Inside the Kaleidoscope: The Israeli Invasion of Lebanon Summary and Analysis

The chapter begins with Friedman comparing and contrasting the Arabs and the Jews. The Israelis come from other countries and look at things in terms of reality. They are not a part of the kaleidoscope of the Middle East since many of them have European backgrounds. People are either enemies or agents. An enemy today is still an enemy tomorrow with the Israelis, unlike with the Lebanese where an enemy today may be a friend tomorrow. The mentality and attitude of the European Zionist is epitomized by Ariel Sharon.

Sharon views Lebanon as a land of compromises. The Beirutis live normal lives in the light of the war. They carry on as normally as they can. They do not view the situation in the same way that...