Israeli settlers in Hebron (the West Bank) attacked a car carrying UK Envoys Thursday before Israeli police intervened.

Meanwhile, Israeli President Shimon Peres, in China for the Olympics, had an important meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao yesterday morning to discuss Iran and other issues. I think we're going to see a tectonic shift in terms of China's involvement in the Middle East in the next few years and decades, and this is only a little taste.

In a meeting ahead of the Olympic Games opening ceremony, Jintao reassured Peres that China was closely following developments in the Middle East and would work to advance peace and prevent acts of terror.

"We are interested in increasing our contribution to peace and stability in the Middle East," said Jintao, according to a statement released by Peres's office. "We are following every regional development in the Middle East and Iran and we are acting constructively to bolster China's involvement in and contribution to peace and stability."

During their meeting in their meeting at the Chinese Parliament building, the two also spoke of strengthening ties between their countries and Peres invited Jintao to visit Israel.

I've said it before and I'll say it now: the longer we let conflicts fester, in Israel/Palestine, in the Middle East, in Africa, wherever, the more we open windows for other powers to get involved and leech away our influence.




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