As a sweetener to help Netanyahu swallow this strategically and politically disastrous pill, Obama and his aides claim that an extension of the draconian, bigoted policy would serve as a confidence building measure to convince Abbas to begin direct negotiations with Israel.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Netanyahu must play for time

Earlier this year flights between Laayoune and Tindouf, the nearest big town in Algeria, close to Polisario's main camps in exile, were hailed as a confidence-building measure.

ECONOMIST: Diplomacy over Western Sahara: Morocco v Algeria | The

With Abbas, Kerry was talking about ways to improve the Palestinians' living conditions as a confidence-building measure to improve the atmosphere for a resumption in stalled peace talks with Israel.

NPR: Kerry Pushes Turkey-Israel Rapprochement