Geography: The Middle East

It is now more than 20 years since I've been to the Middle East, but after reading three (3) news alerts that the three kidnapped Israeli teenagers were found dead, I went to the maps.

Hebron, close to where the teens were found is just under 20 miles from Jerusalem, 32 kilometres.   I drive that distance one-way nearly every day to buy groceries, see friends and run errands.

In the old City of Jerusalem when one is on the roofs one can nearly touch Hebron.

Israel's borders consist of several countries that border Iraq.

Iraq has six neighbors on its borders.

The spiraling violence in Iraq, and in Israel, affects all these countries directly and those nearby, especially countries like Lebanon.

It is doubtful that these conflicts between the Sunni and the Shia, the Palestinians and the Israelis, has been this threatening since the 12th century and the Crusades.   Yes, we've had wars, too many, far too many, and the 6 Day War was a turning point for Israel, but the establishment of a Caliphate (announced today) by ISIS reminds me of Saladin.

The unleashing of all this violence can not end well.