Some suggest that a buffer zone on the eastern bank of the Jordan be drawn to increase relations between Jews and Arabs, as well as to protect Israel from invasion, and to allow eventual peaceful withdrawal from the West Bank. Americans have proposed Israelis lease this fertile territory for a decade to increase positive discussion between Arabs and Jews. But Palestinians don’t like that idea. Unfortunately for them, they may have to concede, if they want their own territory.

Around the rest of the Middle East, there have been many elections fraught with rigging. Egypt’s election was bogus, and among the Middle Eastern countries only three are legitimate democracies, with great problems besides. While there may be many reasons for this, foremost among them are oil and custom. Monies from oil make power transfers worthless; the state doesn’t need to bargain with its citizens.  The idea of fairly losing becomes too risky. Custom furthers this ideology.

As a result, Israel is surrounded by the least democratic countries in the world. No wonder they don’t want to leave the Jordan Valley.

The Americans hope that three months will be a long enough time to work out borders for the new Palestinian state. And while cynics point to potential foibles in this plan, Obama and Co. think that the pre-1967 borders can be reinstated. The Economist argues that the only way a border settlement can be reached is if Mr. Netanyahu reorganizes his coalition, and moves from his more conservative ties to more moderate ones. The Kadima party, under Tzipi Livni, seems to be a good choice.

Even though the Americans badly want peace, it’s not up to them. Peace can only work if both the Palestinians and the Israelis are behind it, because as history has shown, compromise between these two parties can be difficult to achieve.

The Palestinian Authority may recognize this, but not in exchange for a simple extension of the freeze – they want veritable peace. Nor will they negotiate unless the settlement freeze is extended.

Members of the left hope that this last step will prepare relations for the realization of the peace process.

In most games, there is a certain power structure based on recognition. In this peace game, power will be balanced based on a respect and appreciation of Israel as Jewish state, to ensure that the Arabs never overtake Israel, even if they do have a larger population, and a recognition of Palestine as national entity. But since Israel is the one who is calling the shots, they want their demands satisfied. If it were up to desperate Palestine alone, peace might occur, but being backed by a relatively extreme Arab League doesn’t speed the process. Sure Israel could be the bigger man and grant Palestine what they want, but fear holds them back. And so the games continue.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Egypt’s President Mubarak endorsed the conference at the White House last night, in hopes that regional support of the talks will continue. Both serve important roles: the former for securing Palestine’s eastern borders, reassurance which Israel needs, and the latter for more historical value, referencing the first Arab-Israeli treaty in 1979.

Mr. Abbas has said he will walk out if Israeli construction continues in the West Bank, after the 10-month moratorium ends on Sept. 26. Other issues include the possible sharing of the Old City of Jerusalem, a dismantling of the West End settlements to form  more concentrated settlements near the old border; and an outline of the border with the new Palestinian state.

Avigdor Lieberman, the actual foreign minister, is against most of this compromise, and promises to withdraw his party, Yisrael Beitenu, from the government if Mr. Netanyahu cedes too much. Mr. Barak, leader of the center left Kadima Party wouldn’t mind if that happened – he’s said that “Peace is more important than the composition of the government.”

But when Bibi and Mahmoud Abbas meet to chat, chances are it will be civil, and there will be focus. As the Economist points out, that’s more than what W. was able to do, since he was more preoccupied with Iraq than Israel.

The Ground Zero Mosque fiasco is not helping Muslims in America, but it may help Jews. Israel recognizes that we’re still best buds, and that we won’t turn on them. That said, they’re hoping that we can support an anti-Iranian bomb coalition, and in return they can get along with their peaceful Palestinian neighbors.

Problems:

When Bush tried, Olmert was more willing than Bibi – who is likely going to side with the pressure from the orthodox right. He said that the building moratorium won’t end on Sept. 26, but that Hillary’s ideas for peace in a year are possible.

Hamas’ extremism is a continual threat, but maybe if peace were magically reached, Palestine and Israel could team up to isolate and eradicate Hamas (I hope that isn’t as laughable as I wish it weren’t).

History.

But who knows, maybe, just maybe there will be resolution, and the emergence of a new world order. And maybe Netanyahu will have a full head of hair.

Bret Stephens for the Wall Street Journal recently wrote an op-ed piece about Why Israel Hasn’t Attacked Iran. Although he has received numerous accolades from around the world, I am surprised at his war hawking in this piece.

First off, Israel completed a rocket tracker yesterday that can shoot Hezbollah and Hamas rockets out of the sky. Nice. That kind of defensive warfare not only sounds cool, but will likely keep Israelis safe.

Stephens runs through the ideas as to why Israel has not yet blown the Iranian reactor to pieces, of which include the unlikelihood of success, time biding, internally jarring Israeli politics, and a history of European intercessions, should anything arise.

He writes, “There is now talk that the Obama administration may be reconsidering its military options toward Iran. Let’s hope so.”  Oh, Mr. Stephens. I’m not the anti-Israel, give peace a chance toting blogger that you commonly come across, but at least I recognize that in the 21st century, any kind of “military options” for peace aren’t going to work.

The world is too interrelated – take the flotilla for example. What if Israel bombed Iran? The whole world would effectively abolish the Jewish state. But same goes for Iran – if they even touched Israel, the West would come down way hard on them. So everyone plays it cool. Israel’s got the defense, Iran can waste their money on W.M.D. Everyone’s happy, right?

Yesterday, Israel said that they would take steps to ease the blockade on Gaza. A list of items that are supposed to encourage economic growth in Gaza has been reviewed and repealed. Today President Obama said that the bond between Israel and the U.S. is “unbreakable.” Netanyahu said he looked forward to taking “concrete steps” to peace.

After March, when talks about how to diplomatically proceed with Palestine reached an impasse, relations were at their worst. Today marks a return to a relationship based on good appearances.

In the West Bank, the New York Times reports a list of groups that have given large, tax-deductible sums to Jewish development. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu has stalled the building projects that were announced in March to be constructed in East Jerusalem in hopes of kick-starting a peace process.

While critics say that this is simply political posturing, the fact that cameras were allowed to photograph the Prime Minister and the President is reassuring to many Jews who hope for peace and a strong friendship between Israel and the U.S.

As Palestinian prime minister Mahmoud Abbas hopes for a country and gets shut down, Hamas is whistling while they work. While much of the West is still wary, Turkey is looking to increase its clout, American investors of Palestinian origin are opening Gaza’s first mall, and Saudi sheiks are sending out management consultants to look for opportunities; land prices in Gaza city are shooting up.

Tony Blair, who organized the easing of the blockade on the part of the Quartet (the EU, UN, U.S. and Russia) says he wants to visit, but right now only talks to officials via teleconference. So Hamas remains more powerful than ever, although Gazans just want to be free.

What is Israel to do?

This geographic crossroads in no longer a mediating presence between East and West – today Turkey is representative of the East, and an extreme East at that. The Erdogan government is becoming increasingly anti-sectarian, anti-democratic and anti-Israel. Where does this place them? Right in the forefront of Islamic Extremism.

What can be done about this? For one, the U.S. could stand in and invite Erdogan as a mediating force between Israelis and Palestinians, where the West Bank is taking pragmatic steps towards a two state solution. Diplomacy seems to be the best move to make in this global world, where isolationism foments extremism.

Meanwhile, the E.U. passed sanctions on Iran that are stronger than the U.N.’s expected restrictions. Israel is moderating their sanctions on Gaza in response to international criticism.

Here’s hoping that moderation infects the rest of the Middle East.

A new study appearing in last Thursdays’s Nature magazine, shows that Jews share many of the same genes. Duh, but really, we all have more in common than you think – especially among Ashkenazic and Sephardic groups of Jews, a genetic pool which shares about 30% European ancestry and the rest Middle Eastern.  It appears that Iraqi and Iranian Jews separated from each other about 2500 years ago, probably after the fall of the first temple.

Apparently, any two Jews are about as closely related as fourth or fifth cousins, which is ten times closer than the average two people taken off of a New York street. There is speculation that Ashkenazim arrived in Europe via Italy, where they intermarried with many locals. Italy was likely the bridge between Ashkenazim and Sephardim.  Language was hardly  a barrier – when Ancient and medieval Jews met, they always spoke Hebrew.

In other Middle Eastern news, sanctions on Iran have been approved, which can allow Israel to breathe a sigh of relief. Turkey continues to play their eastward game, but the new sanctions show that even countries in a seat of power – Brazil and Turkey – do not have the authority vested in them to make global decisions.