The complex interfaith sensitivities provoked by the crisis were evident at the White House this week. President Obama hosted Islamic leaders and Muslim diplomats for a dinner to break their Ramadan fast. He pledged to work for peace, but then added:

“No country can accept rockets fired indiscriminately at citizens. And so, we’ve been very clear that Israel has the right to defend itself against what I consider to be inexcusable attacks from Hamas.”

Afterward, the Muslim Public Affairs Council said it was “appalled” that the president would use that occasion “to express unequivocal support for Israel” without also criticizing what it called Israel’s “disproportionate use of force.”