I was asked recently to explain why Israel was "ghettoizing" the Palestinians by constructing a security barrier in areas that have served as transit points for terrorists entering the country. The questioner noted that, as a Jew, I should be more sensitive to the concept of a ghetto, and its dehumanizing effects on human beings. I responded that the security barrier was neither built for reasons of discrimination nor motivated by racism, but as a deterrent to protect the lives of Israelis from Palestinian suicide bombers; and in fact it has, to a great extent, accomplished its purpose.

GAZA -- Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former anti-Apartheid campaigner and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, accused Israel this week of possibly committing a war crime following an investigation into the death of 21 Palestinian civilians who were killed in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun in 2006.

GAZA CITY, Gaza -- A dramatic confrontation in the Mediterranean Sea could break out within hours between the Israeli navy and two vessels sailing toward the Gaza coastline – the SS Free Gaza and the SS Liberty – in an endeavor to break through the Israeli blockade of the poverty-stricken Palestinian Strip.

One obvious sign of the influence of the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, was once again demonstrated this week as the three presidential candidates and top government leaders including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice were all scheduled to address the pro-Israel lobby groups three-day conference in Washington.

What the Arab papers said on May 30:

AMMAN -- Nobel peace laureate and U.N. envoy Archbishop Desmond Tutu has concluded a two-day fact-finding mission in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip by sharply criticizing the Israeli-imposed blockade on the Palestinian territory and blasting the international community for colluding with the siege.