Professionalism vs. Patriotism

Headlines from the Middle East regularly challenge the hopes for peace. Events of recent months have been especially grim.

Some blame the current impasse on a Hamas government in the Palestinian territories that refuses to recognize Israel. Others say the crisis stems from restrictions imposed on Palestinian travel and commerce, the cutoff of international aid, and the dire living conditions for the Palestinian people that result. Others point to the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier by Palestinian extremists, the kidnapping of two other Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah, followed by cross-border attacks and repeated Hezbollah rocket salvos on northern Israel and Israel's subsequent military actions against Hezbollah in Lebanon, which resulted in the bombing of Lebanese areas that were strongholds for Hezbollah fighters and supplies.

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This article was originally published in The Boston Globe.