President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran test-fired a new advanced missile Wednesday with a range of about 1,200 miles, far enough to strike Israel and southeastern Europe.

A friend notes with wry amusement the following passage from a recent news story: “The Palestinian Authority and Hamas rejected over the weekend Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s demand that the Palestinians recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish people as a precondition for resuming the stalled peace talks between the two sides . . . .

During the United Nations conference on racism, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad delivered a speech laced with anti-Semitism and filled with hatred of Israel. Diplomats from many nations walked out; the U.S. and others previously decided to boycott the proceedings precisely because they knew Israel-bashing would occur. From time to time experts detect signs of moderation in Iran. The young wear jeans, we are told, watch videos, and listen to hip-hop. The Iranian people share a curiosity about American culture as well. Serious sources speak of engaging Iran in profitable exchanges. The hostage crisis seems as ancient as the era of Cyrus—the Persian who allowed Jews to return to Jerusalem, their capital and home. It is time to move on.

On a day when the president of Iran decried Israel at a United Nations conference in Switzerland, Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine was in the Holy Land, meeting with top Israeli officials and attending a Holocaust remembrance service. Kaine and his wife, first lady Anne Holton, last night were guests at the solemn opening ceremony at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial outside Jerusalem for the start of Israel’s annual commemoration of the 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today accused Israel of being the “most cruel and racist regime,“ sparking a walkout by angry Western diplomats at a U.N. racism conference and protests from others.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine is on the road to Morocco—with stops in Israel and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, along the way. The governor is traveling with Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Labor Patrick O. Gottschalk and Rick Richardson of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. Kaine’s wife, first lady Anne Holton, is accompanying him on the eight-day trip.

Music, the poet said, has charms to soothe the savage breast. Enthusiasts claim cultural exchanges promote peace and harmony among peoples and nations. The Strings of Freedom youth orchestra hails from Jenin in the West Bank. The ensemble recently played a concert for Holocaust survivors as part of Good Deeds Day, a yearly event sponsored by an Israeli philanthropist.

The Israeli parliament sometimes resembles the Arab street. At least the Knesset keeps its antics indoors. Still, chaos is no way to run a government. Israel suffers structural defects. Its electoral system of proportional representation almost guarantees that none of the major parties can win a majority on its own. Coalitions must form.

Iran does not yet have any highly enriched uranium, the fuel needed to make a nuclear warhead, two top U.S. intelligence officials told Congress today, disputing a claim by an Israeli official.

The Passover seder concludes with “next year in Jerusalem.“ The Vatican has announced that Pope Benedict XVI will travel to Israel in May. His trip will include stops in Jordan and the so-called territories. Although the pope reportedly will attend a service at Yad Vashem, he will not tour the museum associated with the Holocaust memorial. A display that identifies Pius XII as “neutral” during World War II has drawn the Vatican’s objections.

Israeli police said today they have ended another investigation into misconduct allegations against outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and are recommending that prosecutors bring charges against him.

Israeli President Shimon Peres chose hard-line Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu today to form a new Israeli government, giving Netanyahu six weeks to cobble together a coalition.

Athletic competition, we hear, brings countries and peoples together. The Olympics celebrate brotherhood and sisterhood, for instance. Professional basketball and ice hockey boast international rosters; their locker rooms resemble the United Nations. Golf and tennis draw stars from around the world. Sahar Peer plays tennis. Although not nearly as successful or as celebrated as the Williams sisters, she appears in major tournaments and is ranked 48th on the women’s circuit. A tour event has opened in Dubai. Peer anticipated playing against Russia’s Anna Chakvetadze in yesterday’s first round. She never had a chance—not on the courts but in the politics of the Middle East.

Israel’s elections produced stalemate as well as, perhaps, a vague national consensus. A scheme of proportional voting makes it difficult for one or even two parties to dominate Israel’s parliament. Coalitions must form, which often empowers fringe groups. Last week the Kadima Party founded by Ariel Sharon and led by Tzipi Livni finished first but fell well short of the seats needed to control the Knesset. Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud came in second. Reports routinely refer to Kadima as “centrist” and Likud as being on the “right.“

A Richmond rabbi heading to Jerusalem for a convention isn’t fearful for his life because of Palestinian-Israeli fighting. “Israel is thriving and growing. Babies are being born. People are being married. Commerce is continuing. People have stress. Just as going anywhere, you need to be cautious,“ said Rabbi Gary S. Creditor of Temple Beth-El on Grove Avenue.