10/31/06

North Korea talks 'set to resume' Six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear programme are to resume soon, China's foreign ministry has confirmed.

Pandemic fear over new bird flu strain A new resistant strain of the H5N1 virus, deadly to humans and poultry, has spread throughout Southeast Asia, renewing fears of a bird flu pandemic.

Saudi envoy slams US role in Mideast The US standing in the Middle East is at an all-time low and can be helped only by pressing Israel to relinquish all occupied Arab land and Jerusalem to the Palestinians, says Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States.

International net domains 'risky' The global inter-operability of the internet needs to be preserved, Vint Cerf, one of the founders of the net, has told a global gathering in Athens.

* Bolton: Syria, Iran arming Hizbullah US Ambassador John Bolton expressed concern that Syria and Iran are trying to destabilize Lebanon's democratically elected government by violating a UN arms embargo.

New "Save Yesha" Movement Founded The founding session of the new group - named Meginei Eretz, Defenders of the Land - was held in Beit El Monday night.

Leading nuclear powers meet on terrorism The world's five leading nuclear powers and eight other countries kicked off a new program Monday aimed at keeping nuclear weapons beyond the reach of terrorists.

PA paper: Jews fan flames of evil A new article blaming Jews for "fanning the flames of evil and provoking wars" has appeared in the Palestinian Authority's official newspaper, Al Hayat Al Jadida.

Iraq violence 'linked to US vote' US Vice-President Dick Cheney has said that insurgents in Iraq have increased their attacks in order to influence the upcoming US mid-term elections.

Many Israelis living abroad mull returning home Haim Keren and his family have been living in the US for more than 10 years. With two children, a house and a good, stable job in upstate New York, returning to Israel is a tough choice.

10/30/06

Iraq to seek extension of US presence Iraq is to ask the UN Security Council to renew the mandate governing the presence of US-led forces in the country for another year.

Israel preparing extensive Gaza operation:MP Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned that the army was preparing an extensive operation in the Gaza Strip.

MKs warn of one-million-strong anti-gay protest A meeting of the Knesset Internal Affairs Committee to discuss the planned gay pride parade in Jerusalem ended with participants exchanging insults.

Al-Qaeda takes its fight to the internet The American government is failing to counter Islamists' online propaganda that could propel militancy into the next generation, experts say.

Iranian FM gives Assad letter from Ahmadinejad Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki reportedly met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus, and the two called for an end to the "occupation" of Iraq.

Survivor says Saddam brought 'Doomsday' to village Iraq's ousted leader Saddam Hussein heard his genocide accusers Monday describe how "Doomsday" came to their bombed villages.

World discusses internet future The future of the net is the ambitious topic under discussion at the first global Internet Governance Forum, being held in Athens over the next five days.

Islamic courts refuse peace talks The Islamic Courts Union, which controls much of southern Somalia, has refused to meet the interim government for peace talks unless Ethiopian troops leave the country.

Holy war against pride parade Haredim keep threatening to strike the gay parade scheduled to take place in Jerusalem in two weeks.

Somali Islamists say Ethiopia has 'declared war' Somalia's powerful Islamist movement Monday accused neighboring Ethiopia of "declaring war" on them.

10/26/06

Angry Iraq leader hits back as allies try to stay confident A fresh rift opened between the Iraqi Prime Minister and his US backers yesterday when he bridled at American diplomatic and military tactics.

Israel thwarting Hamas effort to set up West Bank security force The conflict between Israel and Hamas is likely to escalate soon in light of the Israel Defense Forces' decision to try to thwart the establishment of a Hamas security service in the West Bank

Russia opposes draft UN resolution on Iran International attempts to forge a united front in the nuclear standoff with Iran today suffered a setback as Russia declared its opposition to current UN proposals.

Solana: Israel must raze outposts, push road map Israel must evacuate all illegal West Bank outposts and do its part to advance the internationally-backed road map for peace.

EU members join to fight terror Ministers from the six largest European Union countries have agreed to set up a joint operation to tackle terrorism and people-smuggling.

Why Johnny is reading Islamist propoganda Islam is being taught in the nation's public schools as a religion to be embraced because "organized Islamists have gained control of textbook content.

Muhammad cartoon lawsuit dismissed A top Pakistani Islamic group criticized Thursday's dismissal by a Danish court of a defamation lawsuit against a newspaper that published cartoons of Prophet Muhammad.

Somalia's Islamists take key town Fighters loyal to Somalia's Islamic courts have taken control of a key trading town from the transitional government without bloodshed.

Haredim mull sabotaging gay parade The haredi sector is organizing mass protests to sabotage the gay pride parade which will be held in Jerusalem on November 10.

Israeli PM keeps shaky coalition intact Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert kept his shaky coalition intact Wednesday, convincing main partner, the dovish Labor, to remain in the cabinet despite the inclusion of an ultra-nationalist party.

10/25/06

'US withdrawal from Iraq would be disastrous for Israel' As talk of an American withdrawal from Iraq heats up, some local experts say the removal of a strong US military presence there could be disastrous for Israel.

Ethiopia is 'technically at war' thiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi says that his country is "technically" at war with Somalia's Islamic courts.

Report: Syria ups military alert level The Syrian Defense Minister has raised the army's alert level following IDF training exercises in the Golan Heights on Monday.

Iraqi PM vows to tackle militias Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has pledged to tackle illegal militias, which are widely blamed for the growing sectarian violence in the country.

Putin: I will stay an influence President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Wednesday that he would not try to run again for the presidency but said he would retain influence over Russia even after leaving office in 2008 as required by the constitution.

Germany in radical shake-up of military Germany will on Wednesday adopt the most radical restructuring of its military since 1945.

Iran activates new cascade of enrichment centrifuges Iran has expanded its controversial nuclear work by starting a second cascade of centrifuges to enrich uranium.

Creating Palestinian History Professor Rashid Khalidi raises a very pertinent question in his article "Unwritten History", recently published in the Boston Globe.

Solana to visit J'lem first on ME tour The European Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, embarked on a six-day mission to the Middle East Wednesday.

Terrorists: Major attacks against Israel on their way Several senior terror leaders in Gaza told WorldNetDaily that terror groups allied with Hamas in the Gaza Strip are planning a series of large-scale attacks against Israeli positions near Gaza "within the coming days."

10/24/06

Khalilzad: Success in Iraq still possible The US ambassador to Iraq has urged Iraqi leaders to work harder to achieve political and security goals.

Olmert pins hopes on Lieberman to stop Iran Prime minister wants Israel Our Home chairman to coordinate work of Israeli agencies monitoring Tehran's nuclear drive.

N Korea 'has no plan yet' for second test China said Tuesday North Korea had no immediate plans to conduct a second nuclear test.

Iran condemns US Gulf exercises Iran has criticised planned US military exercises in the Gulf as provocative.

Abbas orders 20,000 Fatah security men to deploy in Gaza Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has ordered the deployment of more than 20,000 security forces para-militaries and police throughout the Strip as soon as the holiday ends at the end of the week.

Taliban threatens to attack Europe The Taliban Monday vowed to intensify raids against foreign troops in Afghanistan and also said that it would attack civilians in Europe.

Settlements grow on Arab land, despite promises made to U.S. A secret, two year investigation by the defense establishment shows that there has been rampant illegal construction in dozens of settlements and in many cases involving privately owned Palestinian properties.

The World We Know Is Ending It's the end of the world!! Head for the hills!!! No, wait. Don't head for the hills-they're full of Islamist terrorist camps.

Peretz: Gaza operations will continue Israel will continue operating in the Gaza Strip in order to stop terror organizations from further arming themselves.

Global ecosystems 'face collapse' Current global consumption levels could result in a large-scale ecosystem collapse by the middle of the century, environmental group WWF has warned.

10/23/06

Olmert: The world must not 'bury its head in the sand' on Iran Prime Minister Ehud Olmert appealed to the international community on Monday to ostracize Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, saying the world must not "bury its head in the sand" while he calls for Israel's destruction.

Israel considers retaking Gaza border Several Israeli cabinet ministers have called for a military operation to retake control of Gaza's southern border with Egypt.

Reports: China not optimistic about N. Korea disarmament China is not optimistic that North Korea will end its nuclear program or re-enter disarmament talks soon.

Ethiopia to fight if Somali Islamists attack govt Horn of Africa power Ethiopia warned on Monday it would intervene if Somali Islamists attacked the interim government amid a standoff over a key town that has heightened fears of all-out war.

Spiraling out of control From the veranda of the Hebrew University on Mount Scopus, the call for the Maghreb (evening) prayer permeates the warm Jerusalem fall air.

Deputy PM: West can't cut and run Iraq is vital to the world's future and the West cannot cut and run despite growing anxiety over the relentless bloodshed there.

Qatar, Saudi Arabia boost efforts to resolve PA crisis Qatar and Saudi Arabia have stepped up their efforts to resolve the ongoing crisis in the Palestinian Authority.

PA Educational Campaign to Detach Jews from Jerusalem Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) reports on a PA campaign to teach its youngsters that Jews have no historical connection to Jerusalem or the Holy Land.

Former Syrian VP: 'Assad regime is on brink of collapse' An exiled former Syrian vice president said Sunday that President Bashar Assad's regime is on the brink of collapse.

Non-Muslims fear expansion of Islam, says Mecca imam Fear of the spread of Islam in non-Muslim countries motivates attacks on Muslims in the West.

10/21/2006

Palestinian FM: Israel is an abomination that will disappear Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar of Hamas said Friday that Israel is an abomination in the Middle East that will some day disappear.

Geologist: Earth has lots and lots of oil A University of Washington economic geologist says there is lots of crude oil left for human use.

Rice says North Korea seeks to escalate crisis Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice cast doubt on Saturday on reports North Korea had pledged to stop nuclear tests, saying it seemed bent instead on escalating the crisis.

Israel must prepare for Iran to push the button Iranian president said earlier there is no reason for Israel "the greatest insult to human dignity" to exist and it would soon disappear.

Egypt's Mubarak blames Muslims for faith's bad image Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak questioned on Thursday whether Muslims had done enough to change the West's "wrong perceptions" about Islam, which he said was under "ferocious attack".

Bush consults top Iraq generals US President George W Bush is holding a video conference with his senior generals in Iraq to discuss the escalating violence there.

UK a prime target for al-Qaida cells Al-Qaida has become much more sophisticated and organized and the UK is the terror organization's prime target according to British counter-terrorism experts.

Calm returns to southern Iraqi city Calm has returned to the southern Iraqi city of Amara after two days of violent clashes between government security forces and Shia fighters

Four killed at Baghdad mosque Four people were killed when a bomber blew himself up outside Baghdad's Baratha mosque, one of the city's most important Shia sites and a frequent target of attacks.

Yesha Council Negotiations Bringing Internal Debate to Surface Reports of a secret meeting between the Yesha Council's Ze'ev ("Zambish") Hever and Defense Minister Amir Peretz have reawakened the debate within Judea and Samaria regarding the council's actions.

10/20/2006

Iran warns of revenge over Israel Iran's president has warned that Muslims around the world will take revenge on states who supported Israel against the Palestinians.

Olmert: Palestinian moment of truth near Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on the way back from Moscow Thursday that the moment of truth for the Palestinians is closer than ever.

IDF officials: Full-scale Gaza op needed In order to fight comprehensively against the smuggling of weapons into the Palestinian territories, Israel needs to embark on a full-scale operation in the Gaza Strip.

Tens of thousands pray at Jerusalem mosque Tens of thousands of Muslims prayed at the Al Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan amid a heavy Israeli police presence to prevent any disturbances.

Fatah gunmen fire on Ismail Haniyeh's motorcade in Gaza Disgruntled relatives of a Fatah activist killed in recent fighting with Hamas fired at Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh's motorcade as it drove through Gaza on Friday.

Darfur call by genocide survivors Genocide survivors are urging the European Union to do far more to help end the violence in the western Sudanese region of Darfur.

Hamas and Fatah agree to end clashes Fatah and Hamas officials have agreed to take steps to end violence between the two rival Palestinian movements which has raised fears of civil war.

Russian, European Leaders Hold Informal Summit Russian and European leaders are meeting in Finland Friday for an informal summit at a time when a number of issues - including energy and Russian-Georgian tensions - cloud relations between the two sides.

Shiite militia pushes for control of Iraqi city Iraqi authorities are deploying more troops and senior security officials to Amarah where at least 16 people have been killed and a notorious Shiite militia is said to have seized the restive southern city.

N Korea 'not planning more tests' North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il told a visiting Chinese envoy the North had no plans to conduct more nuclear tests.

10/19/06

China pressures N Korean leader A Chinese envoy has met North Korea's reclusive leader Kim Jong-il, according to Chinese officials

Brussels to defend 'core' of EU constitution in treaty talks The European Commission is starting to take a position in the expected re-negotiations of the EU constitution.

PM raises energy issue in Moscow Israel imports 90 percent of the approximately 250,000 barrels of oil it uses daily from former Soviet Union countries via tankers.

Haredim: J'lem gay parade may lead to another war Thousands of ultra-Orthodox protested at Jerusalem's Sabbath Square Wednesday against the holding of the 2006 Gay Pride Parade in the city.

Charles Darwin's works go online The complete works of one of history's greatest scientists, Charles Darwin, are being published online.

Analysis: Abbas's growing predicament Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's efforts to replace the Hamas-led government suffered a major setback this week.

UK 'number one al-Qaeda target' Al-Qaeda has become more organised and sophisticated and has made Britain its top target.

Settlers vow tough struggle Yesha leaders are holding contacts for the peaceful evacuation of ten illegal outposts but extreme right wing activists have other plans.

Ethiopia says military in Somalia Ethiopia's prime minister has for the first time admitted to having soldiers inside Somalia.

Beast in sediment is photo winner A picture that took nine years to obtain and was almost deleted at the last minute has won the Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year award.

10/18/06

PM to Putin: Help resolve Iran crisis Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Wednesday that Russia should use its influence to help resolve the standoff over Iran's nuclear program.

US stands firm over NK sanctions Japan and the US have pledged to work together to implement UN sanctions on North Korea.

Rice Tries to Head Off Nuclear Arms Race North Korea's nuclear test could set off an atomic arms race in Asia.

Bush Sets Defense As Space Priority President Bush has signed a new National Space Policy that rejects future arms-control agreements that might limit U.S. flexibility in space.

Iraqi official to hold talks in Jordan Tariq al-Hashimi, Iraq's vice president, arrived in Amman on Tuesday for talks with Jordanian officials that will focus on Iraqi security developments and bilateral ties.

Sharansky's formula As Prime Minister Ehud Olmert left for Russia yesterday to meet with President Vladimir Putin and other officials.

EU picks birthday logo saying countries are 'together' A young Polish designer has won the logo design competition for the EU's 50 year anniversary celebrations.

Rabbis tout Jewish option to courts A group of leading religious Zionist rabbis and experts in Jewish law met in Jerusalem Tuesday evening for the official launch of a chain of rabbinic courts that aspires to replace the civil court system.

Iraq reconciliation conference date set A much-anticipated conference aimed at stemming the cycle of sectarian violence in Iraq will take place on November 4.

Ramadan realities Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, ends next Monday at sunset with the festival of Id al-Fitr.

10/17/06

Ahmadinejad: God told me we would win Iranian president says he has been in touch with God, who reassured him Tehran victory against West is guaranteed.

EU to celebrate subdued 50th birthday party The EU has ditched plans to hold big-style celebrations for its 50th anniversary next year.

Hamas: Israel's tanks will be destroyed The military wing of Hamas announced Monday evening that it had completed its preparations towards a possible all-out conflict with Israel.

PM hopes for sympathetic ear in Russia Prime Minister Ehud Olmert traveled to Moscow Tuesday for three days of talks.

N Korea condemns 'war' threats North Korea has said that a United Nations resolution imposing new sanctions on the country following its nuclear test amounts to a declaration of war.

Bush praises US Muslims for working to defeat terrorism President George W. Bush welcomed Muslims living in the United States and from Islamic nations that are helping in the war on terror to an iftar meal.

U.S. population now 300 million and growing At 7:46 ET Tuesday morning, the United States became a nation of 300 million people.

Amateur 'video bloggers' under threat from EU broadcast rules The Government is seeking to prevent an EU directive that could extend broadcasting regulations to the internet, hitting popular video-sharing websites such as YouTube.

PA Survey Shows: Peace Still Far Off A poll carried out in the Palestinian Authority by the Al-Mustaqabal Research Institute shows that nearly 2/3 of PA Arabs object to normalized relations with Israel.

Mubarak-Assad meeting in cards Syrian President Bashar Assad and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak are set to meet in the coming days.

10/16/06

Islamic State of Iraq Has Been Proclaimed According to Islamic Web sites, the newly formed alliance Hilf Al-Mutayibeen that includes many of the fighting groups in Iraq has announced that an Islamic State has been declared in many parts of Iraq.

Moscow tells Israel it will tighten its export controls on weapons Moscow has told Israel that it intends to tighten its export controls on arms.

Israel to up its offensive in Gaza Israel warned Sunday it would step up its offensive in the Gaza Strip, which has killed at least 22 people in recent days, with the aim of stopping rocket fire and arms trafficking from Egypt.

Pyongyang and the 'p' word Now that North Korea has apparently brought its nuclear weapons program out in the open, all sorts of forbidding rhetoric and scenarios are being offered about what it might do with its nuclear weapons.

China in rural birth control bid China is to bring in new financial incentives to encourage people in rural areas to have fewer children in another bid to control its rising population.

Turks and Serbs face EU scrutiny Turkey's and Serbia's unsteady progress towards joining the EU is to come under scrutiny at meetings in Luxembourg.

Saddam verdict expected within 3 weeks A verdict against Saddam Hussein and seven co-defendants charged in connection with an anti-Shiite crackdown in the 1980s will be issued by early next month.

Descendants of King David plan Israel reunion An international foundation is seeking to gather Jewish descendants of King David, the second biblical king of Israel, for a reunion next year in Jerusalem aimed at fostering Jewish unity.

2nd warning for Muslims to leave U.S. before attack Another Pakistani journalist is reporting receiving another threat - this one from a senior Taliban leader - warning all Muslims to leave the U.S. in anticipation of a major terrorist attack before the end of Ramadan.

Minaret that can't rise above politics Plans for a 130ft tower on the holiest site of two religions will have to overcome some big problems.

10/13/06

Hundreds of Palestinians riot over Temple Mount restrictions Hundreds of Palestinians rioted outside Jerusalem on Friday morning to protest restrictions on Palestinian entry to the Temple Mount for Friday prayers during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Lebanon: We'll shoot Israeli planes Lebanon's Defense Minister Elias Murr said that four divisions of the Lebanese Army have been deployed along the Syrian-Lebanese border.

Hamas may send operatives to Iran Hamas representatives were in Teheran on Thursday discussing the possibility of training its operatives in Iran.

Ahmadinejad: Palestine is the Front Line Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared Thursday, "Palestine is the front line of the Islamic nations in their struggle against the aggressive superpowers."

Seoul, Beijing debate NK sanctions Presidents of China and South Korea met Friday to discuss possible sanctions against North Korea for its claimed nuclear test.

UN pulls staff out of Somalia The United Nations has pulled out its international staff from parts of Somalia controlled by Islamic fighters.

America's Iran-Watchers Flock to Dubai A handful of U.S. diplomats here on Iran's doorstep have quietly opened a diplomatic mission to monitor the Islamic republic and reach out to its people despite a three-decade-old freeze in formal relations.

Mishaal speaks out on Israel Hamas sees no political gain in recognising Israel and will resist doing so despite sanctions imposed on the Palestinian government.

Over 35,000 Christians have fled Iraq More than 35,000 Iraqi Christians have fled to Syria to escape the violence in their country.

UK army chief pleads for Iraq pullout The chief of Britain's army says that the presence of British troops in Iraq is exacerbating the security situation on the ground.

10/12/06

Mashaal okays state with 1967 borders Hamas politburo leader Khaled Mashaal reiterated Wednesday that his group would not recognize Israel.

US General: Strikes on Iran possible by 2007 Is it possible to halt Iran's nuclear program by military means? For years, this question has been asked by Israeli and US military officials.

Israel won't seek military solution for Iran nuclear crisis Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Thursday said Israel supports efforts in the UN Security council to impose sanctions on Iran to punish Teheran for its defiance in pursuing a nuclear program.

Germany plans to revive EU treaty German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said her government will be "very ambitious" in trying to revive the European Union constitution in 2007.

Poll: Support sinks for trading Golan The recent bellicose declarations by Syrian President Bashar Assad were heard much more loudly by the Israeli Jewish ear than his statements calling for peace.

Iraqi MPs approve federalism Iraq's parliament has approved a law that sets out the mechanics of forming federal regions.

General: Iran sending millions to Iraq's Mahdi fighters Iran has transferred millions of dollars as well as weapons and expertise to Iraq's Mahdi Army.

Jordan plans new Temple Mt. minaret Israel has not objected to Jordanian plans to construct a fifth minaret on the Temple Mount, and the Hashemite Kingdom is pressing ahead with plans to do so early next year.

Syria rejects Peres' invitation for Bashar Assad to visit Jerusalem Syria on Thursday rejected Vice Premier Shimon Peres' invitation for President Bashar Assad to visit Jerusalem.

Russia 'not neutral' in Black Sea conflict, EU says Russia's actions in the Georgia spy row have damaged its credibility as a neutral peacekeeper in the EU's Black Sea neighbourhood.

10/11/06

'Huge rise' in Iraqi death tolls An estimated 655,000 Iraqis have died since 2003 who might still be alive but for the US-led invasion, according to a survey by a US university.

N Korea: Sanctions 'an act of war' North Korea says it regards US pressure to curtail its nuclear weapons program as a declaration of war.

Al-Qaida escapee from U.S. prison urges followers in new video to go nuclear An al-Qaida member who escaped from a U.S. prison in Afghanistan urged his followers in a new video aired Tuesday to acquire nuclear technology.

Congo: 11,000 child soldiers 'missing' At least 11,000 children in Congo are still missing or in the hands of armed groups three years after the end of the country's bloody civil war.

Jews at Risk as Turkey Goes Radical Throughout the centuries, the sultans of Ottoman Turkey never issued edicts, firmans or fatwahs against the Jewish people living in their dominions.

Lebanese parliament speaker: Hizbullah to remain armed Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said in an interview published Wednesday with the British newspaper Guardian that Hizbullah will remain armed and fully operational in southern Lebanon.

Future 'radicalized' Islamists trained in U.S. prisons Many "radicalized" Islamists capable of committing terrorist attacks in the future are acquiring their jihad beliefs and training right now.

Abbas: Recognizing Israel not required Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said in an Arabic-language interview neither Hamas nor his own Fatah party is required to recognize the Jewish state.

Explosions rock Baghdad as US arms dump catches fire US soldiers battled a blaze Wednesday in an ammunition depot that caught fire overnight, causing a thunderous series of explosions that rocked Baghdad.

Jordan's King warns Palestinian statehood at risk due to feuding Jordan's King Abdullah warned feuding Palestinians on Wednesday that their hopes of statehood could be permanently wrecked within months unless they step back from the brink of civil war.

10/10/06

Synagogue Planned For Temple Mount, Hashemites to Add Minaret MK Uri Ariel (National Union) is drawing up plans to construct a synagogue on the Temple Mount, Judaism's holiest site. Jordan's King Hussein plans to build a fifth minaret on the site as well.

China's 'nightmare scenario' A North Korean nuclear test has long been a nightmare scenario for China.

S. Korea: Israel has important role As a strong regional power, Israel has a key role to play in demonstrating a firm international consensus opposing North Korea in the wake of its claimed nuclear test Monday.

Kurds accuse Saddam of slaughtering families Kurdish witnesses accused Saddam Hussein Monday of cramming their starving families into disease-ridden death camps and casting the bodies of the fallen into mass graves.

Largest Priestly Blessing Crowd Since Temple Mount Liberation A record number of Jews gathered Monday at the Western Wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City for the traditional massive Birkat Kohanim, priestly blessings.

Amid civil war fears, Fatah and Hamas stockpile arms When hundreds of Fatah gunmen paraded past his West Bank supermarket last week, Mohammed Zahi stared unbelieving at their sparkling black M16 assault rifles.

Somali Islamists declare 'jihad' on Ethiopia Somalia's powerful Islamists on Monday declared holy war against Ethiopia.

Iran warns of retaliation if sanctions imposed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has vowed to impose retaliatory sanctions on world powers if the UN Security Council carries out threats to penalize Iran over its nuclear program.

Syria: US lacks Mid-East vision Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said the United States does not have "the will or vision" to pursue peace in the Middle East.

EU 'must face TB threat' Health agencies are urging the European Union to tackle an "alarming" outbreak of drug-resistant tuberculosis among its eastern neighbours that they say poses a major threat to the continent.

10/09/06

'Israel has cause for concern over N. Korea's nuclear test' "Israel should be very concerned by North Korea's nuclear test," Uzi Eilam, former head of Israel's Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC) told The Jerusalem Post on Monday.

Olmert: Jerusalem as capital forever After meeting this past weekend with MK Avigdor Lieberman regarding the possibility of the Israel Our Home party joining the government coalition, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Sunday once again appealed to the nationalist front.

Outcry at N Korea 'nuclear test' North Korea's claim to have successfully carried out a nuclear weapon test underground has sparked international condemnation.

British Historian Claims to Have Found the Temple Treasures What happened to the 50 tons of gold, silver and sacred treasures looted from Herod's Temple following the Roman legionnaires' sack of Jerusalem on Tisha b'Av in the year 70 CE?

Sudan 'kills hundreds in Darfur' Hundreds of Sudanese have been killed in attacks in Darfur, with the apparent knowledge and support of the government.

Christianity studies introduced into Israeli schools Starting from this school year, high school students will be able to take matriculation exam in 'Christian religion.'

Japan's Abe meets China's leaders Shinzo Abe, the Japanese prime minister, has met China's president and prime minister in Beijing in an attempt to mend ties between the two Asian giants.

Abbas to present Hamas ultimatum Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas plans to present the Hamas-led Cabinet with an ultimatum in the coming days.

America ponders cutting Iraq in three An independent commission set up by Congress with the approval of President George W Bush may recommend carving up Iraq into three highly autonomous regions.

NU MK Uri Ariel visits Temple Mount National Union Faction chairman MK Uri Ariel ascended Jerusalem's Temple Mount on Monday morning.

10/06/06

'Attacks planned on Israelis, Jews' "The Foreign Ministry is aware of attempts by Muslim extremist groups to carry out attacks on Israeli representatives and Jewish communities throughout the world.

Rice meets Iraqi Kurdish leaders US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has held talks with leaders in the Kurdish area of northern Iraq.

Sukkot: Full closure on Gaza, West Bank A general closure was imposed Friday on Palestinian territories and will remain in affect until the end of Sukkot.

Diplomats Meet to Decide Action on Iran Top officials from the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China gathered in London on Friday to decide a next step in the nuclear standoff with Iran.

Hamas urges Abbas to resume talks Hamas has issued a statement calling on the Palestinian president and Fatah leader, Mahmoud Abbas, to resume power-sharing talks.

EU 'wise' group welcomes Sarkozy constitution initiative Members of a select group of EU politicians tackling the bloc's constitutional deadlock have told EUobserver they are open to changes to the EU constitution.

Sudan's Darfur threat condemned UN Security Council members have branded "offensive" a letter sent by Sudan warning African and Arab nations not to send peacekeepers to Darfur.

Mubarak: Egypt's new 'Pharaoh' and great survivor Twenty-five years after being catapulted into Egypt's top job by the assassination of his mentor Anwar Al Sadat, President Hosni Mubarak has such a tight grip on power that he is widely seen as a new Pharaoh.

'No Future for the Jews in the Diaspora' Netanyahu cited assimilation and intermarriage as the main reasons for the statement on Thursday.

Poll: Most Israelis believe in God According to the results of last week's poll by Ynet and the Smith Institute, seven out of ten Israelis believe in the existence of God.

10/05/06

Rice fails to get Israel to ease Palestinian restrictions US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice failed Thursday to secure a pledge from Israel to ease restrictions on the beleaguered Palestinian territories.

Merkel Visits Erdogan Amid Concern Turkey Is Turning From EU German Chancellor Angela Merkel embarks on her first official visit to Turkey for talks with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan today.

Nato takes over Afghan security Nato has taken charge of Afghanistan's eastern provinces, which have been under the control of US forces since the Taleban were ousted five years ago.

Hanegbi: Disengagement was a mistake Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Tzahi Hanegbi (Kadima) said in an interview with Israel Radio Thursday afternoon that the disengagement from Gaza was a mistake.

Russia turns screw on Georgians Russia has ordered a crackdown on Georgian-owned businesses and tighter visa measures as part of the nations' escalating diplomatic dispute.

Report: Oil discovered in Dead Sea area Oil has been discovered in the Dead Sea area, Dr. Eli Tenenbaum, an official from Genco, the national company responsible for drilling in the region, reported on Wednesday.

Opec 'to cut oil production' Opec is considering holding an emergency meeting to discuss the possibility of cutting output, Nigeria's oil minister has said.

Report: Turkey to deploy troops in southern Lebanon next week Turkey, the only Muslim member of NATO and a country with close ties to both Israel and Arab states, will become the first Muslim nation to deploy peacekeepers in Lebanon.

Israel Leads in Developing Alternatives to Oil Israel is taking the lead in the effort to attain energy alternatives to oil.

'Bulge' yields new planet class Astronomers have discovered a new class of planets that take less than a day to whiz round their parent stars.

10/04/06

Rice to meet Middle East leaders US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is to meet Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas as part of her Middle East tour.

Fatah member: Abbas recognition of Israel political Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' stated recognition of Israel's right to exist is part of a "political calculation" aimed at ultimately destroying the Jewish state.

Abbas: Coalition talks with Hamas have broken down Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Wednesday that talks with Hamas on forming a more moderate coalition government have broken down.

Peres: Iran also has a human bomb Vice Premier Shimon Peres said Wednesday morning during a press conference in Berlin that "Iran constitutes a danger due to two bombs, one nuclear and the other human - Ahmadinejad."

Retiring General: Disengagement Led to IDF Failure in Lebanon Speaking with Voice of Israel Radio this morning, Ron-Tal said that the army's active participation in the expulsion of the Jews of Gush Katif and northern Shomron last year harmed its readiness for the war in Lebanon.

A revolution in Jewish genealogy They are coming from all over the world to claim their royal heritage. They say they are descendants of King David. They have the oral family traditions, rabbinic texts and historical research to back up their claims. And the way Jewish genealogy is thriving, their ranks may swell in the coming years.

U.S. duo win physics Nobel for backing up Big Bang Americans John Mather and George Smoot won the 2006 Nobel prize for physics on Tuesday for work on cosmic radiation which helped pinpoint the age of the universe and supported the Big Bang theory of its birth.

Iran to activate 'nuclear tourism' After marvelling at Isfahan's magnificent architecture and admiring the ruined city of Persepolis, how about checking out a nuclear installation?

Google boss warns politicians about Internet power Imagine being able to check instantly whether or not statements made by politicians were correct. That is the sort of service Google Inc. boss Eric Schmidt believes the Internet will offer within five years..

Iraqi minister escapes deadly blasts At least 12 people have been killed in a series of bomb blasts in central Baghdad which interior ministry sources said targeted the Iraqi industry minister's convoy.

10/03/06

Rice begins ME tour; calls for end to Palestinian violence US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters, "The international community will have no option but to force sanctions on Iran if it does not suspend its uranium enrichment program."

Euro area hits six year record in economic growth Eurozone countries have recorded the highest rate of economic growth for the past six years - 3.4 percent of GDP - in the first half of 2006.

Palestinian territories on brink of chaos Palestinian territories teetered on the brink of chaos Tuesday after unprecedented internecine violence between the ruling Hamas movement and President Mahmoud Abbas' party left 10 dead.

Al-Maliki intends to end sectarian rifts Iraq's prime minister has announced a plan to end the deepening divisions between Shia and Sunni parties in his government.

Report: Hamas weighing large-scale conflict with Israel Hamas has succeeded in smuggling "hundreds of tons" of weapons from Egypt into the Gaza Strip and is preparing for the possibility of launching a large-scale conflict with Israel.

Sukkot Extravaganza in Russia - and Israel Too Over 3,000 sets of Four Species for the Sukkot holiday are being sent, gratis, to Jewish communities all over Russia.

Iran newspaper: Gaza riots Zionist criminals' plot An editorial published in Iranian newspaper Jomhury-e Eslami on Tuesday blamed Israel and the West for the internal fighting in the Palestinian Authority.

Peace Now Report Shows Progress in Yesha, Despite All Tenders for nearly 1,000 housing units in Judea and Samaria have been announced so far this year.

Profile: Ban Ki-moon The case for South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon to become the next UN Secretary General is founded, his supporters say.

EU heading for single UN seat, UN official says The UN's deputy secretary general believes the European Commission will in future represent the EU in the United Nations as the voice of the European bloc worldwide.

10/02/06

Analysis: Iran overshadows Rice's Mideast 'peace visit' US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice left on a Middle East tour Sunday with the looming nuclear crisis with Iran likely to overshadow timid efforts to rekindle the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Hamas closes government offices The Palestinian government says work will cease in all government offices a day after its headquarters in Ramallah were stormed by protesters.

Lebanon army deploys on border as Israel leaves Lebanon deployed its army on its southern border with Israel for the first time in almost 40 years Monday.

Al-Qaeda HQ 'based in Pakistan' A letter found when al-Qaeda's chief in Iraq was killed said the group's leadership was based in Waziristan, Pakistan.

EU chief calls for Darfur solution The head of the European Commission urged Sudan's president on Sunday to help the African Union keep peace in the troubled Darfur region.

Arms traders 'dodging embargoes' The lack of a legal framework governing the arms trade is allowing weapons to reach states under embargo like Sudan and Uganda.

Russian oil grab 'puts western supplies at risk' A former government adviser has warned it is "only a matter of time" before BP or Shell faces a bid from a Russian state-owned group such as Gazprom which could threaten western oil supplies.

Rice: No sign of Iran halt to enrichment U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she has seen nothing to indicate that Iran is prepared to suspend uranium enrichment.

Iraq Lawmakers Renew State of Emergency Parliament extended Iraq's state of emergency Monday as gunmen snatched 14 employees from shops in downtown Baghdad in the second mass kidnapping in as many days.

Iraq's al-Qaeda leader in video Iraq's national security adviser has said that security forces were closing in on Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq.