July 8th: Gaza, Mexico, Russia

Israel pulls back his forces from North Gaza (NYT), but the military operation is not over. The Palestinian PM, Ismail Hanyeh called for a cease-fire, to get out of the current crisis, it is necessary that all parties restore calm on the basis of mutually stopping all military operations. Israeli government would agree only after Shalit is returned and the Palestinian rocket fire is ceased.
Here is the opinion of Yossi Melman in the PostGlobal forum, moderated by David Ignatius and Fareed Zakaria, and hosted by the Washington Post. Yossi Melman believes that the way followed by Olmert and Peretz leads to a situation in which Israel finds itself once again in a vicious circle of violence, which reminds us of the 1982 invasion into Lebanon which was supposed to last 48 hours and dragged on for nearly 18 years. Other commentators from the same forum: Mikio Ikuma believes that Israel is an economic giant. The Palestinians are desperately weak. Hamas leaders should play their one real card: Recognition of Israel. Israelis can give in return plenty of things that will definitely benefit Palestinian people; Miklos Vamos thinks that the Israeli government should forget the wounds of the past. It should grant as many demands of the Palestinians as it can, and offer a six-month ceasefire; William M. Gumede says that South Africa's Compromise Offers a Guide; for Daoud Kuttab cease fire agreement is key; Sami Moubayed considers that one must recognize that the present crisis is not only about the 19-year old Israeli soldier who was kidnapped by Palestinian militants on June 25, 2006: it has several layers that ought to be analyzed.

Felipe Calderon is the official winner in the presidential elections from Mexico, but Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the center-left presidential candidate, is contesting the results. López Obrador is strongly supported by the large segment of rural poor. Greg Grandin, a professor of history at New York University, considers that the best thing the United States can do now is to support the push for a recount and to refrain from calling on Mr. López Obrador to concede. Then, no matter who finally wins the election, the White House should renegotiate Nafta, allowing Mexico to set its own policy in support of its rural economy.(NYT).

President Bush has decided to allow extensive U.S. civilian nuclear cooperation with Russia (WaPo). Both sides would benefit, that's the White House view. Obviously, the move will be strongly criticized from across the whole political spectrum: the anti-Russian right as well as the anti-nuclear left will be against, while the Russian democracy center will be concerned, too.
I believe that the president took the right decision - in today's world it is vital to have a constructive approach in the relations with the other main players and to seek the common interests. I think the president had a correct approach also in other problems: harbor issue, nuclear issues with India, immigration issues.