Should Israel embark on a new diplomatic initiative? Is Israeli-Palestinian peace within reach? Democracy or dictatorship in the Arab world: Which is safer? Does the Obama Administration know what it’s doing? Snippets from this year’s Herzliya Conference on the Balance of Israel’s National Security, which ended yesterday.

If His Royal Solicitude, King Abdullah, really wanted to lead the Arab world towards peace with Israel, he could find a way or two to express his “moderation” more clearly and make things happen. But no. The sang-froid Saudis always seem to hew to a self-serving p.r. minimum.