Elated & excited about the hostage release ... but

I am writing this column on the morning of Oct. 9, 2025, a few hours since the announcement that an agreement has been reached between Israel and Hamas for release within 72 hours of all the remaining hostages; the 20 that are still alive and the remains of the 28 who were murdered by their captors.

Along with my co-religionists in the Diaspora and the citizens of Israel, I am elated and excited about our hostages coming home; and momentarily dreaming that peace in the Middle East may finally be at hand.

But I know better than to allow my dream to prevail over my common sense. There is an old...