Brian Stauffer got the call last week from the New York Times Op-Ed page to do an image about the revival of peace talks in the Middle East and how religious settlers obstruct any chance for peace.  

"Here's where the complication comes, it's the middle east, it's Israel, it's the Palestinians, it's a landmine for illustration," wrote AD Aviva Michaelov. 

"My thought," says Brian: "Yep, I'm feeling the complication."

She continued, "Could you come up with a solution that doesn't portray a religious settler, a Palestinian or any middle eastern stereotype/flag/symbol? Can you be as abstract as you can, focus on the idea of blocking peace?"

"My thought," says Brian: "Yep, now I'm REALLY feeling the complication."

Shown below is the sketch sent.  This was Brian's first idea. "The handful of others fell into the traps Aviva warned of so, I didn't even sketch them. This one just felt right. Luckily she agreed."