Religion throughout the ages has been the catalyst of numerous wars, conflicts, civil wars and ethno-political violence. In all probability more people have been killed in the name of God than for any political cause. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to use religion as a means to combat conflict.

AMMAN – The commemoration of the fourth anniversary of the death of iconic Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat provides another grim reminder of the sorry state of Palestinian affairs, as their belligerent leaders used the occasion to blame each other, thereby highlighting the rifts and power struggles that are tearing the Palestinians apart.

JERUSALEM -- Yuval Diskin, the head of Israels domestic intelligence agency, the Shin Bet, warned the Israeli government during an emergency cabinet meeting on Sunday that a violent uprising by extremist right-wing Israeli settlers is possible.

AMMAN -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has sacked his intelligence chief in the West Bank, Brig-Gen. Tawfiq al-Tirawi, in a move widely believed to be part of security reforms linked to ensuring the success of upcoming reconciliation talks between rival Fatah and Hamas in Cairo next month.

For over two decades, international health organizations have offered their services to people in regional conflicts throughout the world. While health initiatives alone have not and cannot achieve peace, especially where political, cultural or religious tensions might abound, they often serve as the last point of contact between conflicting parties.

What do Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and former U.S. President Bill Clinton have in common? Not much one might guess, and this is generally true. But when one examines their careers closely one would be surprised that the two lame-duck leaders attempted in the few weeks before they left office to resolve once and for all the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

A statement by the retiring Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has provoked a shock reaction in Israel and restrained joy among Arabs. "I am saying what no previous Israeli leader has ever said: we should withdraw from almost all of the territories, including East Jerusalem and in the Golan Heights," Olmert said in an interview to the Yediot Ahronot on the eve of the Jewish New Year.

Okay. The Israeli-Palestinian peace talks are getting nowhere fast. Some experts are starting to say that maybe its time to look at the future of Palestine with a completely set of new lenses. The paradox in the comatose peace negotiations is that although the details calling for a two-state solution are generally accepted by all sides, a solution is not truly desired by either the Palestinians or the Israelis for various reasons. See the Sept. 15 issue of the Middle East Times

With his characteristic clear-sightedness and knowledge of history, General Charles de Gaulle used to say that "one should not insult the future." He also believed that simple ideas were needed to address "the complicated Middle East." In the immediate future two important events will have an influence on the situation in the Middle East: the change of prime minister in Israel and the U.S. presidential elections in the United States.

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.