The news from Israel often depresses me, and lately, it has been getting worse. Just when I think that part of the world is finally getting their act together, people start blowing each other up again. As recently as six months ago, for one brief shining moment, it looked like there might be hope for a solution. No such luck.

Perhaps my problem is that I have an abiding faith in the underlying goodness of humanity. I believe that, at their core, the vast majority of people just want to live their lives in peace. Then I see news of another suicide bomber or missile attack, and I want to scream at these people that they need to get a grip, get a clue, and figure out some way to stop killing each other.

My favorite solution: build a gigantic dome over all of Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. Nobody and nothing enters or leaves the dome. The two sides deserve each other.

Okay, that's not really a solution. First, it is utterly impractical. Second, it ignores the majority on both sides who just want to live their lives.

Unfortunately, there is a minority on both sides who benefit from the continued violence. Some of these are political leaders who use the continued attacks as a way to rally their support and stay in power.

These people (on both sides) are the true villains of the story. Instead of treating the attacks, indignities, and human rights abuses as what they are--counter-productive--they use them as a way to focus the emotion of their side. Revenge is a powerful motivator. Fear is even more powerful.

The cycle goes something like this: A leader on one side says, "Look at what the other side did to you! Because they did A, B, and C, we need to do D, E, F, and G to protect ourselves!"

The leader on the other side then says, "Look at what the other side did to you! Because they did D, E, F, and G, we need to do H, I, J, K, and L to protect ourselves!"

As long as this cycle continues, the leaders on both sides remain comfortably in power. The majority, meanwhile, continue to get shot at, blown up, starved, deprived of medical care, insulted, etc., etc., etc.

What's the solution? How do we break the cycle of violence?

I don't have an answer. But long-term peace will depend on several factors:

1) Treating those who engage in or order acts of violence as criminals.

2) A stable social structure which gives everyone something to aspire to.

3) A willingness to compromise on both sides.

4) A sense of common goals between the two sides.

Sadly, none of these four elements seems to be much in evidence today.