So often, the Middle East seems a textbook lesson in how divisions divide, often violently. The reminders since Oct. 7, 2023, have been stark. 

Today, all our stories look at the fallout from the past year. But Ned Temko makes an important point in his column: When leaders have prioritized peace, thought shifts. Before last Oct. 7, historic enemies were considering the once-unthinkable: recognizing Israel’s statehood. 

Progress is not impossible. The Middle East is not without hope. But a different future means thinking differently, starting with understanding and humanity. Today, we lay down our marker that the arc of the past year need not be the direction of the next.