When I led U.S. European Command from 2009 to 2013, Israel and the Levant were part of my geographic area of responsibility. I often went to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the West Bank and, yes, the Gaza Strip. It was a daunting part of my remit and I sought advice from a longtime mentor: Henry Kissinger, who knew a thing or two about the Middle East.
He gave me a great deal of advice, but one thing he said has really stuck with me ¡ª and I think is very much of the moment. ¡°The key to understanding the Middle East,¡± he said, ¡°is understanding and accepting that every solution is merely the admission ticket to the next problem.¡±
Even after U.S. President Donald Trump took a deserved victory lap for working out a ceasefire and hostage release, he and his team still need to bear that maxim in mind.
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