An impossible task?

Friedman's analysis on how to get all sides to the table in the Middle East boils down to this:

all we need to do is rebuild Fatah, merge it with Hamas, elect an Israeli government that can freeze settlements, court Syria and engage Iran — while preventing it from going nuclear — just so we can get the parties to start talking.

Is this even possible?  Israel is about to put Likud back into power, which would be like the US electing Dick Cheney as president.  Iran has been quiet lately, but it is obvious they are funding Hamas.  And Fatah is too afraid of Hamas to do anything meaningful.  As Friedman suggests, Saudi Arabia and Egypt may be able to help as honest brokers, but only time will tell.