Ceasefire talks in Egypt stalled briefly on Sunday. Not over borders, hostages or security guarantees. Over cartography.
Jared Kushner, meeting Hamas leadership ahead of talks with Netanyahu, produced the long-awaited road map. Delegates expected a framework document. They received a glossy fold-out with scenic routes, a proposed marina and a legend explaining the symbols. It smelled faintly of an estate agent's office.
This correspondent has covered four Middle East peace processes. This is comfortably the most laminated. The others collapsed under the weight of history. This one may collapse under the weight of its own cardstock, which is considerable.
"There is a golf course on it," said one exhausted mediator, smoothing a crease over the Mediterranean. "Hole seven sits where the ceasefire line should be. We asked about the withdrawal timetable and were shown a rendering of a juice bar."
