Israel is usually a country where politicians have an opinion on any topic, and vociferously so. But in recent days, Israel's leadership has been unusually silent on a certain question. No one, it seems, is willing to make an official comment on the ongoing unrest in Egypt, where protesters have been holding anti-government rallies.

It is undisputed that Al Jazeera has revolutionized the way Arabs report and hear the news. The revolt in Tunisia, the unrest in Egypt and mounting dissent in the rest of the region would be inconceivable, some argue, without the most popular satellite TV station in the Arab speaking world. A portrait of one of the most influential and controversial actors in the Middle East.

Tense calm prevailed in Lebanon’s streets yesterday. Just the previous day, it seemed like civil war, always a menacing possibility in this ethnically divided country, would break out any second. Sunni protesters had taken to the streets in a “day of wrath” against the apparent takeover by the pro-Iranian Hezbollah – the militia of the Shiite underdogs that has evolved to become the godfather and puppet master of the new government.

Nothing demonstrates the gap between secret and public diplomacy as well as Monday’s response to news that Palestinian negotiators had discussed major concessions in confidential Mideast peace talks termed the Annapolis process that began in late 2007.

Lebanon is hurled into a deep crisis as Hezbollah topples its national unity government. Its last ditch effort to prevent the publication of an international murder investigation that will implicate the Shiite militia raises the specter of new violence in this war torn country.

It seemed like a good way to start the New Year: Studies confirmed that a gas field just off Israel’s coast contains the world’s largest find in a decade. But while the discovery could bestow riches, energy independence and political leverage on the Jewish state, it may also exacerbate its problems.