Yet again the situation in Israel-Palestine has turned from a period of relative calm to one of violence. Of course it began with a series of murders by crazy people on both sides but soon devolved into the normal pattern. Hamas shot rockets at Israel; the Israelis responded with air strikes. Hamas continued launching missiles and Israel soon launched a ground offensive. This is not the first time this has happened and it will not be the last. Even if tomorrow John Kerry announces a permanent deal agreed to by all parties promising a settlement along the lines of the 'two state solution' model, the conflict will go on. Imagine it: provocations would still go on and soon a few nutty whack jobs in Palestine would launch a few rockets over some perceived insult and Israel would respond with force. Permanent borders don't matter at all. In Israel this sort of military actions has become known as "mowing the lawn" and I cannot imagine a metaphor that more aptly describes these cycles of constant violence.
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