As you have all probably heard by now, Sharon and Abbas have agreed to a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians.

SHARM EL SHEIK, Egypt (AP) _ Grinning broadly, the two men clasped hands as they strained to reach across water bottles, their national flags and a bouquet of yellow and white flowers atop a wide table that spoke of the distance remaining between Israel and the Palestinians.

The warm and lengthy handshake between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, repeated three times for the cameras at a breakthrough summit at this Egyptian resort Tuesday, lifted spirits in a region that has seen hopes for peace dashed so often in four years of bloodshed.

Sharon and Abbas promised to halt all acts of violence and agreed to meet again soon to tackle the tougher issues that for decades have blocked the road to peace. But even if their cease-fire pledge sticks, much tough negotiating lies ahead.

Let me know in the comments if you run across a blog with considerable commentary on the issue.