[Analysis] On the day George Mitchell was officially appointed the United States envoy to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict things were looking slightly positive. The last Israeli troops had just pulled out of Gaza. The fighting had ended. The international community was beginning to talk about the path ahead for Gaza and Israelis hoped the calm would mean an end to rocket fire towards their homes. A week later Israel says it cannot sit idly by and watch Palestinians renew the violence and thus far little if any progress has been made towards a lasting cease-fire. When he arrived in Israel on Wednesday, Mitchell spoke of consolidating the cease-fire, including a cessation of hostilities, an end to smuggling and the re-opening of the crossings. He repeated U.S. President Barack Obama’s commitment to reaching the goal of two states living side by side in peace and security. As he visits the Palestinian leadership in the West Bank on Thursday that hope seems as far from reality as ever.