Editor’s note

While the world waits for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to form a new coalition government, an Israeli diplomat brought a fi rm but measured and hopeful tone to Springfi eld last week as he discussed prospects for peace in the Middle East. Roey Gilad, the new Chicagobased consul general of Israel to the Midwest, told Springfi eld’s Jewish community and invited friends that the long-festering Palestinian issue was hardly a factor in the recent Israeli elections, but added, “I don’t think we can ignore the Palestinian issue.” He said if there is to be a two-state solution, Israel “will have to give up some, if not all, of the settlements,” referring to Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories. “The will to divide the land is there.” He declined to make an issue of past statements by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel (“I’m not sure we should be so concerned.”) or recent statements by Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi (“Egypt needs to be judged by the walk and not the talk.”). He said there will be plenty to discuss when President Barack Obama visits Israel later this month. “There is a very wide common interest of America and Israel.” –Fletcher Farrar, editor and publisher