It seems like everything going on in the world is being squeezed off the news by the debt ceiling debacle. This is unfortunate because some of the news is surprisingly good, including surprisingly good for President Obama. Follow me across the squiqqle for some good news from AP out of Israel.
According to AP via MSNBC
— In a dramatic policy shift, Israel's prime minister has agreed to negotiate the borders of a Palestinian state based on the cease-fire line that marks off the West Bank, a TV station reported Monday.
Up to now, Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to spell out his plan for negotiating the border. A senior Israeli official would not confirm outright that the prime minister was now willing to adopt the cease-fire line as a starting point, but said Israel was willing to try new formulas to restart peace talks based on a proposal made by President Barack Obama.
Why now? Is it because 100,000+ Israelis are up in arms and marching in the street over a critical shortage of affordable housing? Maybe that has something to do with it. More likely, however, is the Palestinian plan to petition the UN for recognition as the 194th member. Today in Haaretz,
Palestinian officials said Monday they plan to begin mass marches against Israel's occupation of the West Bank on September 20, the eve of a largely symbolic UN vote expected to recognize their independence.
In the Jerusalem Post, nothing.
I hope this doesn't turn out to be another blind alley. What do you think?