The Jewish connection to Jerusalem is an ancient and powerful one. Judaism made Jerusalem a holy city over three thousand years ago and through all that time Jews remained steadfast to it.

Diplomacy in general does not resolve conflicts. Wars end not due to peace processes, but due to one side giving up.

Nothing in the constitutions of Western states requires them to get involved in every foreign conflict.

You can't just read the Koran to understand Muslim life. You have to look at history, at personalities, at economics, and so on.

Again and again, when Westerners are perceived as denigrating Muhammad, the Koran, or Islam, Islamists demonstrate, riot or kill.

The Israelis are very smart about politics and strategy, but there are a few exceptions. One is Lebanon, the other is Gaza, where they were completely inept.

In the long term, the United States could greatly benefit Islam by uniquely freeing the religion from government constraints and permitting it to evolve in a positive, modern direction. But that's the long term.