Although the U.S. is the principal curator of the chaos, it seems more people are beginning to recognize it's the region's resident hegemon Israel that's been the real driver of the turmoil and violence that defines the Middle East.

Greg Maybury reports on what may be the most portentous geopolitical issue of our time.

"Israel may have the right to put others on trial, but certainly no one has the right to put the Jewish people and the State of Israel on trial."

—  [Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, 25 March, 2001 quoted in BBC News Online.]

'Every time we do something you tell me Americans will "do this" and will "do that". I want to tell you something very clear, don't worry about American pressure on Israel. We, the Jewish people, control America, and the Americans know it.' 

—  Statement by the then Israeli PM Ariel Sharon in response to possible American concerns from cabinet colleague Shimon Peres about Israeli actions in the Occupied Territories, during an October 2001 Cabinet Meeting. [Numerous Sources: Kevin Barrett from Veterans Today, Washington Report on Middle Eastern Affairs, and others. Whilst the veracity of this comment is much disputed, it is in the considered view of this writer it is genuine. Either way, as the following will attempt to demonstrate, the proof is in the pudding as it were.]