. But we are determined and committed to continue our efforts until that objective is reached."

After Mitchell's meeting, Netanyahu's office said the Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ehud Barak had continued the talks with Mitchell to advance the peace process. Lower-level Israeli officials are to travel to Washington this week for further discussions.

Mitchell has completed his 9th tour of the region and returned home. The commitment of the U.S. President Barack Obama continues, but the envoy has not been given any concessions by either party. And this could well be the situation when he submits his report to the President in mid-October.