“And they deceive every one his neighbor, and truth they speak not; they have taught their tongue to speak lies, they weary themselves to commit iniquity” (Jeremiah 9:4)

It was originally reported that as both Israel and the Palestinians arrived in Washington earlier this week to revive a three-year hiatus on peace talks that everyone involved was optimistic and in good spirits. Israel’s chief negotiator, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, noted to the AFP that a “positive” mood at resumed talks.

According to Fox News, “The atmosphere was positive,” she told public radio early on Tuesday Israel time after a dinner with her Palestinian counterpart Saeb Erakat hosted by US Secretary of State John Kerry.

“All issues are on the table, but we decided that what was said will stay in the negotiating room and will not go outside,” she said. She said the talks were resuming “not just in response to US pressure but because it’s in the interest of both parties.”

She did however, acknowledge that not every person necessarily was there for the right reasons. The Fox News report added that Livni, shockingly, was referring to the Israelis, not the Palestinians, when she said a huge obstacle to peace was the fact that, “there are ministers who don’t want an agreement.”

While it is true that Deputy interior minister Zeev Elkin, member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, told public radio “any change [following a peace agreement] is not necessarily positive for Israel’s security, and could make it worse.The Palestinians aren’t ready to make the smallest concession,” the Palestinian side had been sending worrisome signals before the talks had begun as well.

First reported by Trending Central, Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh, who along with chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat are in Washington for the talks, had made some troublesome posts on his Facebook page right before the talks were to commence. According to Trending Central, his Facebook background image reveals his aspirations for a Palestinian state that incorporates the entirety of Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. The word ‘Filastin’ (Palestine) can be seen emblazoned across the entirety of Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, above.

If things weren’t complicated enough, as US Secretary of State John Kerry was holding a tri-party press conference, according to the Jerusalem Post, hailing the resumption of talks by announcing that Israel and the Palestinians are aiming to resolve final-status issues within in the next nine months, Palestinian Authority President, and alleged ‘moderate’, Mahmoud Abbas  told reporters in Egypt that no Israelis would be allowed to remain in a future Palestinian state, according to the Times of Israel. “In a final resolution, we would not see the presence of a single Israeli — civilian or soldier — on our lands,” Abbas said following a meeting with interim Egyptian President Adly Mansour in Cairo.

These words appeared to fly in the face of Kerry’s announcement at the press conference, when he said “We’re here today because the Israeli people and the Palestinian people both have leaders willing to heed the call of history, leaders who will stand strong in the face of criticism and are right now for what they know is in their people’s best interests.

Their commitment to make tough choices, frankly, should give all of us hope that these negotiations actually have a chance to accomplish something,” he said.

“We all understand the goal that we’re working towards: two states living side by side in peace and security. Two states because two proud peoples each deserve a country to call their own. Two states because the children of both peoples deserve the opportunity to realize their legitimate aspirations in security and in freedom. And two states because the time has come for a lasting peace,” he said.

“I think everyone involved here believes that we cannot pass along to another generation the responsibility of ending a conflict that is in our power to resolve in our time. They should not be expected to bear that burden, and we should not leave it to them. They should not be expected to bear the pain of continued conflict or perpetual war. So while I understand the skepticism, I don’t share it, and I don’t think we have time for it,” he said.

He has yet to address Abbas’s’ counter-productive statement in Cairo.