There was an editorial cartoon in Monday's Birmingham News that was funny but not funny.

The cartoon (at left) was by Mike Luckovich, of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. While amusing, it completely distorts Prime Minister Netanyahu's position.

The prime minister has said repeatedly that he is willing to enter into negotiations with the Palestinians anytime, anywhere, without preconditions, to achieve an end to the conflict. He wants to reach an arrangement that will allow both the Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side in peace in an atmosphere of mutual respect.

These are difficult times for Israel as its position continues to be distorted by those who are unwilling to listen to what Netanyahu is saying and to affix blame where it belongs -- on the refusal of the Palestinian Authority to negotiate in good faith with Israel to reach an end to this tragic conflict.

A letter blaming Israel, in fact, appears in today's Birmingham News.

"The millions of Palestinian people under Israel's occupation and siege, who have endured decades of repression supported and abetted by successive US administrations, have as much right to self-determination as any other people on Earth," writes reader Suhail Shafi, of Ozark, in a letter that ignores Israel's desire to resolve the conflict through negotiations.

A letter reminding Birmingham News readers of Israel's desire to negotiate a settlement with the Palestinians has been sent to the Birmingham News.

Birmingham and especially the University of Alabama at Birmingham continue to be recognized as being at the forefront of the battle against AIDS. One of the reasons is Jewish community member Dr. Michael Saag, a widely-known AIDS researcher and physician, who is the husband of Birmingham Jewish Foundation President Amy Saag.

Some more media attention came Birmingham's way when our city was named as the first site for a series of national AIDS meetings. The meeting, which will be held at 2 pm today, was highlighted in a story in the Birmingham News.

"The first in a series of meetings around the country to discuss national AIDS strategy will be...in Birmingham, the White House Office of National AIDS Policy announced," the story reported. "The discussion will focus on how to incorporate prevention and care research into HIV programs."

In the above photo, Dr. Michael Saag, AIDS/HIV clinician and researcher, performs a quarterly checkup with patient Alan Woellhart of Sipsey on June 1, 2011, at UAB's 1917 Clinic. Woellhart has lived with AIDS for 22 years. (The Birmingham News file/Tamika Moore)

Update had a great story Sunday on Birmingham Christian Suzanne Payne's wonderful experience in Israel. It was headlined, "May our country always support this precious land." Nice comments were received in response to the story.

Patricia Lutkowitz, a former Birmingham Jewish Federation Campaign Chair, who now lives in Nashville, wrote, "So heartfelt, so beautifully written, so uplifting! Thank you for sharing Suzanne Payne's thoughts with us."

Birmingham Jewish community member Judy Luks wrote, "What a beautifully expressed and poignant love story written by Suzanne Payne detailing her first trip to Israel! Her descriptions are so accurate and inclusive. I have a feeling that she will be going back someday, sooner rather than later!"

We thank Suzanne for her excellent comments and encourage those Update readers who did not read Sunday's piece to go to the below link and read what Suzanne wrote.

Photo is of Suzanne Payne in Jerusalem at the Via Dolorosa, the path Jesus was said to have taken while carrying the cross. Her shirt says Alabama in Hebrew.