These “proximity talks” allow Mitchell to ensure that each side is making serious offers. If the proximity talks are replaced with direct talks in which the US is not physically inside the negotiating room, there is no guarantee that the stronger partner will not try to bully the weaker one.
目前来说，在巴以对话中扮演这个相对中立的第三者角色的是美国前参议员乔治·米歇尔。这种“代理谈判”的形式让米歇尔可以确保双方都能提出实质性条件。但如果这种代理谈判变成了直接会谈，而美国方面又不能亲身参与谈判的话，那就无法保证强大的一方不会去威吓弱小的一方。