More on the Middle East

In his latest speech, which infuriated so many people, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad uttered a sentence that deserves attention: "Every new Arab generation hates Israel more than the previous one."

Of all that has been said about the Second Lebanon War, these are perhaps the most important words.

This is from a terrific article by the Israeli writer/peace activist Uri Avnery.

People who criticise the state of Israel are often accused of anti-Semitism (or "self-hate," if they happen to be Jewish). But when a state is intent on doing everything it can to ensure it's own destruction, criticism is the only loving thing to do. Avnery articulates that point very nicely.