Palestinian-Israeli talks open in Washington based on an American vision, as stated by President Obama, “direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. These negotiations are intended to resolve all final status issues. The goal is a settlement, negotiated between the parties, that ends the occupation which began in 1967 and results in the emergence of an independent, democratic, and viable Palestinian state, living side by side in peace and security with a Jewish state of Israel and its other neighbors.” Ending after several meetings in September, the talks flounder on Israeli settlement building, Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel, and other unilateral actions by both sides.