When President Trump welcomed Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to the White House for the first time 13 months ago, the bragger in chief had his usual “only I can do it” attitude. While thanking Abbas for traveling an entire ocean to meet with him, Trump talked about striking an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal as if it was just another negotiation with a casino or hotel about use of the Trump family name. Sure, he acknowledged, previous American presidents weren’t able to pull it off. But previous presidents also didn’t have the skills, the smarts, and the perseverance of Trump to make the “ultimate deal.” Middle East peace is “something that I think is, frankly, maybe not as difficult as people have thought over the years,” Trump declared to everyone else’s amusement.

Eighteen months after Trump was first sworn in, the administration’s Israeli-Palestinian peace plan remains a closely guarded secret. The world is told that the delays are nothing to be concerned about and that the White House is waiting for the perfect time to roll it out. But it’s just as likely that the plan is being kept in a safe somewhere because deep down, the White House realizes that the effort may very well be a waste of time and diplomatic energy. Who would have thought badgering Israelis and Palestinians to sign a peace settlement would be so complicated?