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.

It was not enough for Syria to break out of international isolation. Now it is claiming the laurels of peacemaker and the status of a key player in the Greater Middle East.

The best news from Israel right now is that the ceasefire with Hamas is holding. This may be disquieting to the far right. It is an article of faith for the right that it is impossible to cut a deal with Hamas. But that is precisely what Israel did when, seeing no alternative, it agreed to the ceasefire. Hamas has demonstrated that it can end the violence when it wants to and that it can enforce peace and quiet.

AMMAN -- Syria took international center stage Thursday as the isolated country stepped into the spotlight to host a major four-way summit that implicitly recognized the political weight of President Bashar Assad as a pivotal player in negotiations to establish peace and stability in the turbulent Middle East.

Part of al-Qaidas master plan, described in last weeks part 1 article, includes a tactic to encircle Israel by penetrating the neighboring territories. And Gaza is a perfect example.

GAZA CITY, Gaza -- In an unusual display of frustration, moderate Hamas official Ahmed Yousef, the adviser on foreign affairs to de-facto Gaza prime minister and Hamas leader Ismail Haniya, has told the Middle East Times that Hamas patience with Israel is wearing thin.

JERUSALEM -- Following the state of Israels recent prisoner swap with the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah, during which the remains of two Israeli soldiers, captured during the Second Lebanon War in 2006, were exchanged for four Hezbollah resistance members, the remains of over another 100, and the notorious Samir Kuntar, a former member of the Palestine Liberation Front (PLF), Israel has been busy licking its wounds and struggling to come to terms with the deal.