Egypt has become a key player in the Middle East due to the Israel-Gaza War, hosting a summit without a unified statement but demonstrating its diplomatic influence. Egypt controls the Rafah crossing into Gaza, dictating terms for humanitarian aid entry, and has legitimate concerns about a potential influx of Palestinian refugees, economic and security challenges, and the impact on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. President el-Sisi has warned against transferring Palestinians into Sinai, fearing it could lead to conflict with Israel. Egypt's opposition to opening the border is supported by other Arab countries. The US's strong support for Israel creates tensions, but recent US policy has shown support for Egypt's stance on aid delivery. Egypt's role is crucial for US objectives in supporting Israel and providing humanitarian aid to Palestinians.

House Republicans, led by a faction of the party, ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy for engaging in a bipartisan deal, causing political chaos and uncertainty about future leadership. The new interim speaker, Patrick McHenry, prioritized removing senior Democrats, including Nancy Pelosi, from their Capitol office spaces, which is seen as an act of partisan vengeance. The article suggests that this reflects a broader issue of the GOP abandoning norms and putting the nation at risk, with the inability to make basic decisions like funding the government.

The author reflects on the profound sense of loss and disruption of mourning rituals experienced after their father's death due to COVID-19. They discuss the burden of time in grief, the absence of traditional support systems, and the solace found in reading about grief and undertaking a personal project, Mission Orbisculate, to honor their father. The project aims to get the word 'orbisculate', coined by their father, recognized in the dictionary and involves selling T-shirts to raise money for Carson's Village, a charity supporting families after a loss.

Mitt Romney's visit to Israel coincided with Tisha Be'av and the Olympics, resulting in less media attention. His trip included a $1 million fundraiser in Jerusalem but was marred by gaffes, such as his comments on British Olympic preparations and remarks about Palestinian culture that were criticized as racist. Romney's anticipated stop in Germany was canceled, and a meeting with Israeli Labor Party leader Shelly Yechimovich was also canceled. The article suggests that Romney's trip did not yield the positive coverage he may have hoped for.

Hillary Clinton, speaking at George Washington University, criticized Barack Obama for his willingness to meet with leaders of rogue nations without preconditions, labeling it naive. She emphasized her own approach to diplomacy and detailed her foreign policy, including plans to withdraw troops from Iraq and a new policy towards Pakistan. Clinton also attacked Republican John McCain's stance on Iraq and responded to Obama's criticism of her policies. Likud MK Yuli Edelstein positively interpreted Obama's comments about the pro-Israel community and Likud.