11/30/06

Bush vows to 'complete Iraq job' US President George W Bush has pledged to keep American troops in Iraq until "the job is complete".

Lebanon opposition plans protest Hezbollah-led opposition groups have called for mass protests to begin on Friday in central Beirut with the aim of bringing down the current government.

Rice has peace talks in West Bank US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is trying to build on recent Middle East peace overtures by holding talks with Palestinian and Israeli leaders.

Ethiopia authorises military action Ethiopia's parliament has authorized military action in the event of an attack on the country by Somalia's Union of Islamic Courts.

Source: Iraq panel to advise gradual U.S. pullback Following an intense assessment of U.S. policies in the war in Iraq, the Iraq Study Group will recommend that a "gradual but meaningful" reduction of U.S. troops begin "relatively early in the New Year."

Abbas: Talks on unity gov't at dead end Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday that the efforts to establish a unity government in the Palestinian Authority have reached a deadlock.

Pope: 'Scandal' of Christian rifts Pope Benedict XVI called divisions among Christians a "scandal to the world" and recalled the faith's deep roots in Europe in a joint ceremony Thursday.

Dozens of children in mass graves, Saddam trial told Iraqi troops shot kneeling mothers and young children in the head and dumped them into mass graves by the score, a forensic expert told ousted dictator Saddam Hussein's genocide trial Thursday.

Spy death: Radiation at 12 sites; jets probed Traces of radiation have been found at a dozen sites in Britain and five jets were being investigated for possible contamination as authorities widened their investigation into the poisoning of a former Russian spy.

'Hundreds killed' in Sudan battle At least 300 people were killed in clashes between Sudan's army and former rebels in the south earlier this week, aid workers say.

11/29/06

Bush Meets Iraqi Leader in Jordan Today President Bush, under pressure to find a new blueprint for Iraq, meets Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki Wednesday in a high-stakes summit.

Jordan urges Iraq to seek unity King Abdullah of Jordan has urged Iraqi religious and political leaders not to allow their country to disintegrate.

Israel, Arabs upbeat about ME peace after EU meeting Israeli, Arab and European Union foreign ministers were unanimously upbeat about Middle East peace prospects.

Rice to tell Abbas: Don't miss opportunity, impose order American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice plans to tell Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas at their meeting Thursday that he must increase his efforts to impose order in the Palestinian Authority.

NATO signals Afghan reinforcements NATO leaders meeting in the Latvian capital of Riga have agreed to "step up" operations in Afghanistan with a lifting of rules of engagement meaning more troops on the ground.

Turkey: Pope supports EU membership Turkey's prime minister said Tuesday that Pope Benedict XVI told him he wanted Turkey to join the European Union.

Commentary: Russia - A gangster state? Whatever the truth behind the bizarre murder by radiation poisoning of former Russian intelligence colonel, Alexander Litvinenko, he has managed in death to tarnish the image of his country and its leaders.

Iran to host Holocaust conference Iran, which disputes that Jews were slaughtered by the Nazis, is to hold a conference next month to allow historians to clarify "hidden angles" of the Holocaust.

Study Finds that a Single Impact Killed the Dinosaurs The dinosaurs, along with the majority of all other animal species on Earth, went extinct approximately 65 million years ago.

US military trains 'air force' of bomb-sniffing bees US military defense scientists have found a way to train the common honey bee to smell explosives used in bombs.

11/28/06

Abdullah says no to Palestinian refugees King Abdullah of Jordan said on Tuesday that he would not allow a massive influx of Palestinian refugees into his country as part of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.

Pope begins landmark Turkey visit Pope Benedict XVI has arrived in Turkey on his first trip to a mainly Muslim country since acceding to the papacy.

NATO eyes Afghan handover in 2008 NATO's military operation in Afghanistan will succeed, the alliance's chief said Tuesday.

Iran: US exit key to Iraq peace US troops must leave Iraq if security is to be restored, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said during talks with the Iraqi president.

Civil War in Iraq Near, Annan Says The Iraq Study Group began two days of intensive behind-closed-doors deliberations yesterday as the White House conceded that Iraq has moved into a dangerous new phase of warfare.

Ethiopian 'clash' with Islamists Ethiopian forces have exchanged fire with Islamists in a strategic town north of the capital, officials of the powerful Islamic movement have alleged.

AIDS to Be 3rd Leading Cause of Death Within the next 25 years, AIDS is set to join heart disease and stroke as the top three causes of death worldwide, according to a study published online Monday.

India carries out anti-missile test India on Monday carried out its first successful test interception of a ballistic missile, using a second missile to destroy the incoming rocket, the Defense Ministry said.

Olmert's Speech Angers Many, Even in Kadima The NFC Hebrew website reports on two Kadima Knesset Members who have scathing criticism for their party leader and Prime Minister.

Report: Hizbullah training Shiite militia in Iraq Senior US intelligence official tells New York Times Shiite organization has been training Shiite Mahdi Army in Iraq.

11/27/06

Olmert: Palestinians must give up the right of refugee return Prime Minister Ehud Olmert laid out a far-reaching vision of peace on Thursday, reaffirming that Israel would be willing to withdraw from a great deal of territory in return for a true peace.

Panel to Weigh Overture by U.S. to Iran and Syria A draft report on strategies for Iraq, urges an aggressive regional diplomatic initiative that includes direct talks with Iran and Syria.

Iraq president to fly to Iran Iraqi President Jalal Talabani was due to fly to Tehran to meet his Iranian counterpart on Monday.

Leftist Chavez ally winning Ecuador presidential race Leftist Rafael Correa, whose friendship with Venezuela's anti-US leader and calls to limit foreign debt payments have caused concern in Washington.

Pope death threats put Turkey on high alert An army of snipers, riot police, secret agents and bomb disposal experts has been mobilized for the Pope's four-day visit to Turkey.

Jordan: 3 civil wars in Mideast possible Jordan's King Abdullah said Sunday the problems in the Middle East go beyond the war in Iraq.

Cyprus row halts EU-Turkey talks Talks between the EU and Turkey over Cyprus have broken down without agreement, Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja has said.

Syria may help calm Iraq, for a price As the US debates whether to reach out to Syria for help in calming Iraq, some close to the Syrian regime said Sunday the country would be willing to help, but only if it got something valuable in return.

Turkish police on high alert ahead of pope's visit Turkish security forces will be on high alert Tuesday for the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI, his first visit to a Muslim country since becoming leader of the Catholic Church last year.

Haniyeh to visit Egypt, Iran, Syria as part of first foreign trip as PM Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas is to head out on his first tour of Arab countries, including Syria and Iran.

11/24/06

Source: Russia has begun air defense missile system deliveries to Iran Russia has begun delivery of Tor-M1 air defense missile systems to Iran.

Thousands attend Beirut funeral The funeral of murdered anti-Syrian politician Pierre Gemayel has taken place in Lebanon, with tens of thousands of people paying tribute.

Israel: No end to Gaza offensive until Palestinians halt rocket fire Israel wants Palestinian militants to stop firing rockets on the Negev before it ends its operations in the Gaza Strip.

Baghdad toll exceeds 200 The death toll from a series of bombs in Sadr City, a poor Shia area of Baghdad, has reached 202.

Helsinki summit sees EU and Russia drifting apart EU leaders will on Friday (24 November) limp to Finland for a meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin without a mandate to start talks on a new EU-Russia treaty.

Electronic jihad's cyber soldiers They neither carry weapons nor lay ambushes for soldiers in Iraq or in Afghanistan. But thousands of radical Islamists are waging a different kind of war.

Giant Mexican telescope launched Mexican President Vicente Fox has inaugurated a giant telescope that could help scientists uncover clues about the origins of the Universe.

China, Pakistan sign trade pact during Hu visit Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Pakistan counterpart Pervez Musharraf oversaw the signing of a landmark free trade deal.

Benedict in the lion's den The Pope could be forgiven for feeling nervous when he visits Turkey next week for his first sojourn in a predominantly Muslim country.

Grandmother blows herself up in Gaza A grandmother became the oldest Palestinian suicide bomber yesterday when she blew herself up in Gaza and slightly wounded two Israeli soldiers.

11/23/06

France okays firing at IAF over Lebanon French soldiers in Lebanon who feel threatened by aggressive Israeli overflights are permitted to shoot at IAF fighter jets.

China and Pakistan in trade deal Chinese President Hu Jintao has signed a free trade deal with his Pakistani counterpart, Gen Pervez Musharraf.

Funeral for Lebanese minister turns into anti-Syria rally Hundreds of thousands packed Martyrs Square in Beirut on Thursday to honor slain Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel.

Ethiopia 'ready for Islamist war' Ethiopia has made preparations for a conflict with the Islamists who control much of southern Somalia.

Analysis: Assad's sleight of hand The assassination of Lebanese Christian minister Pierre Gemayel on Tuesday was intended to remind the anti-Syrian forces in Beirut that President Bashar Assad has not forgiven them.

Gunmen raid Iraq health ministry Gunmen have attacked the health ministry in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, sparking heavy gun battles with guards.

British MP warns Europe of 'new anti-Semitism' A "witches brew" of Islamic fundamentalists, left-wing intellectuals and neo-Nazis is causing a new resurgence of anti-Semitism to spread across Western Europe and must be tackled.

EU expansion 'boosts UK economy' European expansion has boosted the UK economy and put it in a strong position to cope with growing globalization.

Egeland: 'Meltdown' in Darfur Citing a "dramatic deterioration" of the situation in Darfur, the top U.N. humanitarian official said a crisis is approaching for the region in Sudan that could cost millions of lives.

Knesset panel calls to create Arabic language academy Eleven MKs from across the political spectrum - Jews and Arabs alike - voiced support for the establishment of an Arabic language academy.

11/22/06

Hamas: Jews must evacuate Only way to stop bombardments of Sderot by rocket attacks is to evacuate entire town, group official says.

Israeli troops advance into Gaza towns Israeli ground troops, tanks and armored vehicles advanced on two northern Gaza towns Wednesday in pursuit of Palestinian rocket squads.

Crowds mourn Lebanon politician Large crowds have greeted the coffin of assassinated Lebanese Maronite Christian politician Pierre Gemayel after its arrival in his home village.

Iran denied aid to build reactor Thirty-five nations agreed Wednesday to deny Iran's request for technical help in building a plutonium-producing reactor.

Muslim birthrate worries Russia Low domestic birthrates and rising immigration from the former Soviet republics are producing explosive growth in Russia's Muslim community.

Iraqi death toll hits record high The Iraqi death toll hit a record high in October, with more than 3,700 people losing their lives in the ongoing violence, according to a UN report.

Syria dismisses accusations Syria has denied accusations that it was behind the assassination of Pierre Gemayel, the Lebanese industry minister.

Bush to visit Jordan, meet Iraqi PM US President to fly to Jordan to attend forum of modern Arab nations, to meet with Iraq's al-Maliki to discuss security situation in Iraq.

West Bank leader hits report on land ownership A West Bank settler leader denounced an Israeli settlement watchdog group that said yesterday that government maps indicate 40 percent of land incorporated into West Bank settlements is owned by Palestinians.

Poll: Netanyahu leads, Gaydamak worth 13 Knesset seats Survey conducted by Dahaf Institute for Yedioth Ahronoth reveals if elections were held today Likud would get 20 Knesset seats, Kadima and Labor would each drop to 15 seats.

11/21/2006

Lebanese Christian leader killed Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, a Maronite Christian leader, has been killed in the capital, Beirut.

Scores of bodies found in Iraq Iraq's defence minister has declared that the country is in a "state of war."

Iraq and Syria restore relations Syria and Iraq are to restore diplomatic relations, after a break of more than 20 years.

Boost global role and forget constitution, Soros urges EU US billionaire financier and liberal political activist George Soros has said the EU should "shelve" its planned constitution.

China and India ink prosperity deal The leaders of China and India have signed a 10-point socio-economic development plan.

Ethiopians celebrate under shadow of discrimination Tens of thousands of Ethiopian Jews arrived in Jerusalem on Monday to celebrate the Sigd holiday.

Peace Now report targets settlements Forty percent of all West Bank settlements were built on private Palestinian land and are therefore illegal, a settlement watchdog group said Tuesday.

United States 'trapped' in Iraq: Annan US forces are trapped in Iraq, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has said.

U.N. Says 39.5 Million People Have HIV The global HIV epidemic is growing, leaving an estimated 39.5 million people worldwide infected with the deadly virus, the United Nations said.

Poll: 93% of Israelis worry about terror Ninety-three percent of Israelis see terrorism as a major problem.

11/20/06

Ahmadinejad: 'Zionist regime is weak' Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Israel would not attack the Islamic Republic as "its regime is weak and it has many problems."

Stay in Iraq, says Pentagon panel A US military review of strategy in Iraq is likely to back a limited troop increase focused on training.

Kissinger: Iraq Military Win Impossible Military victory is no longer possible in Iraq, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said in a television interview broadcast Sunday.

Report: Israeli spies active in Iran Iran has developed and tested a trigger device for a nuclear bomb, Israeli agents stationed there have told the White House.

Syria on the Move in Lebanon and Iraq Syrian-backed Hizbullah may be poised to stage a revolution in Lebanon.

Chinese leader begins India visit China's president, Hu Jintao, has arrived in India for the first visit by a Chinese head of state in 10 years.

PM Blair warns of long fight against Taliban Tony Blair today described the battle against the Taliban in Afghanistan as a "generation-long struggle".

Italian Premier Prodi heads to Eygpt, Italy joins push for peace Italian Premier Romano Prodi is heading to Cairo today for talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarark.

EU raises the pressure on Turkey The Finnish EU presidency has raised the political stakes in the faltering EU-Turkey talks.

Poll: Tradition holding Jews together A survey by Market Watch carried out among a representative sample of the Israeli public shows that two thirds of the public believe that there exists a common denominator between Jews in the Diaspora and Jews in Israel.

11/17/06

Palestinian negotiator: Hamas-led gov't will resign The Hamas-controlled Palestinian government will resign within two or three days to make way for a new unity government.

Tens of Thousands Ascend to Hevron to Relive Biblical History Tens of Thousands of Jews will ascend to Hevron for the annual reading of Chayei Sarah.

Israel dismisses Spanish peace plan Israel dismissed reports Thursday that Spain, France and Italy are preparing a new Middle East peace initiative.

China's Hu set to offer Pakistan nuclear plants Chinese President Hu Jintao is poised to unveil an ambitious expansion of nuclear power cooperation with Pakistan when he visits next week.

Lebanese confirm arms flow to Hizbullah Lebanese civilians close to the border with Syria told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday that weapons for Hizbullah were being brought in by the truckload at night.

Oil Sinks $2.50 for Lowest Level in Year The price of oil sank by more than $2 a barrel Thursday, settling at its lowest level in a year as traders focused on the bearish aspects of conflicting market trends.

Wanted: man to land on killer asteroid and gently nudge it from path to Earth It is the stuff of nightmares and, until now, Hollywood thrillers. A huge asteroid is on a catastrophic collision course with Earth and mankind is poised to go the way of the dinosaurs.

Rice: U.S. Concerned About Rising China The United States has some concerns about a rising China, including a military expansion that may be excessive.

Sudan accepts UN 'help' in Darfur Sudan's president has said he welcomes the United Nations' support for the African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur.

Bush draws Vietnam lesson for Iraq: don't quit US President George W. Bush, making his first visit to Vietnam, said that one lesson of the bloody US military defeat here a generation ago was that the United States must be patient in Iraq.

11/16/06

Spain, France and Italy promote new peace initiative Spain will sponsor a new Middle East peace initiative along with France and Italy.

'Nuclear programme in its final stages' Iran's president said on Thursday his country was about to take the "final step" in its nuclear program.

Iraq government in crisis after employees tortured Many of the hostages seized in a daylight raid on a government building in Baghdad were tortured and some killed.

EU Parliament: Send international force to Gaza The European Parliament on Thursday expressed overwhelming support for sending international peacekeepers to Gaza.

Ex-Intelligence Chief Sees No Political Solution in Gaza In his first interview since retiring as Head of IDF Intelligence, Gen. Ze'evi says stability is not foreseen in the PA.

Megapastor Rick Warren blasts Iraq war, praises Syria California mega-church pastor Rick Warren, author of the best-selling "Purpose-Driven Life," reportedly told a Syrian-controlled news agency the U.S. should have been holding dialogues with Damascus.

Ayalon: We'll build Bush institute in Israel In an unusual display of appreciation, US President George W. Bush invited outgoing Israeli Ambassador to the United States Daniel Ayalon to privately bid farewell at the Oval Office on Wednesday.

Al-Jazeera English hits airwaves Doha, Qatar newsroom of al-Jazeera International The Arabic television news channel al-Jazeera has launched its new English-language station.

Palestinian FM: Iran donated $120M to Hamas-led government Iran has donated $120 million to the Palestinian Hamas-led government and has said it is ready to give more.

Annan presents Darfur force plan UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has opened a conference on the crisis in Sudan's Darfur region with a new plan for the peacekeeping force there.

11/15/06

Iranian paper: Great war to wipe out Israel coming Iranian newspapers Kehyan and and Resalat have urged Muslims around the world to prepare for a 'great war' to destroy the State of Israel.

Gaza rocket kills woman, Israel vows to retaliate Iran's An Israeli woman was killed by Palestinian rocket fire from Gaza Wednesday.

Bush Visits Putin on Way to Asia President Bush tended to the sometimes frosty Washington-Moscow relationship Wednesday by paying a quick call on President Vladimir Putin.

Mubarak meets Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, and Hosni Mubarak, his Egyptian counterpart, have discussed the proposed new Palestinian government and possible peace talks with Israel.

Lebanese cleric: Nasrallah eyeing presidency Mount Lebanon Mufti Sheikh Dr. Muhammad Ali al-Jozo is concerned over the recent political developments in his country.

Blair: ME strategy starts with Israel The war on "global terrorism" will be won by the West only when there is peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Rice snub for Iran and Syria Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, has said she opposes the idea of including Iran and Syria in talks to curb the violence in Iraq.

India and Pakistan agree on security, not Kashmir India and Pakistan agreed today to set up a three-member panel to share intelligence to help combat terrorism.

Report: 700 Somalis aided Hizbullah A recent UN report revealed that over 700 Somali combatants aided Hizbullah during the recent war in Lebanon.

More Calls to Conquer Large Parts of Gaza Ex-Gaza Division Commander: short-term offensives against Gazan terrorists are ineffective.

11/14/06

Diskin: Gov't must prepare for large-scale Gaza operation Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) chief Yuval Diskin told the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Tuesday that Israel's government must prepare for a large-scale military operation in the Gaza Strip.

Iraq neighbours told to mend ways Iran's The US and UK governments have indicated there will be no softening of their stances on Iran and Syria despite calls for their help to stabilise Iraq.

Ahmadinejad says celebrations near Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday said Iran would soon celebrate the completion of its controversial nuclear fuel program.

Hamas: No recognition of Israel A future Palestinian national unity government will not agree to demands that it recognise Israel.

Jumblatt: Democrat win paves way for Mideast chaos The Democrat's midterm election victories last week and the subsequent resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld sent a message of American weakness to Syria that will likely result in "instability and chaos" in Lebanon.

Gunmen seize 100 at Iraq ministry Gunmen in military-style uniforms have kidnapped more than 100 men from a research institute belonging to Iraq's higher education ministry.

Netanyahu: It's 1938 and Iran is Germany; Ahmadinejad is preparing another Holocaust Drawing a direct analogy between Iran and Nazi Germany, Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu asserted Monday that the Iranian nuclear program posed a threat not only to Israel, but to the entire western world.

S. Africa Parliament OKs Gay Marriages The South African parliament on Tuesday approved new legislation recognizing gay marriages.

Bush to Olmert: No international peace convention The Olmert-Bush summit which took place in the White House Monday failed to provide any real news.

EU downbeat on chances to salvage Turkey talks EU foreign ministers have given a downbeat assessment on the chances of keeping Turkey's accession talks on track.

11/13/06

Olmert flies to Washington for talks Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, is holding talks in Washington that are expected to focus on Iran's nuclear program and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Bush, Panel to Meet on Course of Iraq War Iran's Bearing down on a plan for peace, the bipartisan panel studying the war in Iraq faces rising expectations.

'Israel must prepare for full-scale war' Israel has to prepare for a full-scale war, in which Syria will be an important player.

Intelligence: Nasrallah stronger than before war Exactly four months have passed since the war broke out in Lebanon and estimates show that Hizbullah is stronger than before the confrontation with Israel.

Saudi Arabia: Iraq major terror base Saudi Arabia's interior minister on Sunday called Iraq a major base for terrorism.

Israel warned off nuclear 'folly' Iran's foreign ministry spokesman has warned Tehran will not hesitate to retaliate with a crushing blow if Israel attacks its nuclear sites.

Abu Mazen Promises to Adhere to "Arafat's Path" Mahmoud Abbas declared: "The Palestinian leadership won't stray from Arafat's path."

Awaiting the Iranian messiah He challenges the largest superpower on earth, threatens a regional superpower with annihilation, and mocks international efforts to keep tabs on his nuclear program.

Exclusive: 'No future for US Jewry' Jews have no future in America and should all move to Israel.

Call to bridge West-Muslim divide A cross-cultural group of 20 prominent world figures has called for urgent efforts to heal the growing divide between Muslim and Western societies.

11/10/06

Sneh to 'Post': 'IDF must stop Iran' Sanctions against Iran are unlikely to work, so Israel must be prepared to thwart Teheran's drive for a nuclear capability "at all costs."

Iraqi official: War dead 100,000 Iraq's health minister says between 100,000 and 150,000 civilians have been killed in the war.

Mubarak warns against Saddam's execution Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president, has become the first Arab leader to warn against carrying out the execution of Saddam Hussein.

Haniyeh considers resigning in exchange for Western aid Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said Friday he would step down from his post if the move would persuade the West to lift debilitating economic sanctions.

Earthquake dry-run for Istanbul's 'Big One' The Istanbul authorities pulled out all the stops for three days this week to see how ready they really are for "The Big One".

Huge 'hurricane' rages on Saturn A hurricane-like storm, two-thirds the diameter of Earth, is raging at Saturn's south pole.

'I'd send gays to Sodom and Gomorrah' "If it was up to me, I would send the gay community, who insisted on celegbrating in Jerusalem, to Sodom and Gomorrah."

'Aliens could attack at any time' warns former MoD chief UFO sightings and alien visitors tend to be solely the reserve of sci-fi movies.

Analysis: Saudi analysts suggest Bin Laden is dead Has the rumor of Osama Bin Laden's death been greatly exaggerated, or is there more to it than initially thought?

More Britons are turning to terror, says MI5 director Hundreds of young British Muslims are being radicalised, groomed and set on a path to mass murder.

11/09/06

World both gloats, fears Bush humiliation It seems as though everywhere around the world politicians, commentators and regular people are celebrating the political blow dealt to President George W. Bush in the midterm elections.

Palestinians vow revenge at Gaza funeral for 18 Tens of thousands of grieving Gazans, weeping in anguish and screaming for revenge, crammed into a cemetery on Thursday to bury 18 civilians killed by an errant Israeli artillery.

Abbas talks to Mashaal, in sign of progress for unity gov't Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas' exiled leader, Khaled Mashaal, spoke to each other for the first time in months on Thursday.

Nation on highest alert with 80 attack warnings Israel police will be on highest alert Thursday around the country following the fatal shelling attack on Beit Hanoun which killed 18 Palestinians.

Gay Parade Canceled, Stadium Rally to be Held Instead In light of dozens of terrorist warnings and hundreds of thousands of expected protestors, the homosexual parade scheduled for Friday has been replaced by a rally.

British Leader: Iraq at Critical Point Iraq is at a critical point and faces a real risk of violence escalating further.

Russia, China Plan Joint Space Projects Russia plans to cooperate with China in robotic missions to the moon and Mars and other space projects.

Brussels to take more self-protecting approach to enlargement Drawing on tough lessons from past enlargements, the EU will from now on take an extra cautious approach to future expansion of the bloc with its own welfare becoming a major factor.

German Study Reveals Increasing Anti-Semitism A new study conducted by professors at Leipzig University shows that anti-Semitism is once again rearing its head in a population that still yearns to be a world power run by a dictatorship.

Sanhedrin' to police: Protecting gay march sinful A panel of rabbis made a halachic ruling Wednesday demanding police refuse orders to protect the gay pride parade slated to take place in Jerusalem Friday.

11/08/06

Hamas: Israel must be wiped out Palestinian Government Spokesman Dr. Ghazi Hamad said that Israel must be wiped off the face of the earth.

Democrats seize control of House Democrats have won control of the US House of Representatives in mid-term polls for the first time in 12 years.

Envoy Reassures Iraqis of U.S. Resolve The United States ambassador sought to reassure Iraqis on Wednesday that American policy in Iraq would not dramatically change.

Saddam 'executed by end of year' Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has told the BBC he expects Saddam Hussein to be executed by the end of 2006.

China, Egypt reach nuclear energy agreement China and Egypt agreed to co-operate on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Photo Feature: Elon Moreh, Living in Abraham's Footsteps Despite the destruction of four Jewish towns in northern Samaria during last year's Disengagement Plan, Jewish life in Samaria continues to flourish.

EU report contains stinging criticism of Turkey Freedom of speech in Turkey is not guaranteed, the military still plays a "significant" political role and non-Muslim religious communities face discrimination.

IDF: No Certainty that IDF Shell Caused Gaza Explosion Preliminary IDF investigation of the Gaza explosion shows that 10 of the 12 fired shells hit their targets.

Beheaded girls were Ramadan 'trophies' Three Christian high school girls were beheaded as a Ramadan "trophy" by Indonesian militants who conceived the idea after a visit to Philippines jihadists.

A national institution Do Paris, London or Washington need special schools dedicated to their study in order to strengthen understanding of their historic role as capitals?

11/07/06

US vote may alter stance on Mideast US voters go to the polls Tuesday in an election that may shift the congressional balance of power and change the government's policies in the Middle East.

Saddam Back in Court for Genocide Trial A subdued Saddam Hussein returned to court Tuesday for his genocide trial.

Gay Pride Parade time and route final The upcoming Gay Pride Parade will take place on Friday in Jerusalem as scheduled.

Rice: Better to have Hamas in power than in streets An elected Hamas government in the Palestinian territories may be preferable to the group operating outside the power structure and carrying out terrorist actions.

The Region: Meet 'national Islamism' In July 2006, Muhammad Abd al-Sattar, a deputy minister in Syria's government, made a very strange statement on that country's state-controlled television.

Gov't expected to okay Peres plan for Eilat-Dead Sea Canal Vice Premier Shimon Peres will in two weeks present his proposals to the cabinet for the "Peace Valley" program for development of the border region between Israel, Jordan, and Palestinian Authority controlled areas.

'Israel should learn from Kosovo' Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman found common ground with another country caught in a territorial dispute.

'War within 10 months' Syria and Hezbollah are likely to start a war with the Jewish state within 10 months.

NATO chief tells EU not to 'replicate' army tasks The EU should not "replicate" NATO's military tasks and do more instead to help the alliance with civilian work like policing in Afghanistan.

Plan to create human-cow embryos UK scientists have applied for permission to create embryos by fusing human DNA with cow eggs.

11/06/06

Curfew eased after Saddam verdict Iraqi authorities have begun to lift a round-the-clock curfew in Baghdad, a day after Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death for crimes against humanity.

Report: Hamas, Fatah OK unity gov't London-based Arab newspaper Al-Hayat reported on Monday that a resolution of both the economic crisis in the Palestinian territories and the issue of kidnapped IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit was a prerequisite for a Palestinian unity government.

Merkel warns Turkey on 'very, very serious situation' German chancellor Angela Merkel has issued a stark warning to Turkey saying there will be no "business as usual" in Ankara's EU membership talks if it continues to be defiant on the Cyprus issue.

Syria hints at armed struggle for Golan Syria could resort to armed resistance if peace negotiations fail to make Israel give back the Golan Heights.

Summit shows China's Africa clout China's Africa summit has ended in Beijing, with the Chinese government pledging to double both aid and trade with African nations.

The struggle for Lebanon Lebanon's deeply fragmented political scene is trapped in a deepening crisis amid power plays by major regional actors and a significant rise in inter-communal tensions.

Israeli Sheikh: Temple Mount is Entirely Islamic Responding to a plan to build a synagogue on Judaism's most sacred site, Sheikh Raad Salah warns that the entire complex is Moslem.

Iran commander: Troops trained for suicide missions Iran is ready to share its missile systems with friends and neighbors, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards said.

Photo Essay: A Visit to the Matriarch Rachel's Fortified Tomb Every year on the anniversary of her untimely death, tens of thousands of Jews make the pilgrimage to the Biblical matriarch Rachel�s tomb on the outskirts of Bethlehem.

Haggard confesses to 'lifelong' sexual problem Less than 24 hours after being fired from the mega-church he founded, evangelical Pastor Ted Haggard confessed to a "lifelong" sexual problem.

11/02/06

Egypt and Russia strengthen ties Russia is expected to offer assistance for Egypt's proposed nuclear programme as the two countries' presidents affirm their warm relations in Moscow.

Iran fires missiles in gulf war games Iran has started military exercises in the Arabian gulf just days after six other nations, including the United States, held a series of exercises in the same area.

Iran gives Holocaust cartoon prize Ignoring widespread condemnation, Iran awarded the top prize in a Holocaust cartoon contest to a Moroccan artist for his depiction of Israel's security wall with a picture of the Auschwitz concentration camp on it.

Talabani: US must stay for three years US troops should stay for up to three more years in Iraq to allow local authorities to build up their own security forces, the Iraqi president says.

Eye of the Storm: The 'Iranization' of Syria While there is much talk of continued Syrian machinations in Lebanon, little attention is paid to an Iranian plan to remodel Syria into a Khomeinist state.

Web reaches new milestone: 100 million sites Are your Web surfing fingers getting tired? There may be a reason. Netcraft, an Internet monitoring company that has tracked Web growth since 1995, says a mammoth milestone was reached during the month of October.

Khatami labels US policy 'a joke' The former president of Iran, Mohammad Khatami, has branded US attempts to impose Western-style democracy in the Middle East as "a great joke".

Hundreds to Commemorate "Genesis and Land of Israel" Weekends The Land of Israel and the Book of Genesis - read aloud on autumn weekends in synagogues around the world - are deeply intertwined, and special Sabbaths mark the connection.

Web inventor fears for the future The British developer of the world wide web says he is worried about the way it could be used to spread misinformation and "undemocratic forces".

Syria denies it is trying to oust Lebanese gov't Syria denied on Thursday accusations by the White House that it was seeking to topple Lebanon's Western-backed government.

11/01/06

Israel may rethink truce commitment Israel warned on Tuesday that it might rethink its adherence to the cease-fire resolution that ended Lebanon war this summer.

Iraq a 'lost battle,' Saudi study says The US war in Iraq is a "lost battle" and the violence-ravaged nation's "dire" plight seems certain to see it shatter along ethnic lines, an advisor to the Saudi government is warning.

Iran set for large-scale naval exercise Iran unexpectedly announced Wednesday that it would be holding military maneuvers in the Gulf this week.

Egypt poll: Israel, Denmark, US - enemies It's been 27 years since the Camp David accords were signed, but the vast majority of Egyptians still see Israel as an enemy state.

Russia defends missile sale to Iran The Russian defense minister on Wednesday defended Moscow's deal to supply air defense missiles to Iran.

Minister Edery: Reconsider pride parade Minister for Jerusalem affairs suggests moving parade location.

Archaeologist: Islamic head scarves linked to sex rites A 92-year-old retired archaeologist will stand trial in Turkey for claiming that Islamic-style head scarves date back more than 5,000 years.

Merkel says Germany 'will not solve' EU constitution limbo German chancellor Angela Merkel has said that her country's EU presidency in the first half of next year will "not solve the problem" of the shelved EU constitution.

Abbas: Israel must stop Gaza 'massacre' The Palestinian government called a special meeting Wednesday to discuss IDF operations taking place in Beit Hanoun.

Palestinian emigration on the rise Palestinians are leaving the territories due to the harsh security and economic situation there.