Why does Ed Miliband have it in for Israel? Was organizing a purely symbolic vote in parliament that recognized a fictive Palestinian state designed to earn him “wild applause from the unions [and] smiles of approbation from the far Left”? Or is the answer to be found in his discomfort with his own Jewish identity? Whichever, writes Maureen Lipman, his actions show that he believes in “one law for the Israelis, another for the rest of the world”:

The world is exploding all around us. Islamic State is beheading our civilians while raping and pillaging across Syria and Iraq. Presidents Putin and Assad are playing such heavy-handed games that we don’t know which rebel group to support. Hong Kong may be about to see a replay of Tiananmen. Islamist terrorism in every spot of the globe—and if one Jew had been responsible for any of those bombings, there would be a repeat of Kristallnacht. At this point in our history, you choose to back these footling backbenchers in this ludicrous piece of propaganda?

Considering the current state of Israel-Arab relations, Ghaith al-Omari writes

First and foremost, no ceasefire will be possible without the release of Israeli hostages and commitments to disarm Hamas and remove it from power. The final say on these matters rests with Hamas commanders on the ground in Gaza, who have been largely impervious to foreign pressure so far. At minimum, however, the United States should insist that Qatari and Egyptian mediators push Hamas’s external leadership to accept these conditions publicly, which could increase pressure on the group’s Gaza leadership.

Washington should also demand a clear, public position from key Arab states regarding disarmament. The Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas endorsed this position in a June letter to Saudi Arabia and France, giving Arab states Palestinian cover for endorsing it themselves.

Some Arab states have already indicated a willingness to play a significant role, but they will have little incentive to commit resources and personnel to Gaza unless Israel (1) provides guarantees that it will not occupy the Strip indefinitely, and (2) removes its veto on a PA role in Gaza’s future, even if only symbolic at first. Arab officials are also seeking assurances that any role they play in Gaza will be in the context of a wider effort to reach a two-state solution.

On the other hand, Washington must remain mindful that current conditions between Israel and the Palestinians are not remotely conducive to . . . implementing a two-state solution.