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Back in December, after the Swiss voted to ban the construction of minarets, Gregg expressed wry surprise when Ha'aretz wrote a story calling European rabbis' opposition to the ban "unexpected." As Gregg noted then, not all Jews and Muslims hate each other, surprising as it may seem.

A new poll on the ban conducted by the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding seems to back up that sentiment, according to Yedioth Ahronoth. Less than one-third of Israeli Jews surveyed would support such a ban, according to the poll, while the large plurality -- 43 percent -- said they would oppose it.

One thing we haven't really discussed, amidst the latest round of rumors about a possible deal for Gilad Shalit's release, is the political ramifications of such a deal within Israel.

Shalit's plight has taken an outsized role in Israeli politics and public life, so his release, by itself, would give Netanyahu a big political boost. But there's a potential complication: If yesterday's press reports are accurate, Netanyahu will be releasing hundreds of Palestinian militants to secure Shalit's release.