The Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins March 22. It celebrates the month during which Muslims believe Allah revealed the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad. The holiday, marked by fasting and prayer, is intended to be a period of abstinence, penance, and spiritual introspection.

However, the holiday has recently become synonymous with Palestinian violence. According to the Biden administration, the month could be a "recipe for disaster in Jerusalem" this year. One American official sees "reason to assume that the violence this year will be worse."

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It took quite a bit longer than it should have, but the State Department finally released its 2021 Country Reports on Terrorism.

As ever, the document covers the countries that experienced attacks, those that sponsored terrorism and other states of concern. It also includes information on entities "responsible for the death, kidnapping, or injury of Americans."

The analysis never includes a focus on the threat environment in the United States itself.

But given the Islamic Republic of Iran's alarming surge in attempts on the lives of American citizens in America, perhaps it's time to do so.

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Signs of waning American influence are omnipresent in the Middle East. The Saudis turn the oil spigot on and off without the careful coordination that was once a hallmark of Washington-Riyadh ties, and they are also slow-rolling diplomacy with Israel despite the urging of officials in Washington. The United Arab Emirates is partnering with Chinese tech giant Huawei for its 5G network, shrugging off U.S. warnings. Other regional countries are deepening business ties with Beijing, too. Jordan is pulling away from the U.S.-brokered alliance with Israel. Meanwhile, the Israelis and Palestinians continue to balk at peacemaking efforts, despite American exhortations to return to the table.

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Palestinian terrorism in Israel is on the rise. Daily headlines convey a steady stream of stabbings, vehicular attacks, and other forms of violence.

Few expect the media to be fair, much less balanced. A recent and much-maligned New York Times headline blared: "At Least 2 Dead as Driver Rams Bus Stop in East Jerusalem." No mention of the driver's motivation (Palestinian nationalism). No mention of who was targeted or why (Israelis, just for being Israeli).

Some observers falsely assert cause and effect. Notably, a December op-ed by New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman implied that the newly elected right-wing Israeli government, which had yet to take office, was driving up attacks.

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"I was a senior U.S. diplomat 20 years ago during the Second Intifada...a lot of what we're seeing today has a very unhappy resemblance," CIA Director Bill Burns said recently.

Middle East watcher Dan Byman declares: "The odds of a third intifada are higher than they have been in years."

A protest march at the University of Michigan in January featured chants of "Intifada! Intifada! Long live the intifada!"

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