In the interest of full disclosure, gentle readers I am now back in the United States for two months, though I will be following events in Israel very closely. I think we are going to see some very immense changes in the next few months, although in which direction I do not know. We are facing a decisive moment in the modern Middle East and I, for one, am reserving judgement. I am too aware of painful disappointments to be optimistic, but equally aware of the miraculous possibilities inherent in the region and the parties involved. Pessimism is not an option either. I will say only that I am cautiously hopeful.