It looks as though Russia is raising its head to be the international mediator for Israeli-Palestinian peace. I hope Russia does, because no body else wants to, i.e., United States, European Union, Great Britain, Jordan. The Russian company Gazprom is developing Gaza's share of the Tamar natural gas fields, Russia is striking down all anti-Israeli resolutions at UNESCO, and just opened the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center in Moscow. I hope next Russia will pressure Hamas to recognize the State of Israel, and call for the West Bank as an independent Palestine to allow Jews to stay there. If so, the Russian bear will have its works cut out for it.