Phew!
And, to continue on this good news roll, here's some happy development in Gaza:
Quote:
Fatah and Hamas announced last night they had reached an agreement to form a coalition government of "national unity" in the hope of halting inter-Palestinian armed conflict and easing the international boycott of the Palestinian Authority.
Although several key points remained to be negotiated, the rival factions declared their coalition amid considerable pomp and ceremony after two days of Saudi-brokered talks in Mecca.
It was far from clear that the terms of the deal would satisfy Israel and the international community enough to lift the 11-month blockade of the PA. But it appeared to reflect progress in solving  at least momentarily  the bitter rivalry between the two main Palestinian factions. It was greeted with relief and celebratory gunfire in Gaza, where internecine fighting cost 29 lives last week.
[...]
The formal letter of Mr Abbas's reappointment of Mr Haniyeh contained references to the need to "respect" (Mr Abbas had reportedly preferred "commit to") previous agreements signed with Israel by the PLO and also called on the new government to abide by previous decisions of the Arab League.
Those include the 2002 Beirut decision in favour of King Abdullah's peace plan which offered pan-Arab recognition of Israel in return for the latter's agreement to a two-state solution on 1967 borders. Fatah sources had suggested such a text meant that Hamas had agreed for the first time to accept the 2002 initiative."
Although several key points remained to be negotiated, the rival factions declared their coalition amid considerable pomp and ceremony after two days of Saudi-brokered talks in Mecca.
It was far from clear that the terms of the deal would satisfy Israel and the international community enough to lift the 11-month blockade of the PA. But it appeared to reflect progress in solving  at least momentarily  the bitter rivalry between the two main Palestinian factions. It was greeted with relief and celebratory gunfire in Gaza, where internecine fighting cost 29 lives last week.
[...]
The formal letter of Mr Abbas's reappointment of Mr Haniyeh contained references to the need to "respect" (Mr Abbas had reportedly preferred "commit to") previous agreements signed with Israel by the PLO and also called on the new government to abide by previous decisions of the Arab League.
Those include the 2002 Beirut decision in favour of King Abdullah's peace plan which offered pan-Arab recognition of Israel in return for the latter's agreement to a two-state solution on 1967 borders. Fatah sources had suggested such a text meant that Hamas had agreed for the first time to accept the 2002 initiative."
Full story.
Now, now, I know this won't suddenly bring peace and a proper Palestinian state, but in a place where good news is as abundant as sexual restraint on BT's farm, this has to be a positive development.