The big news of the day is that  Israel and the Hamas reached a deal to release 50 civilian women  and children held in Gaza .   Details on equivalent Paletinian prisoners are being worked out, but 150 women and children could well be in that mix.   There will also be a four-day pause in fighting.  Thank Qatar, especially lead negotiator and Minister of State, Mohammed Al-Khlaifi, plus Egypt and the White House.  Photo above. Additionally, an average of 42 aid trucks per day have been going into Gaza through the Rafah gate since October 21. Israel remains recalcitrant and indicated that there will be continued warfare until ALL hostages are returned. Big day for Joe Biden. The overwhelming relief to the above is that expanded hostilities seem now to be unlikely, and the path to a two-country solution appears on the horizon. So back to our Japan Rail Pass.  I mentioned yesterday that all we saw were banks of clouds when our Bullet Train passed where Mount Fuji is sometimes seen.  Four y

While on his way to Israel, a huge explosion occurred in the Gaza Strip Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital parking lot.    Early reports indicated a thousand people were sheltered in this 80-bed hotel, and hundreds perished.      Initial media reports blamed an Israeli air strike.  The Arab world erupted, with protests against the American embassies.  Then, more recent news seem to indicate that the cause was an errant terrorist rocket.  This whole war has been stoked by mis-information and fake news, so it will be some before any conclusive evidence will become universally accepted. In the meantime, after arriving in Israel, Biden met with a lot of leaders and gave two speeches. On arrival. After a few meetings . Emotionally empathic. Said Israel was not responsible for hospital bombing. Repeated, you are not alone Promised considerable humanitarian and military aid. This was the first visit to Israel by an American president during a time of war. During all this consternation, a tiny country c