No quick fix for decades-old Israeli-Palestinian enmity

Concern over the recent escalation of tensions between Palestinians and Israelis have been temporarily relieved after Palestinian leaders in Gaza agreed a cease-fire with Israel early on Monday. Right now, nothing is more important than upholding the cease-fire as the atmosphere between the two rivals has not been so combustible since 2014.

Since Friday, militant groups in Gaza have fired more than 600 rockets and other projectiles at southern Israeli cities and villages, killing four Israeli civilians, with Israel retaliating with air and artillery strikes, killing 27 people, including 14 civilians, in Gaza.

The latest border clashes, the most deadly since 2014, have occurred against the backdrop of the changing Middle East policy of the United States, which has seen the US drop any pretense of impartiality and make clear its support of Israel.