Enmity can run so deep that the prospect of easing it seems nonexistent. Israel and Hamas sit in that category. 

Still, the elevation last week of a Sinn Fein leader to first deputy for Northern Ireland could scarcely have been imagined in the years of nail-bomb separatism, understatedly known as the Troubles. It took time. The agreement that cooled those hostilities dates back 26 years. 

Columnist Ned Temko takes a clear-eyed view of global events. He’s also inclined to showcasing informed, credible hope. In his October appearance on our weekly podcast, Ned expressed long-term optimism about a Middle East solution. Today, in his Patterns column, he mines history to outline a possible path to progress there.