Ambassador-in-Residence Michael Oren is one of the newest additions to the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security. Based in Tel Aviv, he’s able to give a front-line perspective on developments in the tumultuous region. A regular contributor to CNN.com, Ambassador Oren commented on the difference between what outsiders might think tops the morning news in Tel Aviv and the reality of what’s really on Israelis’ minds.

With all of the turmoil so close at hand in the Middle East, one might suspect any of the threats to Israel or developments in surrounding conflicts to headline morning shows, but it turns out that women’s studies groups and activists have ignited debate over the number of streets named for men versus women in Tel Aviv. Ambassador Oren has some interesting ideas about why a comparatively mundane topic could get such attention. The first two paragraphs of his column are below with a link to the full piece on CNN.com.