Netanyahu to Negotiate With Protesters

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced plans to form a panel of experts to negotiate with leaders of the social protests that have sent hundreds of thousands into Israel's streets. Netanyahu also expressed concern over the looming global economic crisis, calling for curbs on spending and minimizing the nation's debt. Senior treasury and Bank of Israel officials held an emergency meeting at midnight Saturday to discuss measures and Saturday's stock market collapse when leading indexes in Tel Aviv plummeted to seven percent. Israel has certain restrictions, such as a larger defense budget. The panel will be headed by Prof. Manuel Trajtenberg, the former head of the government's economic advisory council and will submit proposals for economic reforms to the socioeconomic cabinet by the end of September.