This weekend Italy is hosting the so-called “Mediterranean Games” in Pescara. These games have been going on since 1951, and since that year Israel has never been allowed to join them. Sounds like Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, excluded from all the reindeer games.  Franco Frattini, Italy’s Foreign Minister, has said that “these will be the last Mediterranean Games without Israel.”

And, clearly, the Palestinians.