New Conflicts in an Old War

Israel’s expanding conflict with the Muslim world may have forced many observers into a frustrated state of ambivalence. Yet “Boston Globe” columnist James Carroll urges onlookers to examine the larger context of Islamist extremism. Israel confronts extraordinary violence from Hezbollah and Hamas, and constant battling with such forces push the country into a warlike state. Carroll warns readers against a quick jump from criticism of Israel to anti-Semitism, and then condemns Olmert’s attack on Gaza and Lebanon as excessive. Carroll also criticizes the Bush administration’s negligence of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He urges that the US undertake a substantial shift in its approach to the region, engaging more international cooperation, before Israel can safely step back from its attacks on southern Lebanon. – YaleGlobal