A local expert on the Middle East says it's hard to know whether the current fighting between Israel and militants in the Gaza Strip is just one of their periodic flareups or if it's indicative of something longer term.

Because of the uncertainty, Tulane Political Science Professor Dr. Chris Fettweis has this advice for the Obama administration: "If I were the Obama administration, I would try to stay as aloof as possible. I'm sure behind the scenes we're talking to everybody, but publicly I don't think we have to take any kind of stance yet."

Egypt is asking the United States to use its influence in an effort to halt Israel's current offensive. Fettweis says the important thing for the U.S. to watch is what the Egyptians might do.

"If they do anything important in response to this, then it can have longer-term implications."

Fettweis says there may be more pressure on the new democratic government in Egypt to do something because it has to worry about elections now.