Ethan Bronner is a correspondent for our partner The New York Times. He recently announced that he would transition from his role as the paper's Jerusalem Bureau Chief to become a national legal correspondent in New York. The Middle East has changed radically since Bronner accepted the Bureau Chief position in early 2008. Perhaps most visible are the results of the Arab Spring uprisings throughout the region. Bronner reflects on the immense changes in the Middle East since he started reporting there four years ago.

Sgt. Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier who has been imprisoned by Hamas since 2006, was released on Tuesday in Egypt as part of a prisoner trade between Israel and Hamas. In exchange for Shalit's release, Israel freed 477 Palestinian prisoners, the first group of what will be more than 1,000. The deal is seen as a major political victory for Hamas, which Israel considers to be a terrorist organization. "I very much hope that this deal will advance peace," Shalit told Egyptian television before he was released. Many Israelis support the swap, but Arnold Roth, who was on The Takeaway yesterday, does not. Roth lost his daughter in 2001 to a Palestinian suicide bomber. The woman who drove that bomber is one of the 477 set to be released today.

Peace between Israel and Egypt was threatened late last week after a cross-border terrorist attack between the two countries prompted Israeli defense forces to fire at Egypt, killing three Egyptian officers. The killings spurred a diplomatic crisis. Egypt announced that it would recall its ambassador from Tel Aviv, Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak broke the Sabbath to issue a rare statement of regret for the deaths, and thousands of Egyptians protested outside the Israeli embassy in Cairo. The crisis is the sharpest signal yet that the amicable relationship between Israel and Egypt has changed.

In a major departure from the policy of the Mubarak regime, Egypt's official news agency has announced that, as of Saturday, May 28, 2011, the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza will be permanently opened. The border's periodic openings and closings over the decades have reflected tensions between Israel and the Palestinian Territories — and an agreement between Israel and the Mubarak regime.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be in Washington today for a meeting with President Obama, to discuss the Middle East peace process and Israel's national security. The visit is also to show a public display of unity. Diplomatic meetings continue in other quarters as well: Just yesterday, the Israeli defense minister and the Palestinian prime minister met in Jerusalem, in the first face-to-face meeting between such high level officials in several months. 

This all comes on the heels of Turkey's announcement that it may sever diplomatic ties with Israel unless Israel apologizes for the deadly raid on an aid flotilla bound for Gaza in late May.

Two days after a raid by Israeli naval commandos left nine people dead aboard a flotilla of aid ships heading towards Gaza, the global community is still on edge about the incident. Turkey, Israel's biggest ally in the Muslim world, and several other European nations have recalled their ambassadors to Israel. The United Nations and the United States have also condemned the acts leading up the tragedy. 

Many details of the confrontation on the flotilla headed for Gaza remain contentious and incomplete. Israeli naval commandos clashed with activists aboard the 'Mavi Marmara,' one the six boats in the Mediterranean, and nine people were killed. The international community has condemned Israel's action. Annette Groth, a German parliamentarian, was on the ship that was attacked by Israeli forces. She describes what it was like when the boat was attacked.

BBC correspondent Christopher Landau traveled to the Gaza Strip, where he reported on the lives of unwed mothers - and their children - in the region. He joins us with his account.

The Takeaway looks at two stories in the global news today with our partners, the BBC. First, President Barack Obama unveils his Afghan war strategy today. Officials say the President plans to send thousands of more military and civilian trainers on top of the 17,000 combat troops he's already ordered. The plan includes no time line for withdrawal of troops.

In other news, the Sudanese government says an air attack on the country in January destroyed a convoy carrying weapons intended for Hamas in the Gaza strip. The numbers killed in the attack fluctuate wildly, but the story's made big news in Israel whose prime minister has hinted that Israel's air force was involved. For a look at both these stories we are joined by the BBC's defense correspondent Rob Watson and the BBC's Arab Affairs analyst, Magdi Abdelhadi.

As Israel prepares to inaugurate a new right-wing government, it is facing its worst diplomatic crisis in two decades. Its actions in Gaza and its election of a right-wing government have led to an increasing sense of global isolation as many countries turn a cold shoulder to the nation. Ethan Bronner, Jerusalem Bureau Chief for the New York Times, joins us for a look at Israel's plans for global PR.

For more, read Ethan Bronner's article, After Gaza, Israel Grapples With Crisis of Isolation, in today's New York Times.

There is a two-day old cease-fire in Gaza and everyone is hopeful that that the fragile peace will hold. As Israeli troops withdraw, Gaza residents begin to rebuild. The borders to Gaza have just opened to the foreign press and we now turn to Charles Levinson, the Jerusalem Bureau Chief for the Wall Street Journal, who joins us from Gaza.

The Israeli army reports that there was a second night of peace after Israel and Hamas reached a tentative cease-fire. Israeli troops have started pulling out of Gaza, although the army isn't saying how long the process will take. In Gaza, residents are beginning to pick up the pieces after being bombarded for more than three weeks. For more on this situation, we turn to BBC Correspondent Bethany Bell.

Watch Al Jazeera's report on the behind-the-scenes diplomacy that lead to this cease-fire.

Israel began an offensive in Gaza three weeks ago with the hope of ending Hamas' ability to fire rockets into Southern Israel. A week later Israel sent in tanks and ground troops, but Hamas has continued to fire rockets and mortars into Israeli territory. Palestinian medical officials say more than 1,300 Palestinians have been killed during the military action. Under mounting diplomatic pressure from the international community, the two parties have agreed to a cease-fire and Israeli troops are withdrawing from Gaza. For more we turn to the BBC's Jonathan Marcus.

In the ongoing offensive in Gaza, Israel shelled the headquarters of the United Nations in Gaza City. While Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has said it was a "grave mistake," Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has expressed "strong protest and outrage" to Israel and is demanding an investigation. A U.N. spokesman said at least three people were wounded in the incident. We turn to BBC correspondent Bethany Bell in Jerusalem for more on this developing situation.

Watch CNN footage of the United Nations' headquarters in Gaza.

As the crisis in Gaza continues, the world seeks diplomatic solutions for a decades old conflict. As Israel intensifies its hunt for Hamas, the international community pleas for peace, and protests have erupted around the world. And with a certain inauguration happening next week, it is a tough time to be an Israeli diplomat. Ambassador Daniel Carmon is the Deputy Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations he joins us this morning for his take on Gaza.

The United Nations has called for a cease-fire in Gaza.

Lebanese officials deny they are firing rockets into Israel, but someone is and Israel responded to the attacks with shell fire. This is the second cross-border exchange with Lebanon since Israel launched their Gaza offensive. Continued struggles may ignite a second front for Israel's military. For more on this situation, we turn to Mike Sargent, who is in Jerusalem covering the story for our partner the BBC.

Israel moves into Gaza City. Watch courtesy of AP/Youtube.

Israel's offensive in Gaza has waged for over two weeks, despite pleas for peace from the international community. Israeli troops are now doing battle inside neighborhoods just east and west of Gaza City, while the Israeli navy shells from the west. There are also reports of face-to-face combat with Hamas militants. Today, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon heads to the Middle East to try and enforce the cease-fire resolution passed by the United Nations earlier this week. For the latest on the developments in the Middle East we turn to the BBC's Tim Franks.

Editor's note: If you didn't hear the correction on the air, about half of the more than 900 Palestinians killed in the Gaza fighting have been civilians. We earlier incorrectly stated all were civilians.

Watch Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon's press conference on Gaza.

For the second day in a row, Israel has halted its military strikes in Gaza for three hours. The three-hour break is meant to allow Gaza residents a brief window to stock up on food, fuel and supplies before bunkering down again. Muhammad Abushaban is a 22-year old Gaza resident who left his house for the first time yesterday since the start of the military action. He joins us now for an on-the-ground report.

Rumors of a potential ceasefire in Gaza are swirling through the international press. A government spokesman says Israel "welcomes" a proposed cease-fire cobbled cobbled together by France and Egypt so long as that cease-fire will stop Hamas rocket fire. Hamas says it will only support a deal that includes opening of Gaza's borders. Meanwhile, French President Nicolas Sarkozy claims that both parties have agreed to the cease-fire. To parse out the welcome news are Rob Watson, the BBC Defense Correspondent, in London and Steven Erlanger of the New York Times joins us from Jerusalem.