1. Israel's leadership is behaving as if it had lost all sense of dignity and direction. The shameful exchange of 400 Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian security prisoners and dozens of Hezbollah dead in return for one live and three dead Israelis refurbished the prestige of the Hezbollah terrorists in the Arab world at a crucial juncture. Besides, Assn Nasrallah has left himself the option of extorting more terrorists in return for information about the fate of Ron Arad. Only Arad's family behaved proudly, declaring that if he is dead they do not want terrorists released to obtain his body for burial.

2. Not less worrying is Sharon's readiness to renew negotiations with Syria about the Golan Heights. Such negotiations are pointless, since Israel does not need peace with Syria and needs the Golan Heights very much. This border is peaceful - and is much less likely to remain so if Israel retreats, with or without an agreement. Having Turkey as a possible mediator risks harming Israel's excellent relations with Ankara. The Turks have no intention of returning the Sana of Alexandretta to Syria, so it would be hypocritical for them to recommend a return of the Golan to Syria or even its division, but whatever position they adopt they are unlikely to thank either of the parties for involving them.

3. The report in online Middle East Times that President Hosni Mubarak had changed his mind about the appointment of his son Gamal as his successor was partially censored from its printed edition. The President was under pressure from the upper echelons of Egypt's armed forces, which seemingly will decide in the matter.

4. The pressure from Shiite leaders for early elections in Iraq faces the United States with a choice between promoting a unitary Iraq under Shiite rule and leaving the Kurds some autonomy in the North. The Shiite interest is not to quarrel with the Kurds who now are chiefly hostile to the Sunni Arabs, but the temptation "to take it all" will be great, so the US should not allow matters to get out of hand and get a Shiite commitment to Kurdish autonomy before the elections.

What threat does Islam pose on an international level? How should the West respond to the Islamic threat? Is a 'Palestinian' state within the borders of Israel inevitable? These and other questions were recently posed to Yohanan Ramati, Director of the Jerusalem Institute for Western Defense . Mr. Ramati is an expert on global affairs, including the threat of Islam. This video will provide an eye-opening view of what is happening in the world today. [Taken from the Tzemach television program. 27 min.]

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