During, and leading up to 2004, the two major issues preoccupying both the Palestinians and the Israelis were the separation barrier instigated by Israeli, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s disengagement plan from the Gaza Strip and the northern West Bank. According to an examination of the events that followed the plan to build a separation barrier and the disengagement plan from Gaza and parts of the northern West Bank, it would appear that the Palestinians and Israel’s Arab neighbors felt that these two projects were directed against them. As things stand, the barrier is being built and the Palestinians are unable to stop it. The situation is different with regard to the Disengagement Plan. At this time, the Americans are attempting to entrench their exclusive influence in the Middle East, if necessary by force. However, past and recent history show that if the U. S. and Europe do not enforce their own solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, there will be no real change in the current political status-quo, and the Palestinians’ situation will continue to deteriorate. This leads to the conclusion that the chances of an agreement being reached between Israel and the Palestinians are not clear.