Over the past couple of weeks, I noticed a change in the way the media is covering the situation in the Middle East and also in the content of the rumors about what is about to happen. Maybe it is wishful thinking, but I believe the western world is realizing-finally- that Israel is the proverbial canary in the mine shaft. For once, the treatment given to Netanyahu on this visit is a stark contrast with the last time Bibi visited Washington. This came on the heels of a far more sympathetic reaction to the Mavi Marmara affair that Israel has seen in many years.

At the same time, a number of international figures are speaking up on Israel's behalf, spear headed by a former Spanish Prime Minister and including a former President of Peru and a past American representative in the UN as well as others...certainly not light weight. Comments coming out of the office of the Quartet coordinator are also sympathetic to Israel.

On top of this, there are insistent rumors that Saudi Arabia granted the Israeli Air force an approach corridor over its territory and even a secret base near the Gulf that Israel can use as an advanced post for a possible air strike against Iran. This is complemented with rumors of American, British and Israeli naval forces positioning themselves near the Straits of Ormuz, insinuating the possibility of military action if Ahmedinejad doesn't stop its nuclear program. These rumors, complemented with the UN sanctions and the tougher sanctions put in place by the US Congress, is signaling, in my opinion, a change of the tide.

This doesn't mean that we can put our arms down and take a break, because the resources poured by Iran and its associates into Propaganda far exceed what Israel - or the American Jewish community - can afford and frankly they are better at it.

Whatever it is that is happening behind the scenes we will probably not know it in our lifetimes, but whatever it is I welcome it but at the same time I consider it just a temporary reprieve, because Israel continues to be successful in economic, scientific and technological terms, and that is something our Arab cousins don't seem able to forgive us...