Mission Statement

The Hebrew word “balagon” (בלגאן), means something like "big mess." It can refer to a situation as simple as running out of gas, or a chaotic and multifaceted problem like global warming. If you want to read more about the etymology of this word, check out:
http://balagan.org.uk/balagan.htm

This blog will be focused on the current political situation in the Middle East, with a particular focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The idea is to have a place to reflect on current events, in the context of history as I understand it, and to engage others in this pursuit. Most blog posts will have two sections, the first a description of an issue, and the second an attempt at a creative solution.

A quick note on intellectual hubris: I do not portend to completely solve the “balagon” here, just to propose ideas. I do not consider myself an authority on matters historical, political geographic or anything else. I am merely a reasonably educated citizen who wants to open up a mono/dia/polylogue. I will listen to all feedback and criticism, factual of otherwise, as long as it is stated in a polite manner.

The reader should know that I am a twenty-six year old American Jew. Of course I will try to be “fair and balanced” in my digressions, but I feel that it is impossible to completely eliminate any bias. Thanks for reading, and please let me know what you think!