As summer draws to a close, much speculation has arisen in the media on the upcoming direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, which the Obama administration hopes will bring about a lasting agreement and a viable Palestinian state within a year. Meanwhile, news has just come out concerning the start of Qatari-mediated talks between the central government of Yemen led by Ali Abdullah Saleh and Shi'a Houthi rebels based in the north of Yemen.

Although these talks are unlikely to receive anywhere near the same level of attention as the direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, the U.S. should, in fact, act as a mediator in the Yemeni peace talks, and concentrate on urging the Houthi rebels and the central Yemeni government to reach a worthwhile peace agreement, while leaving the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations alone.

Ένα αποτελεσματικό επιχειρησιακό σχέδιο που θα εγγυάται την επιτυχή έκβαση ενός προληπτικού ισραηλινό-αμερικάνικου αεροπορικού χτυπήματος εναντίον ιρανικών πυρηνικών εγκαταστάσεων απασχολεί εδώ και καιρό τους επιτελείς του Πενταγώνου και των Ισραηλινών Αεροπορικών Δυνάμεων (IAF). Ο ακριβής σχεδιασμός απαιτεί να εξεταστούν οι πολιτικοί, γεωπολιτικοί και στρατιωτικοί παράμετροι ώστε να ελαχιστοποιηθούν οι δυνατότητες αντίδρασης του Ιράν και οι  απώλειες  που μπορούν να υποστούν οι IAF.

Just before dawn on May 31, 2010, a team of Israeli commandos boarded a Turkish ship to enforce a blockade against the terrorist organization Hamas in Gaza. As they came aboard, the Israelis were assaulted by a violent faction of Islamic militants. A melee followed in which several of the commandos were seriously injured and nine of the Turkish militants were killed. The clash was over before the sun came up.

As someone who deeply appreciates what Western civilization, for all its faults, has achieved, I puzzle over the hostility many Westerners harbor toward their way of life. If democracy, free markets, and the rule of law have created an unprecedented stability, affluence, and decency; how come so many beneficiaries, fail to see this? Why, for example, does the United States, which has so much for human welfare, inspire such hostility? And tiny Israel, the symbol of rejuvenation for a perpetually oppressed people – why does it engender such passionate hatred that otherwise decent people desire to eliminate this state?