Despite the most intense, visible effort on the part of President Clinton, peace talks in the middle east seem to be going nowhere. That situation will according to PNS commentator Faisal Tbeileh, until all sides recognize that a single, secular, democratic state that includes both Palestinians and Israelis is the only solution. Palestinian born, Tbeileh has a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California at Los Angeles. His e-mail address is faisaltb@yahoo.com.

The Camp David talks failed because one of the three stars in the drama was following an unreal and impractical script. President Clinton thought peace could be achieved by dividing the disputed land between Israelis and Palestinians.

Chairman Arafat and Prime Minister Barak may have deluded themselves for a time, hoping Clinton could pull a rabbit out of the hat, but they both knew he could not produce anything that would satisfy their respective religious constituencies.

On September 13, the "Occupied Territories" will be transformed into the "State of Palestine." Both Israelis and Palestinians -- and Americans as well -- must fully recognize the futility of this "solution."

In a Holy Land comprising two states the religions and ideologies of each side are going engage in clashes that will get bloodier and bloodier. The only solution is to create a single democratic secular state to replace both Israel and Palestine.

Both leaders are perpetuating a cruel joke on their own peoples. The Palestinians insist they come to the bargaining table from a position of strength, that creation of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) in the West Bank represents a step toward Palestinian independence and sovereignty.

But in fact under agreements signed by both sides --

Benyamin Netanyahu, former Prime Minister of Israel, described the present arrangements as "subcontracting" control over the inhabitants of the West Bank to Arafat and a few of his followers --who are willing to sacrifice a great deal in order to lead a feeble, emasculated, inconsequential Palestinian State.

Israeli Prime Minister Barak's election last year was touted as a victory for peace in the region. But he has never missed an opportunity to contradict this image.

Barak maintains the illusion that Israel can achieve normalcy in the region without making any significant compromises.

It is the irony of ironies that President Clinton -- a Rhodes scholar and a voracious reader -- believes the dispute between Palestinians and Israelis can be resolved by separating them into two "independent" states.

As president of the world's most secular country, he constantly preaches tolerance. Isn't he fully aware that this vast diversity can work for America's peace and prosperity only through a single secular state?

Why can't he see that the solution he advocates can only lead to disaster? His claims that the summit failed because Arafat refused to accept Barak's generous concessions is widely seen in the Arab and Muslim world this a blatant attempt to help his wife, Hillary, and Al Gore get elected on November 7.

Clinton's recent threats to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and cut financial aid to the PNA could stop Arafat from declaring his phantom Palestinian State on September 13. It might even force Arafat to cave in to the Israeli demands on Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the right of return of refugees.

The time has now come for Palestinians and Israelis to start moving on a common path. Barak and Arafat can begin by being honest with their respective peoples and tell them the current approach is headed for disaster. The two peoples are inextricably bound to live with each other.

Clinton and whoever succeeds him must recognize this reality. Then Israel's supporters both inside and outside the Beltway must acknowledge that a secular democratic state is the only solution.

Then the United States and other powers can offer political and material assistance to the new state. Peace, prosperity and freedom then become attainable goals.

There is no choice. Either there will be a democratic and inclusive state or the great dam of history will break and the waters crash over the whole region, maybe even the entire world.