What does the Mideast peace process involve?

WASHINGTON - Israel and the Palestinians have set a goal of reaching a final peace settlement within one year, a highly ambitious aim given past failures and future obstacles.

Here are some questions and answers about the peace process and the prospects for success. What would a peace deal

look like?The current idea is a "two-state" solution, meaning the Palestinian people would have their own sovereign state adjacent to Israel. Palestine would be comprised mainly of the West Bank, which has been occupied by Israel since 1967, plus the Gaza Strip. One problem is that Gaza is now ruled by the militant Hamas movement, which is not part of the peace negotiations and does not recognize Israel's right to exist.

What else is standing in the

way of a deal?

Among the major obstacles is Palestinian opposition to Israel's expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu imposed a 10-month moratorium on settlement construction, but that is due to expire in a few weeks. The Palestinians are saying that if the ban is not extended, the revived peace talks will collapse in short order. The two sides also must agree on specific borders, the political status of Jerusalem, the fate of Palestinian refugees in Jordan and elsewhere, and arrangements to ensure Israel's security.

What is the next step?

Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are scheduled to hold a second round of negotiations Sept. 14-15. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and the administration's point man for Mideast peace, former Sen. George Mitchell, will be there to try to keep the talks moving forward. The initial goal is to come up with a "framework" agreement as a step toward a final treaty.

What's the point of a

framework deal?

Mitchell said Thursday that it would spell out the main compromises each side would have to make to reach a final peace treaty. He said Abbas and Netanyahu both see this as a logical way to get to a treaty, and that they believe it is possible to do so within one year. Why set a one-year

deadline?

Mainly to establish a sense of urgency for both parties. As Abbas said Thursday, it's not like they are starting from scratch, given the long history of attempts to resolve this conflict. Also, if they could reach a framework agreement within a year, that could provide a political boost for President Barack Obama heading into a 2012 re-election campaign.