In the first half of 2017 alone, 1,850 refugees lost their lives on the central Mediterranean route. As shocking as this news is, it seamlessly fits into the history of a tragic neighborhood: for centuries, Europe and the Arab world have shared a deadly proximity. Ulrich Kienzle reflects on and analyzes the events in the Middle East. He looks back at history, shares his experiences as a Middle East correspondent, and recounts his current travels. Even at the age of 81, he still regularly travels to the countries of this region. In an extremely entertaining and fascinating way, he makes the chaos in the Orient comprehensible.