By MICHAEL B. OREN, Israeli Ambassador to the United States

Israeli and Palestinian leaders are in Washington trying to make peace – again. This summit marks the latest chapter in a story that began on the White House lawn 17 years ago, when Israelis and Palestinians committed themselves to ending the conflict once and for all. Since then, every round has failed and bloodshed has continued. Against the backdrop of Tuesday’s Palestinian terrorist attack that left four Israeli civilians dead, including a pregnant woman, why should these negotiations be different? Is there any reason for optimism? Indeed, there is. For the first time in history, most Arab leaders view a Middle Eastern state other than Israel – Iran – as their major enemy. The Israeli government under Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is strong, stable and deeply committed to resolving the conflict based on two states for two peoples.

In the West Bank, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is working to restore law, order and economic prosperity while similarly pledging to pursue the two-state solution. And President Barack Obama has placed achieving peace at the top of his foreign-policy agenda. Never before, perhaps, have conditions been so conducive.

Read more: Reason for Optimism in Peace Talks

Four Israelis were killed and two more were injured in separate terror attacks in the West Bank on Tuesday and Wednesday. The militant arm of Hamas, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for Tuesday's attack that killed four people - including a pregnant woman - as they were driving near Kiryat Arba, when their vehicle came under fire.

Read more: Terror attacks in Israel aimed at disrupting peace talks

U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a joint press conference following their bilateral meeting this afternoon condeming the killing of four Israelis yesterday in the West Bank.

President Obama said, he had "a very productive discussion" with the PM, and the leaders "shared efforts to advance the cause of peace between Israelis and Palestinians and throughout the Middle East". Prime Minister Netanyahu, said he appreciates American efforts "to advance this peace for us and for our neighbors, for our region and I think we can say for the world".

Read more on the Israeli Embassy in Washington site.

Iran has transferred assets out of European banks in its latest effort to defend itself against the effects of sanctions that are part of what Iranian officials have called an “economic war” against the country by the United States and other Western countries, the New York Times reported.

Photo: Ensie & Matthias

Read more: Iran Shifts Assets Out of Europe Banks

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu begins to choose the members of Israel's negotiating team for the direct peace negotiations with the Palestinians. The talks are about to begin next week in Washington.

Haaretz reports, that Netanyahu is expected to meet with advisers Yitzhak Molcho, Ron Dermer, and Uzi Arad, among others, in order to pick who will be part of the delegation. Molcho will head the negotiating team, which is to include representatives from various government ministries. The Foreign Ministry's representative will be the diplomat Yaakov Hadas. The team's goal will be to conduct negotiations quickly and thoroughly.

American diplomat Dennis Ross arrived in Israel on Thursday to discuss the beginning of the talks.

More in Haaretz and in The Jerusalem Post.