Foreign Envoys Gather in Middle East

Diplomacy requires trust – that opponents will be forthright about their motivations and keep their word about future actions. An utter lack of trust, based on years of experience, is on display with the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Complicating the matter is the political transition for the US, as the Bush administration ends and the Obama administration prepares to begin. The international community is sending high-level envoys to the region, many seeking an immediate ceasefire, but opponents Hamas and Israel do not want to deal with the other. Israel has suggested that it would agree to a ceasefire, if Hamas stops shooting rockets, does not use the period to rearm and agrees to allow an international group to monitors strict adherence; otherwise, the ground assault into the Gaza Strip continues, with a death toll in the hundreds and misery for Palestinians. How to end the brutal fighting and humanitarian crisis continues to divide communities and nations both in the region and beyond. – YaleGlobal