253: prospects for peace across Middle East?

I'll be posting quickly tonight as I'm having real trouble with my internet connection. (The one outside in the cold was better...!) But I liked the tone of this hopeful piece I found on the BBC news website today. It's an optimistic take on the various peace deals and negotiations currently in train across the Middle East, from those between Syria and Israel, to the recent ceasefire declared in Gaza. As the article points out, it's always easier to be pessimistic about the prospects for peace in the region, but there do seem to be more positive signs right now - could these possibly be aligning for peace? It's worth thinking about...