Kerry had little luck in Israel on Jan. 2 when he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. And judging by Kerry's impromptu remarks to American students — "I am a believer in the possibility ... we could achieve something, but it will be very, very difficult" — his day on Friday, Jan. 3, was not much better.

Six months ago, the indefatigable secretary of state claimed success in arranging direct discussions between Israeli and Palestinian delegations. Kerry evidently had hoped that with the help of a US facilitator, Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) could work out a diplomatic road map on their own. To date, however, these talks have succeeded only in illuminating the gaps between the two sides on the host of issues confronting them, and the inadequacy of the initial US effort to facilitate a peace agreement via this dialogue of the deaf.

This failure is now viewed by Kerry as an opportunity to climb yet another rung higher in the ladder of US involvement — to save the floundering enterprise by raising the stakes — putting US ideas on the parameters of a final status agreement on the table, and pressuring both parties to contemplate the costs of stiffing Washington.

Facing expectations of progress before April, Kerry traveled to the region just as the new year dawned to discuss this new passion — a framework agreement. But he faced Israeli and Palestinian leaders united in their focus on critiquing Kerry’s security envoy retired Gen. John Allen’s recommendations for security in the Jordan Valley presented last month.