the legal status of the territories could not be more beside the point.

It's the first time that this administration gives evidence that it is prepared to roll up its sleeves and to do some hard work that goes beyond simply the rhetorical declarations of support for a two states solution.

Everyone agrees that the London meeting is potentially a critical chapter in the peace process which either opens up the hope for continuation or closes an important chapter of history,

If the US really wants to see progress, it must be prepared at the highest level of government to do this kind of work directly with the parties. And so far they had not done that.

This is not a racial issue and should not be presented as such. The principle is legal versus illegal status.

Our views have not changed that the VFA is a mutually beneficial and useful framework that clarifies the legal status of visiting US military personnel and enables both the US and the Philippines to advance their national security interests.