Today an Israeli soldier was killed and four others were wounded by an explosive device that targeted their vehicle on the Gaza Strip border. Israel retaliated and a Palestinian farmer was killed while tilling his field. It seems that the cycle of violence continues despite a fragile ceasefire.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Obama recently spoke to Al Arabia news station about the Middle East conflict. This was his first official interview since becoming president. He is calling for better dialogue between the U.S. and the Arab/Muslim world. Dialogue is good but doesn’t go far enough. Words must be followed by tangible (not symbolic) actions. The Arab and Muslim worlds should respond by calling for better policies from the U.S. and the West, particularly towards the Israeli-Arab conflict.