Some (very cautiously) positive news on the Middle East front...

[Princess Turandot]

I didn't see this mentioned 'upstairs', so to speak, at least not on the first LBN page.

PLO approves talks with Israel as Mitchell meets Netanyahu
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2010/0307/PLO-approves-talks-with-Israel-as-Mitchell-meets-Netanyahu

The highest Palestinian political body authorized President Mahmoud Abbas to begin indirect peace talks with Israel for a four-month trial period, clearing the way for the first negotiations in more than a year ahead of Vice President Joseph Biden's arrival in the region later this week....

.....Renewing peace talks has been a key foreign policy goal of the Obama administration, though efforts became bogged down last year over a US demand to halt settlement expansion. Talks on a permanent peace deal – which focus on the status of Jerusalem, borders, and Palestinian refugees – were last held at the end of 2008 and were broken off.....

This follows the approval of the Arab League last week for the time-limited meetings:

A Skeptical Arab League Backs Indirect Peace Talks

...“The Arab foreign ministers are all not convinced with Netanyahu, but they decided to give Obama the chance,” Mr. Erekat said in a telephone interview after the meeting...

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/04/world/middleeast/04arabs.html

[Cha]

1. Thanks for this very encouraging

news, PT.

[treestar]

2. Great

If the Irish can solve their problem, it's my position the I/P conflict can be resolved.

I've had it with both sides on that one.

[TicketyBoo]

3. He's trying

to earn that Nobel Peace Prize.

Hope it works.

[Uzybone]

4. thanks for posting...I almost don't want to hope too much

when it comes to the ME.

[Peacetrain]

5. Every long journey has to start with that step out the front door..

Lets hope this is the step