Reachable Peaces in a World War in Pieces

Many are working for peace in the ongoing conflicts, and feasible compromises should be achievable, because everybody is tired of war. But will any ceasefires last? “The lovers’ faith is like the Arabian phoenix — everyone says it exists, no one knows where,” the Italian poet Metastasio sang, in verses that come back to mind […]

Israeli Crossroads: the post-traumatic elections

In Israel, the first elections for the new Knesset following the events of October 7, 2023 are a direct expression of a national post-traumatic condition and carry extraordinary political and historical significance. As the country prepares to vote on October 27, one fundamental question confronts Israeli voters: Was the Hamas massacre an isolated event, or […]

Dire Straits with China and Allies

Hormuz is a wrench in the global energy mechanism. It can’t break the global system, but it could very well break Iran. America has a new deadline: May 10th, when President Donald Trump said he will be in Beijing. By that date, the war in Iran may or may not be over. If it is […]

A Chance for the EU

The potential loss of Orban in Hungary could trigger a series of events that might alter the continent. On April 13, the day after the Hungarian parliamentary elections, Europe could turn a new page. Less than two weeks before the vote, the opposition to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, led by the Tisza Party, is clearly […]

China, 20 years after

In a nutshell, the challenges about China are the same as they were two decades ago. The US got it wrong then can it get it right now? Plus, today, Beijing has its domestic issues to solve with or without America. It’s one of the rarest events in history – its repetition a generation later. […]

Pizzaballa’s Way to Peace

The Cardinal offered himself in return for the Israeli hostages right after Hamas’ massacre. The offer could now help to break a deadlock in the region. It’s resurfacing on the web (see here), the October 2023interview (see here) where the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, offered himself in exchange for the release of Israeli […]

Europe-China, Matters of Sense and Sensibility

This year, 2024, may mark a significant shift in the relationship between the European Union (EU) and China. The February 2022 shock of China’s support for Russia against Ukraine was compounded by the potentially even greater shock of China’s stance on Israel and its support for Iran in the Middle East. This has created a […]