US Secretary of State John Kerry wrapped up three days of shuttle diplomacy in the Middle East on Tuesday. Despite his own positive evaluation of the visit, it seems the Israelis and Palestinians are still as far apart as ever and the prospects for breaking the four-year impasse between the two sides remain bleak.

Kerry's third visit to the region in less than a month came on the heels of US President Barack Obama's first visit to Israel and the West Bank last month. Such intense diplomacy conducted by the United States in the region indicates Washington at least appears to be redoubling its efforts to coax the two rivals back to the negotiating table.

This is consistent with the view that breaking the Palestinian-Israeli deadlock and resuming direct negotiations occupy an important niche in Obama's foreign policy agenda during his second term.