Whether these exaggerated hopes should be traced to Obama’s inexperience or to hubris – or both – is a moot point: what is clear is that, after 18 months and numerous visits to the region, Mitchell was able to achieve only an agreement in principle by Israel and the Palestinians to start talking to each other.
但这些希望最终破灭的原因究竟是奥巴马太缺乏经验，或是太过高估自己——还是两错并犯——依然是个争论不休的问题：但唯一清晰的是，在上任18个月并多次访问该地区之后，米歇尔最终只争取到了一个以巴之间重开谈判的原则性协议。