01/31/07

* Russia: Lift Hamas gov't blockade Four days before the Quartet is scheduled to meet in Washington and discuss ways to "reenergize" the road map, a top Russian diplomat called on Tuesday for the lifting the international blockade of the Hamas-led Palestinian government.

* Militias on rise in Iraq The messianic Soldiers of Heaven militia that fought US and Iraqi troops in one of the fiercest battles of the war Sunday is among the more than two dozen extremist militias operating across Iraq.

* Lieberman pushes Israel to join EU While the Israeli has not formally asked for membership in the 27 member body of European states and the EU does not view it as a possibility at this time, Lieberman has still put it high on his agenda for security.

* Arrests over 'terror kidnap plot' Eight people have been arrested under the Terrorism Act in Birmingham in connection with an alleged plot to kidnap a member of the armed forces.

* UK baroness: Islamic extremism greatest threat to West Islamic extremism poses the greatest threat to the Western World, and endangers the very essence of democracy.

* Attack on Iran by end of Bush's term? The British Times reported on Wednesday that Europe was concerned over the aggressive military stance recently voiced by Washington against Tehran.

* Africa: Oil, Global Influence Driving Hu Jintao's Trip China's energy-hungry economy and global influence are driving President Hu Jintao's 12-day tour of Africa which kicks off this week.

* Egypt urges PA to form one army Egypt is trying to persuade the Palestinians to establish an army that would comprise members of all Palestinian factions.

* Ray guns and plastic ice: Pentagon looks to sci-fi weaponry Fleeing Iraqi insurgents downed by artificial ice sprayed on the road; an angry mob in Afghanistan dispersed by non-lethal ray gun blasts. This is the future of US weaponry.

* AIDS rising among S.Africa's rich, best-educated South Africa's AIDS epidemic, often regarded by health workers as a disease of the poor, is in fact spreading quickly among the country's richest and best educated people.

01/30/07

* Nasrallah vows Lebanon will be cemetery of invaders Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah vowed at a massive Shiite rally Tuesday to defeat what he said were US-Israeli plots to provoke civil war in Lebanon.

* Tense calm in Gaza following truce A cease-fire started taking hold in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday.

* Chad says world has "head in sand" on Darfur Chad President Idriss Deby accused Sudan on Tuesday of waging a genocidal "racial war" in Darfur.

* 40% of young UK Muslims want Shari'a Young British Muslims are more likely than their elders to support Shari'a law and admire al-Qaida.

* Bernard Lewis: Iran in apocalyptic mood Outdated Cold war concepts, such as mutually assured destruction (M.A.D) are irrelevant when it comes to Iran.

* Fear of US damaging EU-NATO relations, NATO chief says NATO and the EU are far from capable of tackling a world crisis jointly as their relationship is still "problematic".

* Hu embarks on African tour The Chinese president has set off for a tour of eight African nations.

* 'Hobbit' human 'is a new species' The tiny skeletal remains of human "Hobbits" found on an Indonesian island belong to a completely new branch of our family tree, a study has found.

* France and NATO welcome Ahtisaari plan for Kosovo future France and NATO have explicitly welcomed UN diplomat Martti Ahtisaari's roadmap for the future of Kosovo.

* Dubai in overdrive to build world's largest airport Dubai already has the fastest growing airport in the Middle East, handling over 28 million passengers in 2006.

01/29/07

* Muslims 'about to take over Europe' Islam could soon be the dominant force in a Europe which, in the name of political correctness, has abdicated the battle for cultural and religious control.

* Darfur dominating Africa summit UN chief Ban Ki-moon has called for the urgent deployment of a joint force to halt violence in Sudan's Darfur region.

* PA: Iran, Syria promoting civil war Palestinian Authority officials on Sunday accused Iran and Syria of pushing the Palestinians toward civil war.

* Saudis seek Palestinian dialogue Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has invited rival Palestinian leaders to a meeting in Mecca aimed at ending a recent wave of factional fighting.

* Chinese president sets off on key Africa tour Twice in the past three years, Chinese President Hu Jintao has been greeted warmly in Africa as the leader of a growing economic and political power.

* Najaf battle foiled attack on Shiite clerics, Iraqis say Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and other top Shiite religious figures were the apparent targets of an insurgent plot thwarted in an intense battle near the Shiite Muslim holy city of Najaf.

* Iranian Reveals Plan to Expand Role in Iraq Iran�s ambassador to Baghdad outlined an ambitious plan on Sunday to greatly expand its economic and military ties with Iraq.

* Moscow Mayor Calls Gay Pride Parade Satanic Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov said Monday he would never allow a gay parade to take place in Moscow despite pressure from the West.

* Marked rise in attacks on Jews in Europe over the past year Last year saw a substantial rise in the number of anti-Semitic incidents in Germany, Austria and the Scandinavian countries.

* London wants EU to celebrate enlargement in birthday text The UK wants the EU's 50th anniversary declaration to mark the union's historic expansion to the East after the fall of communism.

01/26/07

Report: Russia tracking IDF movements Russia maintains listening posts along the Syrian border with Israel which it uses to follow IDF movements in the Golan Heights.

Lebanon Fears a Return to Civil War The government troops are focusing their efforts on the areas around the flashpoints in Tripoli, Beirut and Bint-Jbeil.

Iraq: US forces can kill Iranian agents In an effort to strike at Iran's influence in the Middle East, US President George W. Bush has authorized US forces in Iraq to apprehend or kill Iranian agents operating in that country.

Putin guest at India Republic Day Russian President Vladimir Putin has attended a grand parade in India's capital, Delhi, as the guest of honour on the country's Republic Day.

Russia concerned over US missile defense plans Russia on Friday harshly criticized US plans to build missile defense sites in central Europe.

EU constitution 'is still alive' Ministers from 17 European Union countries are due to meet in the Spanish capital, Madrid, hoping to keep alive the idea of an EU constitution.

Iran Set to Try Space Launch Iran has converted its most powerful ballistic missile into a satellite launch vehicle.

Security Council Sees Hope for Mideast Security Council members are optimistic that a key meeting next month on the Israel-Palestinian conflict will help revive the stalled peace process.

Life under Hamas a rough ride A year ago, on a freezing, foggy night in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, party officials in the Palestinian election centre could not believe what they were hearing.

Jordan restores Temple Mount pulpit An ornate wooden pulpit on Jerusalem's Temple Mount that was destroyed nearly four decades ago by a deranged Christian tourist has been completely restored.

01/25/07

Merkel Calls for Stronger U.S.-EU Ties Angela Merkel is at the top of her game. After a rocky start, the German Chancellor has achieved international respect on the back of a solid domestic economic rebound.

Livni and Abbas to meet at Davos Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet on Thursday.

Hamas survives one year of power A year after coming to power in the Palestinian territories, the Hamas government is claiming a grim kind of the victory.

Berlin lays down tight negotiation timetable for constitution Germany has laid out a detailed timetable for negotiations on the EU constitution.

Lebanon pleads for world support Lebanon has appealed to foreign donors for further financial aid towards its reconstruction following last year's conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

Worried about Iraq, Saudi official heads for Iran talks Saudi Arabia's National Security Council (NSC) Secretary Bandar bin Sultan is due to visit Teheran.

Putin set for arms, energy talks Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in India for talks expected to focus on multi-billion dollar arms and energy contracts.

Bethlehem Christians fear neighbors A number of Christian families have finally decided to break their silence and talk openly about what they describe as Muslim persecution of the Christian minority.

Military Ray Gun Makes People Feel Like They're on Fire The weapon is not expected to go into production until at least 2010, but all branches of the military have expressed interest in it.

China economy records huge growth China's economy expanded by 10.7% in 2006, marking the fastest growth since 1995, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said.

01/24/07

Report: N. Korea helping Iran get nukes North Korea and Iran are cooperating on Iran's nuclear program, The Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday.

Jewish Withdrawal from Judea and Samaria Back on the Table Egypt and the European Union (EU) have been mediating the negotiations, according to the World Net Daily (WND) news website.

Bush: Give new Iraq strategy a chance A politically weakened President George W. Bush implored a skeptical Congress to embrace his unpopular plan to send more US troops to Iraq.

Strike plunges Lebanon into chaos Thousands of protesters have paralysed Lebanon with a general strike that led to street clashes in which three people were killed.

Report: Saudi FM warns against partitioning Iraq The Saudi foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, warned against partitioning Iraq along sectarian lines and told Iran not to "meddle" in Arab affairs.

Katsav called to resign over rape indictment Israeli President Moshe Katsav faced widespread calls to resign Wednesday after the attorney general announced that he would indict him for rape and other charges.

Ethiopia starts Somalia pull-out Some 200 Ethiopian troops have been seen leaving the Somali capital, four weeks after they crossed the border to help the government defeat Islamists.

Missile test gives new life to 'China threat' China's furtive attitude regarding its growing military capability has rekindled an on-off international debate about whether its military is a paper tiger or a real power.

Taleban 'to build Afghan schools' The Taleban movement has earmarked $1m to set up schools for children in southern Afghanistan, a senior official of the militant group has said.

Luxembourg calls off EU constitution conference Luxembourg has called off a planned February meeting on the EU constitution.

01/23/07

Crackdown 'nets 600 Sadr forces' About 600 fighters and 16 leaders of the radical Shia militia, the Mehdi Army, have been captured by security forces in Iraq, the US military says.

Fatah and Hamas to open new round of unity talks Palestinian factions on Tuesday said they were starting a new round of talks to form a unity government.

Strike plunges Lebanon into chaos Thousands of Lebanese demonstrators have paralysed much of the country, barricading roads as part of a strike aimed at toppling the government.

Group Says al-Qaida No. 2 Mocks Bush Al-Qaida's deputy leader mocked President Bush's plan to send 21,000 more troops to Iraq, challenging him to send "the entire army".

Strategist: Iran believes it could destroy Israel with a single nuke Iran's nuclear program seeks first-strike capability against Israel, a leading strategist said.

China confirms satellite downed China has confirmed it carried out a test that destroyed a satellite, in a move that caused international alarm.

IDF builds fake Muslim city to prepare for war The IDF unveiled an Urban Warfare Training Center (UTC) on Monday in a mock city that simulates an Arab town.

Kosovans distanced from Serb poll In unseasonably warm sunshine on Pristina's Mother Teresa Boulevard, a group of students staged a protest against delays to Kosovan independence.

Russia completes Iran missile contract Russia has fulfilled a contract to sell air defense missiles to Iran.

China battles gender based abortion Gender imbalances have led China to step up efforts to curb sex-selective abortions.

01/22/07

Bibi optimistic about stopping Iran Likud chairman Binyamin Netanyahu opened the Herzliya Conference on the Balance of National Security with an optimistic prognosis about the nation's future.

Chief Rabbi of Tzfat: Prepare to Return to Gaza "We need to take the initiative, we need to return to Gush Katif," Rabbi Eliyahu wrote in the Maayanei HaYeshuah weekly Torah sheet.

Missile shield 'threatens Russia' US plans to expand its embryonic missile defence shield to the Czech Republic and Poland are an "an obvious threat", Russia military officials say.

Experts Warn of Global Jihad at Herzliya Conference Islamic expert and historian Bernard Lewis spoke back-to-back with former CIA director James Woolsey at the Herzliya Conference Monday.

China welcomes Vatican initiative China has welcomed the Vatican's new move to resolve their differences, calling it "a step forward".

EU leaders meet to seek ways to bolster Mideast negotiations European Union foreign ministers sought ways to bolster the Middle East peace process Monday.

EU laws 'will hit online trade' uropean Union laws on cross-border trade will hurt online sales and may cause legal chaos, UK business leaders have warned.

Iran's guards start wargame to test missiles Iran's Revolutionary Guards launched war-games in central Iran on Monday.

Egypt on high alert as bird flu virus becomes more resistant Egypt is on high alert after the H5N1 strain of the avian flu became more resistant to the Tamiflu antiviral drug predominantly used to combat the disease.

Scores die in Iraq bomb attacks Eighty-eight people have been killed and 160 injured in a double car bombing in Baghdad, Iraqi police say.

01/19/07

Labor Party Appoints Israel's First Muslim Cabinet Minister By a vote of 253 to 225 in the Labor Party Central Committee, Arab Knesset Member Raleb Majadle has defeated Druze community representative Shakib Shanan.

Gates Visits Iraq as U.S. Holds Aide to Shiite Cleric Gen. George Casey, the top American commander in Iraq, said today that the additional troops being sent to Iraq could begin to be withdrawn again by late summer.

Alon Liel: Prime Minister's Office was updated about Syria talks Senior officials in the Prime Minister's Office were updated on the meetings with Syrian government representatives on a peace agreement with Israel and a settlement in the Golan.

400 Mehdi Army militants arrested, al-Maliki says Iraqi authorities say they have been quietly taking a bolder stance against Muqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army militia.

Abdullah to Haaretz: Jordan will develop nuclear power Jordan aspires to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes.

Concern over China's missile test China is facing international criticism over a weapons test it reportedly carried out in space last week.

US says 'no rift' with al-Maliki George Bush, the US president, has insisted that his new Iraq plan will work as Washington dismissed suggestions of a rift with Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister.

Radicals vs. moderates: British Muslims at crossroads At a recent debate over the battle for Islamic ideals in England, a British-born Muslim stood before the crowd and said Prophet Mohammed's message to nonbelievers is: "I come to slaughter all of you."

EU ready for more military operations, Solana says Europe says it is ready for more military action under the EU flag in 2007.

Olmert rejects calls to step down over Lebanon war Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his defense minister Thursday refused growing pressure to follow the military chief of staff and resign over failures of the war on Hezbollah.

01/18/07

Rice: Quartet to discuss ME peace US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday she expected the "Quartet" of the EU, Russia, the UN and the US to meet the week of January 29 in Washington.

Netanyahu to Olmert: We need chief of staff who can face Iran Opposition Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu met Thursday afternoon with the prime minister and discussed the appointment of a new chief of staff with him.

Ahmadinejad: Iran 'ready for anything' in nuclear standoff Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday that Iran was prepared for any possibility in the standoff with the West.

Livni, in Japan, says Iran poses a threat to the entire Middle East Iran poses a threat to all countries in the Middle East, not just Israel.

Iraqi PM seeks US weapons boost Iraq's need for US troops could fall in three to six months if the US supplied more weapons to the Iraqi security forces, PM Nouri Maliki has said.

Australian cleric urges martyrdom A radical Australian cleric drew widespread condemnation Thursday over videos in which he encourages children to become martyrs for Islam and ridicules Jews as pigs.

Climate resets 'Doomsday Clock' Experts assessing the dangers posed to civilization have added climate change to the prospect of nuclear annihilation as the greatest threats to humankind.

Analysis: Bush's 'surge' on Iraq's oil It is unknown if US President George W. Bush's last-ditch effort to turn around the downward spiral that is today's Iraq will have any affect on its struggling oil sector.

No big debates or referendums on EU constitution, says Merkel erman chancellor Angela Merkel has told MEPs she does not intend to re-launch a broad debate on the revised EU constitution.

Why the orchestrated fuss? The Arabic word for whore - sharmuta - has gained international notoriety. CNN, ABC and the BBC, among many others, have featured Hebron resident Yifat Alkobi yelling it at her Arab neighbor.

01/17/07

Olmert: Halutz one of Israel's 'greatest soldiers' Prime Minister Ehud Olmert reiterated on Wednesday afternoon his "deep sorrow" over the resignation of IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz.

Constitution 'key for EU success' German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned Europe it faces an "historic failure" if it does not revive the deadlocked European constitution.

Hizbullah: Resignation is proof we won Hizbullah declared on Wednesday that IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz's resignation was further proof the guerilla organization defeated the Israeli army.

Top Iraqi condemns US over Iran One of Iraq's most powerful Shia politicians has condemned the arrest of Iranians by US forces in Iraq as an attack on the country's sovereignty.

Israel warns Russia on Iran arms sale Voicing extreme concern over Russia's recent sale of advanced anti-aircraft missiles to Iran, senior diplomatic and defense officials warned Moscow Tuesday that the deal could have serious security implications.

Rice wraps up Middle East mission US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has wrapped up a Mid-East tour aimed at winning support for US President George Bush's new Iraq strategy.

Russia on Terror Alert After Warning From Abroad Russia deployed police with bomb- sniffing dogs on Moscow's subways and tightened security at international airports after receiving warnings of a possible terrorist attack.

Pressure Mounts on Olmert to Resign Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz came under renewed pressure to resign Wednesday.

Ahmadinejad: Israel won't dare attack us Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is visiting South America, said in an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Mundo that Israel and its allies would not dare attack his country.

EU partner Russia is 'crushing democracy', NGO says EU "strategic partner" Russia is "crushing" democracy NGO Freedom House has warned in its 2006 survey.

01/16/07

Israeli, Syrian representatives reach secret understandings In a series of secret meetings in Europe between September 2004 and July 2006, Syrians and Israelis formulated understandings for a peace agreement.

'There was no breakthrough with Syria' Israel and Syria both issued vehement denials on Tuesday to a report that there had been secret agreements between the two countries.

UN marks soaring Iraq death toll More than 34,000 civilians were killed in violence in Iraq during 2006, a UN human rights official has said.

Russia confirms Tor-1 sale to Iran Russia's defense minister said Tuesday that Russia has sold Tor-M1 air defense missile systems to Iran.

Rice gets backing for Iraq plan Saudi Arabian leaders have told Condoleeza Rice, the US secretary of state, that Arab countries are ready to back the new US strategy to stabilise Iraq.

Kosovo decision must satisfy both Pristina and Belgrade - Lavrov A decision on the sovereignty of Kosovo, which is being demanded by the predominantly Albanian population in the historically Serbian region, must satisfy both Kosovo and Serbian authorities.

Iran says Sunni-Shiite ties discussed in Saudi Iran's top national security official today said talks he held in Saudi Arabia were aimed at improving understanding between Shiites and Sunnis.

Estimates of US Jewry Differ, but It's Less Than in Israel The latest estimate, provided in the American Jewish Year Book, says there are 6.4 million American Jews.

AP: Iran gets army gear in Pentagon sale The US military has sold forbidden equipment at least a half-dozen times to middlemen for countries - including Iran and China.

New EU parliament boss pledges to be tough with Merkel German Christian democrat Hans-Gert Poettering, elected as the new European Parliament president today, has pledged to stand up to pressure by big member states.

01/15/07

Talks for Rice, Olmert and Abbas US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are to meet soon for a three-way summit.

US 'will deal' with Iran in Iraq George Bush, the US president, has warned Tehran that if any Iranians are caught in Iraq "we will deal with them".

Saddam Hussein's top aides hanged Two of Saddam Hussein's key aides have been hanged in Baghdad, two weeks after the chaotic execution of the former Iraqi president.

Iranian, Nicaraguan leaders meet, vow to work together Iran's hardline president expanded his courtship of allies in his standoff with Washington on Sunday.

Euro displaces dollar in bond markets The euro has displaced the US dollar as the world's pre-eminent currency in international bond markets.

Israel Seeking Builders for West Bank The government on Monday published plans to build 44 homes in Israel's largest West Bank settlement.

Temple Aqueduct and Ritual Bath Excavated Opposite Temple Mount Excavations being conducted opposite the Western Wall Plaza have uncovered an aqueduct that brought water to the Holy Temple, as well as a ritual bath from that period.

Egypt to launch first spy satellite Egypt is expected to launch its first spy satellite into outer space on Tuesday.

Rice: UN sanctions on Iran 'not enough' Talk of a military strike against Iran shows how serious it would be for the Iranians to continue down the path of nuclear development.

Nasrallah: Israeli-Syrian pact unrealistic Hizbullha's leader Hassan Nasrallah estimated that Syria and Israel are not expected to sign a peace agreement in the near future.

1/13/07

Rice begins Mid-East peace push US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Israel as she begins a renewed effort to revive stalled negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.

Somalia declares state of emergency Somalia's parliament has declared a state of emergency for three months to restore security after several weeks of war.

Iranian embarks on tour to forge anti-US ties Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is locked in a tense standoff with the United States, embarks on a Latin American tour Saturday, making his first stop in Venezuela for talks with his ideological "brother," President Hugo Chavez.

Hamas calls for Palestinian unity Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of the ruling Palestinian movement Hamas has urged national unity after weeks of deadly feuding.

Iraqi PM delivers belated support for US strategy Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki Saturday delivered a lukewarm endorsement of a new US policy to rescue his country from civil war as Baghdad braced nervously for stepped-up security operations.

EU frets about gas risks after oil disruptions The recent disruption in Russian oil to Europe is set to prompt serious debate about the bloc's vulnerable gas supplies.

Terrorists 'use Google maps to hit UK troops' Terrorists attacking British bases in Basra are using aerial footage displayed by the Google Earth internet tool to pinpoint their attacks.

Internet should be run by key players: new ITU boss The Internet should continue to be overseen by major agencies including ICANN and the ITU, rather than any new "superstructure".

Haniyeh: Israel, US trying to ignite civil war Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh accused Israel and the US on Saturday of trying to inflame the conflict between Hamas and Fatah in the Palestinian territories.

President Bush Further Explains New Iraq Strategy The President Bush has vowed to move forward with his plan to send more U.S. troops to Iraq, despite bipartisan congressional objection and a lack of public support.

01/12/07

Al-Qaeda 'rebuilding' in Pakistan The head of US spying operations says the leaders of al-Qaeda have found a secure hideout in Pakistan from where they are rebuilding their strength.

Iranians captured inside Iraq U.S. troops launched two raids on Iranian targets in Iraq yesterday.

Rocket hits US embassy in Athens Attackers have fired a rocket at the US embassy compound in the centre of the Greek capital, Athens

Rice rejects dialogue with Iran, Syria Ahead of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's departure for Israel and other Middle Eastern states this weekend.

Chinese facing shortage of wives China will have 30 million more men of marriageable age than women by 2020.

Sharon warned Bush of Saddam threat Former prime minister Ariel Sharon told President George W. Bush ahead of the US-led invasion of Iraq of the dangers Saddam Hussein posed for the region.

London Mosque DVD: Jews Face Mass Extermination A leading mosque in London is selling DVDs that proclaim the coming mass extermination of Jews around the world.

Blair supports US decision to expand force in Iraq Prime Minister Tony Blair said Thursday he supported a US decision to send 21,500 more troops to Iraq.

Mubarak warns against religious state in Egypt Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak warned Thursday that the Muslim Brotherhood is a serious threat to his country.

Europe should train its Muslim clerics, Germany says The German EU presidency has suggested Europe should train its Imams to improve the integration of the continent's Muslim population.

01/11/07

Russia turns Europe oil tap back on Russia has resumed pumping oil to Europe via Belarus, ending a three-day suspension of supplies.

PM lauds China's stance on Iran nukes Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Thursday he was surprised and encouraged by talks with Chinese leaders.

Mahdi army told to disarm Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, has told Shia fighters to surrender their weapons.

Official: Abbas determined to hold PA elections Palestinian president's bureau chief says 'if the Palestinian dialogue, set to be renewed next week, fails - the decision is to declare elections'.

Syria: ME peace not currently possible Peace in the Middle East was an impossibility in light of US President George Bush's announcement to send more troops to Iraq.

Asian Foreign Ministers Focus on North Korea, Burma Burma's sluggish reform process again overshadowed trade and political discussions.

IDF finds Hizbullah cache near border Weaponry belonging to Hizbullah was discovered overnight Wednesday by IDF soldiers patrolling the Lebanese border.

First Time: Arab Minister in Israeli Government The appointment of Labor MK Majadele as Minister of Science was decided upon Wednesday evening by Defense Minister Amir Peretz.

Abbas: No to state with temporary borders Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday that he rejected any possibility for the establishment of a Palestinian state with temporary borders.

Somali raids miss terror suspects The US air strikes in Somalia failed to kill any of the three al-Qaeda suspects they targeted.

01/10/07

China, Israel agree on Iran sanctions China and Israel discussed Iran's nuclear program on Wednesday during a visit by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

New attacks in southern Somalia Air strikes targeting Islamist fighters have resumed in southern Somalia, but there is no United States confirmation.

IDF: Prospects for regional conflict higher in 2007 Predicting that 2007 will turn into a year of various strategic threats for the State of Israel.

Jewish Population in Judea and Samaria Increases in 2006 The Jewish population in Judea and Samaria grew by nearly 6% in 2006, four times the rate of increase a year earlier.

Fatah strongman in Gaza lashes out at Hamas Fatah's strongman in Gaza branded the ruling Hamas "a bunch of murderers and thieves" Wednesday.

Anger as Russia digs in over oil Vladimir Putin on Tuesday faced an angry European backlash about his decision to halt oil supplies through the pipelines crossing Belarus.

British Christians Protest Gay Rights Christian activists submitted a petition to Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday protesting a gay rights law.

EU plans 'industrial revolution' The European Commission has unveiled a new energy strategy.

Bird flu hits three Asian countries Bird flu has re-emerged in Asia with human infections and dead ducks reported in three countries.

EU plans 'industrial revolution' The European Commission has unveiled a new energy strategy, calling on member states to cut emissions of greenhouse gases by at least 20% by 2020.

MKs, Christian leaders vow to confront radical Islam Knesset Members and Christian leaders vowed to work together to confront the threat posed by Iran and radical Islam.

12/09/07

US Somali air strikes 'kill many' The US has carried out at least two air strikes in southern Somalia targeting Islamist fighters, who the US believes include members of an al-Qaeda cell.

New UN chief wants stronger UN The United Nations must strengthen its capacity to deal with the unprecedented threats to peace and security it faces in 2007.

Fierce clashes shake west Baghdad US and Iraqi troops backed by aircraft have been engaged in fierce clashes with Sunni fighters in central Baghdad.

Prime Minister Olmert in China Olmert is to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and other senior officials.

Prime Minister: Unilateralism policy has been a failure Prime Minister Ehud Olmert recently expressed his disappointment with the results of Israel's two unilateral withdrawals.

Hizbullah steps up bid to bring down Lebanese gov't The Hizbullah-led Lebanese opposition vowed Monday to step up its protest campaign aimed at bringing down the government.

Gates Continues Push for Wired Homes For more than a decade, Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) chairman Bill Gates and others in the tech industry have touted a vision of a connected lifestyle.

MI head: UNIFIL not stopping Hizbullah from rearming Military Intelligence head Maj.-Gen. Amos Yadlin announced Tuesday that Hizbullah was rebuilding itself and rearming.

Putin plans oil production cut Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, has told Russian oil companies to consider cutting oil production as part of a growing trade war with Belarus.

Sudan peace deal is 'not working' South Sudan's leader Salva Kiir has said that there are "serious problems" with the deal signed two years ago to end one of Africa's longest conflicts.

01/08/07

Revealed: Israel plans nuclear strike on Iran Israel has drawn up secret plans to destroy Iran's uranium enrichment facilities with tactical nuclear weapons.

Hizbullah Threatens to Paralyze Lebanon Starting Monday Over the past few days, the Hizbullah-led Lebanese opposition has threatened to escalate the conflict through violent protests.

Teheran: Israel will regret any attack In response to a report on Sunday that Israel planned to attack Teheran's nuclear sites, Iran declared that any attack would provoke a reaction.

Future of Iraq: The spoils of war Iraq's massive oil reserves, the third-largest in the world, are about to be thrown open for large-scale exploitation by Western oil companies.

Kurd genocide trial to resume without Saddam The trial of six former Iraqi officials over the mass killing of 182,000 Iraqi Kurds in the 1980s resumes Monday.

Olmert to head to China for visit focusing on Iran nuclear plan Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will depart for China on Monday evening on an official visit.

Plans for European far-right group intensify The European Parliament looks set to have the first far-right grouping within its corridors by mid-January.

Khamenei: Iran will never abandon nuke works Iran's highest authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on Monday Tehran would never yield to international pressure.

Sudan: Darfur - UN Envoy Heads to Sudan for Talks With Government, Rebels And Others The Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Darfur heads to Sudan and neighboring Ethiopia tonight.

Hamas warns: Abbas responsible for bloodshed Six armed Palestinian groups affiliated with Hamas issued a statement Sunday evening threatening to respond with force to any attempt to dissolve the government's special security force.

1/6/07

Iraq PM warns over Saddam hanging Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki has said his government could review relations with any country which criticised the execution of ex-leader Saddam Hussein.

Protests In Mogadishu Over Ethiopian Military Presence Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of the Somali capital Mogadishu on Saturday to protest the presence of Ethiopian troops in the war-torn country.

Abbas says Hamas militia illegal Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has declared the Hamas paramilitary militia in the Gaza Strip illegal.

Brussels divided on future shape of EU commission The European Commission is showing signs of division on EU institutional reform, with Polish commissioner Danuta Hubner attacking German commissioner Guenter Verheugen's idea that small EU states do not need fully-fledged commissioners.

Saudi Arabia calls on Lebanese leaders to end political crisis Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz urged Lebanese leaders to negotiate an end to their political crisis after Lebanon's opposition said it would step up street protests to topple the government Saudi Arabia backs.

Egypt lets Haniyeh smuggle $20 m. Egyptian officials at the Rafah crossing allowed Palestinian Authority President Ismail Haniyeh to smuggle 20 million dollars into the Gaza Strip when he returned from the haj pilgrimage on Thursday.

China seeks Iran nuclear response Chinese President Hu Jintao has called on Iran to make a serious response to the international community's concern over its nuclear program.

Iraqis to lead assault to take back Baghdad Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Saturday that Iraq's armed forces are set for an assault on Baghdad to take out militias and rogue security forces.

UN in new peace drive for Darfur The United Nations and African Union have announced a new drive for peace in Sudan's troubled region of Darfur.

Pyramids Older Than Egyptian Allegedly Found in Ukraine Archaeologists in Ukraine have unearthed the remains of an ancient pyramidal structure that pre-dates those in Egypt by at least 300 years.

01/04/07

Fatah Calls State of Alert as Blood Runs in Gaza Blood is running in the streets of Gaza again, as killings and kidnappings by Fatah and Hamas terrorists escalate to their former levels.

Iraq resisting stay of execution No amount of international pressure can stop the execution of two men sentenced to death alongside Saddam Hussein, a top Iraqi official has said.

Egyptians Hope Olmert-Mubarak Meeting Leads to 4-Way Summit Egyptian diplomats are trying to arrange a four-way summit between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and leaders of the Palestinian Authority, Jordan and Egypt.

Somalia: Somalia - Risk of Insurgence! Forces in and outside Somalia believe the present conflict is an opportunity to wage a jihadist war, after Iraq and Afghanistan.

New terror threat on Asean Summit Claiming that terrorists are on the "final stages of planning attacks," the Canadian Embassy on Thursday advised its nationals against all travel to the central and southern Philippines.

Last day for Mogadishu to disarm Somali fighters have fired a rocket at an oil tanker lorry near Mogadishu and wounded three people.

Israel forces raid Ramallah Israeli forces have entered the West Bank town of Ramallah, sparking clashes with Palestinian militants.

Following war: More immigrants convert Ministry of Absorption reports of 200 percent increase in number of immigrants wishing to convert to Judaism in north following second Lebanon war.

Mysterious Object Crashes Through Roof Authorities were trying to identify a mysterious metallic object that crashed through the roof of a house in eastern New Jersey.

Small EU states do not need full commissioners, Verheugen says European Commission vice-president Guenter Verheugen has questioned the need for small EU countries to have their own member of the European Commission.

01/03/06

US: Pat Robertson prophesies 'mass killing' In what has become an annual tradition of prognostications, religious broadcaster Pat Robertson said Tuesday God has told him that a terrorist attack on the United States would result in "mass killing" late in 2007.

Iraq's PM longs to leave office Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has made clear he dislikes being the country's leader and would prefer to leave the job before his term ends.

EU-US trade ties high on German presidency agenda German chancellor Angela Merkel has vowed to push for closer economic co-operation between the EU and the US.

Kenyans close border with Somalia Kenya has shut its border with Somalia and will not allow more refugees into the country, says its foreign minister.

Fatah official: Hamas training in Iran, Lebanon Hamas members have been flying to Iran and Lebanon for advanced military training with Iranian Revolutionary guard units and Hizbullah militants.

Fatah man killed in shootout with Hamas A 25-year-old Palestinian was shot and killed in the northern Gaza Strip Wednesday afternoon.

Official Held in Saddam Hanging Video The person believed to have recorded Saddam Hussein's raucous execution on a cell phone camera was arrested Wednesday, an adviser to Iraq's prime minister said.

Sudan: Secretary-General Pledges to Give Resolution of Darfur Crisis His 'Highest Attention' Describing the Darfur crisis as one of his top priorities in office, the new Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced plans today to enter immediately into diplomatic efforts to end the bloodshed in the Sudanese region.

Poll: Most Israelis unsatisfied with Olmert's performance Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has reason to worry. According to a poll taken by the Dahaf Institute for the Knesset Channel, 77 percent of Israel is dissatisfied with Olmert's performance as prime minister.

Three new languages added to the official EU list Having just rung in the new year, the European Union has not only become bigger but it has also become three languages richer.

01/02/06

Survey: Lebanon war damaged Israel's deterring image The Middle East Strategic Balance 2005-2006 survey said, "The Lebanon war actualized Israel's strategic problems and instability".

'Israel-Palestinian conflict is key' Ban Ki-Moon, the new secretary-general of the United Nations, said on Monday that the Israeli-Palestinian issue was at the core of solving all the problems in the Middle East.

Iraq investigates Saddam footage The Iraqi government has launched an inquiry into unofficial mobile phone footage showing the execution of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

Legendary mayor of Jerusalem Kollek dies at 95 Legendary mayor of Jerusalem Teddy Kollek passed away at the age of 95.

Ethiopians to stay on in Somalia Ethiopian forces are to remain in Somalia to ensure stability after the defeat of Islamist militias.

In the sky! A bird? A plane? A ... UFO? It sounds like a tired joke--but a group of airline employees insist they are in earnest, and they are upset that neither their bosses nor the government will take them seriously.

Nazareth Muslims: Islam will dominate world Islamic groups held a large militant march down the main streets of Nazareth this weekend.

Saddam's supporters vow revenge Hundreds of supporters of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein have been protesting in the cities of Baghdad, Tikrit and Samarra against his hanging.

Haniyeh goes on pilgrimage to Mecca Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas departed a few days ago from the Gaza Strip, in order to celebrate the Muslim holiday of Eid al Adha.

Ahmadinejad to West: 'You are nobody' Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad scorned the UN Security Council's imposing sanctions on Iran.