Has the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Entered a New Phase? The nightmare scenario that Israel has feared since its establishment came true." "The barrier of fear has been broken."  Those are Israeli commentators on what Defense Minister Ehud Barak describes as "the Palestinians' transition from suicide-bomber terrorism" to "mass demonstrations, deliberately unarmed." They're all quoted in a Washington Post article by Joel Greenberg in Jerusalem. With Middle Eastern regimes under challenge as never before, are the Palestinians adopting a new strategy in their struggle with Israel? How will President Obama respond to claims that the US is losing influence in the region?

The High Price of Saving a Single Soldier Israel is obsessed with a young soldier kidnapped and held by Hamas in Gaza for more than three years. What is it worth to get Gilad Shalit back? Hamas is demanding release of a thousand prisoners, including a multiple-murder convict supporters compare to South Africa's Nelson Mandela, who might bring political unity to the Palestinian cause. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is caught between the ancient Jewish tradition of rescue and giving the kidnappers a major victory. What are the terms of a potential deal? What are the immediate risks and possible benefits in the long term?

After 10 Days, No Let-up in Gaza The invasion of Gaza is ten days old and there's no sign of a slowdown as Hamas vows to continue firing rockets across the border and Israel vows to continue until they stop.  More than 500 Palestinians have died in the past 10 days; 2600 have been wounded. Five Israelis have died from Hamas rocket fire. While European leaders work for a ceasefire, the US says it has to be "durable and sustainable." We update the fighting and the diplomacy.

And the Walls Coming Tumbling Down in Gaza Early this morning, there were 17 explosions along the nine-mile border fence between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. As large portions of the fence went down, tens of thousands of Palestinians rushed to the Egyptian town of Rafah for food, fuel and other supplies.  People in cars, donkey carts and on foot rushed to buy food, fuel and other supplies denied for weeks by an Israeli blockade designed to stop rocket attacks. We hear how the fence went down and what it's been like at the border. Is it a propaganda coup for Hamas? A defeat for Fatah? What does it reveal about Israeli security and Egypt's obligation to maintain the border?