02/28/07

* US inviting Iran, Syria for Iraq talks The United States and the Iraqi government are launching a new diplomatic initiative to invite Iran and Syria to a "neighbors meeting" on stabilizing Iraq.

* World stock slump hits second day Worldwide share prices have continued to fall, triggered by Tuesday's 9% losses on the Shanghai stock market.

* Israel to UN: Stop Hizbullah arms flow Israel is considering taking action to stop the smuggling of weapons from Syria to Hizbullah.

* U.S. Intelligence Official Says Putin’s Advisers Threaten Democracy in Russia Russia has taken a step backward in its democratic progress and could be heading toward a controlled succession to President Vladimir Putin.

* Lieberman: We are capable of facing the Iranian threat alone "This government is doing more than any other government to deal with the Iranian nuclear issue. Even if we will have to face the Iranian threat alone.

* Present-day Sanhedrin court seeks to revive ancient Temple rituals The present-day Sanhedrin Court decided Tuesday to purchase a herd of sheep for ritual sacrifice at the site of the Temple on the eve of Passover.

* Pluto probe flies past Jupiter A small spacecraft en route to Pluto flew past Jupiter early on Wednesday.

* CIA: Bin Laden In Pakistan Establishing New Camps In the most definitive statement in years, America's top intelligence official said Tuesday Osama bin laden is in Pakistan actively re-establishing al Qaeda training camps.

* Iraqi forces crush 'heretic' Shiite cult, claim victory over Al Qaeda Sunnis When the "Battle of Zarqa" erupted January 28 in the date palm orchards of Zarqa, 16 kilometers northeast of the holy city of Najaf, the conflict seemed clear.

* European Commission made stronger by enlargement The European Commission has been strengthened by enlargement as the 27 member states look to it to bring order into the EU house.

02/27/07

* Mashaal in Russia: Hamas not ready to recognize Israel Hamas's political leader said Tuesday that the militant group is not ready to recognize Israel.

* Israeli Official: "Syria, Hizbullah Will Attack if Iran is Hit" Israeli security officials said if any war breaks out involving Iran, they expect Syria, Hizbullah and terrorist groups in Judea, Samaria and Gaza to join the fray and attack Israel.

* UN plans new resolution on Iran UN Security Council members, meeting in London to discuss Iran's nuclear programme, have agreed to begin work on a new UN resolution on Iran.

* Breakthrough in Iraq oil standoff Iraq's cabinet has approved a draft oil law which aims to equitably share revenues from its oil revenues among the country's ethnic groups.

* U.S. Finds Major Weapons Cache in Iraq U.S. officers said Monday they had discovered a factory for assembling sophisticated roadside bombs from Iranian-made components.

* Afghan base hit as Cheney visits At least nine people have died in a suicide bombing near the main US base in Afghanistan during US Vice-President Dick Cheney's stay, US officials say.

* Hamas chief praises Russian support Khaled Meshaal, the political leader of Hamas, has praised the Russian government.

* Court names Darfur war suspects Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court have named a minister and a militia leader who they suspect of war crimes in Sudan's Darfur region.

* Synagogues now terror firing zone The ruins of two large synagogues in Gush Katif, the evacuated Jewish communities of the Gaza Strip, have been transformed into a military base used by Palestinian groups.

* European research goes for gold Europe has a new flagship agency to fund the brightest ideas in science.

02/26/07

* Olmert: Prepare for war with Syria While chances for all-out war with Syria in 2007 are deemed low by Israel's top intelligence officials.

* US body 'to plan attacks on Iran' The US Pentagon has set up a special planning group to co-ordinate possible attacks on Iran.

* Report: Hizbullah building buffer zone Hizbullah is building up reinforcements north of the Litani river in anticipation of another potential war with Israel.

* Iraq vice president hurt in blast Violence continues to sweep Baghdad where an Iraqi vice president has escaped an apparent assassination attempt.

* 'Jesus, Magdalene & son in Talpiot tomb' The Discovery TV Channel has released new details of the "Lost Tomb of Jesus" documentary that is to be officially launched at a New York press conference on Monday.

* Iran builds tension with rocket launch Iran has warned it is ready "even for war" as it launched a rocket believed to have reached the edge of orbit.

* Court clears Serbia of genocide The UN's highest court has cleared Serbia of direct responsibility for genocide during the 1990s Bosnian war.

* Mideast Quartet to meet in late March - Russian envoy A ministerial meeting of the Quartet of international mediators on the Middle East will be held in the region in late March.

* Hamas chief in Moscow for Palestinian government talks Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal arrived in Moscow on Monday for talks aimed at capitalizing on differences among the Quartet of Middle East negotiators over how to deal with the Palestinian government.

* Veto problem on EU-Russia treaty getting bigger Poland and Lithuania are becoming more deeply entrenched in a blockade on launching EU talks on a new treaty with Russia.

02/24/2007

* Sneh: Israel not planning to attack Iran Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh denied that Israel was negotiating with the United States for permission to use Iraqi air space in an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.

* American armada prepares to take on Iran It is four and a half acres of American power in the middle of the Arabian Sea but the influence of USS Dwight D Eisenhower stretches for hundreds of miles.

* Israel gripped by Syria war fears A reported Syrian troop build-up near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights has fueled speculation in Israel about a future conflict.

* Abbas says PA must recognize Israel Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the EU agreed that the incoming Palestinian national unity government must recognize Israel's right to exist and forswear violence.

* Jordan's Abdullah: PA gov't must adhere to Quartet conditions Jordan's King Abdullah there is broad Arab agreement that a Palestinian unity government must adhere to the demands of the Quartet of Middle East mediators.

* UNESCO to inspect dig near Temple Mount World body to send four experts to Jerusalem to assess impact of construction works on the Temple Mount

* Turkey to reform further despite negative EU 'climate' Turkish foreign minister Abdullah Gul pledged that Ankara will continue reforms even if the "climate" in the EU towards Ankara's membership bid is currently not optimal.

* 'Time running out for Israeli-Palestinian peace deal' Time to clinch an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal is running out, Jordan's King Abdullah II cautioned.

* Uganda Promises to Aid, Protect Somalia Uganda's top military officials promised to help train a national army for Somalia and help provide security for its government.

* Iran: World's allegations are baseless Iran accused the United States, Britain and Israel of "baseless allegations" about its nuclear ambitions.

02/23/07

* World-Wide Blitz against Israel The United Nations, Russia, Arab states and the media have escalated an international broadside against Israel while touting the Hamas-Fatah coalition.

* Merkel urges Israel recognition German Chancellor Angela Merkel has stressed the European Union's insistence that any new Palestinian government must recognise Israel.

* Further Iran sanctions challenged Miguel Angel Moratinos, Spain's foreign minister, has called for continuation of diplomatic efforts to solve Iran's nuclear issue.

* Cheney warns on Chinese build-up US Vice-President Dick Cheney has expressed concern over China's military policies, saying they were at odds with the country's stated peaceful aims.

* Embattled DM Peretz Charging Ahead with Outpost Evacuation Even as the majority of the country believes Labor Chairman Amir Peretz is unfit to run the defense portfolio, the embattled Minister of Defense is trying to improve his standing.

* US 'hunted al-Qaeda' in Somalia Details have emerged of a US military campaign against suspected al-Qaeda leaders in Somalia with the assistance of Ethiopia.

* Taliban threatens 'bloodiest year' as UK boosts troops The Taliban today threatened the deadliest year yet for foreign troops in Afghanistan.

* Iran complains of nuclear bullying Critics of Iran's nuclear program are "bullying" Iran, its current president and a former president declared Friday.

* US poll: Israel alone named 'vital friend' A Gallup poll surveying US opinion on geopolitics singles out Israel as only foreign nation Americans feel favorably toward.

* Germany's EU constitutional task increasingly difficult As the half-way mark of the German presidency looms, even the most basic parameter-setting agreement on the EU constitution looks difficult.

02/22/07

* Quartet demands new PA gov't recognize Israel Revived Quartet of Middle East peace negotiators underscore demand that any Palestinian government must recognize Israel.

* Temple Mount Re-Opened to Jews Israeli excavation works at the Rambam (Mughrabi) Gate ramp - leading from the Western Wall plaza to the Temple Mount - evoked Arab rioting and criticism of Israel by Arab leaders.

* Poll: 75 percent of Israelis want to be in EU A full 75 percent of Israelis would like Israel to be part of the European Union, and 11 percent said they would leave Israel if they were granted EU citizenship.

* UN Training PLO Forces in Gaza to Amass Along Israel Border According to the British Daily Telegraph, the UN training operation is being kept far away from the media.

* Peretz urges Israel to avoid verbal escalation with Syria Responding to a Haaretz report that Syria is boosting its army and moving troops closer to its border with Israel.

* Poland to push for 'dark' side to EU birthday text Poland wants the EU's upcoming 50th birthday declaration to mention the "dark" side of recent European history.

* Sheikh Raed Salah to be investigated for incitement Islamic Movement Northern Front leader Sheikh Raed Salah was placed under criminal investigation by the head of the Special Tasks Division in the State Attorney's Office.

* World Powers Await IAEA Report on Iran Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday that the U.S. and its allies would use the U.N. Security Council and other "available channels" to bring Tehran back to negotiations over its nuclear program.

* Toxic gas latest insurgent weapon in Iraq Deadly and debilitating chlorine gas has been added to the arsenal of weapons fueling the explosive insurgency in Iraq.

* 'Most J'lem kids will be Arab by 2020' The majority of Jerusalem's children will be Arab by 2020 if current trends continue.

02/21/07

* Quartet meets on unity government Representatives of the United States, the United Nations, Russia and the European Union are in Germany to discuss the agreement between rival Palestinian factions to form a unity government.

* Russia, France call for unity on Iran, openness to dialogue Russia and France called Thursday for unity in the standoff with Iran over its nuclear program.

* Ashkenazi: IDF may have to confront Hezbollah to halt rearming Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi said Wednesday that Israel may have to confront Hezbollah.

* Settlers' birth rate three times higher than other Israelis Some 268,000 settlers lived in the West Bank during 2006, marking a five percent increase from the previous year.

* Rise In Western Aliyah In 2006 Immigration to Israel from several key countries increased in 2006 as compared to 2005.

* Study: By 2035 equal number of Jews, Arabs in Jerusalem If there is no change in the reproduction rate among Jerusalem residents, by 2035 there will be an equal number of Arabs and Jews residing in the capital.

* Russia: Sides should open talks on 'political horizon of Palestine' Israel and the Palestinians should open direct negotiations over "the political horizon of Palestine," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

* Blair announces Iraq troops cut Prime Minister Tony Blair has told MPs that 1,600 British troops will return from Iraq within the next few months.

* Rome concerned over Blair's exit impact for EU constitution talks Italian and Spanish leaders have voiced their full support for salvaging the EU constitution.

* Olmert urges tougher sanctions on Iran Prime Minister Ehud Olmert urged the international community on Wednesday to increase its pressure on Iran.

02/20/07

* IDF: Arms being smuggled to Hizbullah on weekly basis Arms are being smuggled to Hizbullah from Syria on a weekly basis, usually at night, in an attempt to evade the eight UNIFIL battalions deployed between Syria and Lebanon.

* Rice seeks 'Arab Quartet' backing for peace moves U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice sought on Tuesday to get Arab support for U.S. efforts to revive a peace process.

* US 'Iran attack plans' revealed US contingency plans for air strikes on Iran extend beyond nuclear sites and include most of the country's military infrastructure.

* Rice, Abbas meet with Jordan's Abdullah US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas huddled separately in Jordan.

* Gay ultimatum for Anglicans in US Anglican leaders have issued an ultimatum to the US Church by demanding an end to the appointment of gay clergy and the blessing of same-sex couples.

* Mughrabi dig prompts rise in Muslim antisemitism Opposition to the excavation at the Mughrabi Gate near the Temple Mount has sparked an increase in anti-Israel and anti-Semitic rhetoric in the Muslim world.

* Iran Sets Condition to Halt Nuke Program President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday that Iran would only halt its uranium enrichment program and return to negotiations if other Western nations do the same.

* Following the Christian money trail Evangelical Christians donate USD 37 million in 2006, most to Israel but some to Jews in the former Soviet Union.

* MEPs divided over controversial Kosovo report The European Parliament – striving to enter the diplomatic arena – is indicating it may take a clear pro-independence stance.

* Mobile phones to fuel Internet growth Google vice-president and chief Internet evangelist Vinton G. Cerf predicted Tuesday that mobile phones, not personal computers, will fuel growth of the worldwide Web.

02/19/07

* Trilateral summit ends with few signs of progress Talks between US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the Israeli and Palestinian leaders ended Monday with little progress other than a commitment to meet again.

* Intelligence Chief: Hizbullah is Stronger than Before War Gen. Yossi Beiditz, head of the IDF's Intelligence Wing Research Division, told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that Hizbullah has "returned to its pre-war capabilities.

* Al Qaeda Chiefs Are Seen to Regain Power Senior leaders of Al Qaeda operating from Pakistan have re-established significant control over their once-battered worldwide terror network.

* Iran: US will lose in the Middle East Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Sunday the United States will not achieve its goals in the region.

* Sheikh Salah: Western Wall belongs to Muslims Leader of the Islamic Movement in Israel says Jews invented history with their holiest site.

* UN anti-racism panel questions Israel over non-Jewish holy sites A United Nations anti-racism panel is scheduled to hold a hearing later this week over Israel's attitude toward sites considered holy by its Arab population.

* Czech Republic May Host Missile System Poland and Czech Republic are in favor of hosting a proposed U.S. missile defense system, the Czech premier said.

* Iran launches war games with missile tests Iran's ideological army, the elite Revolutionary Guards, launched three days of war games Monday.

* PM vows to continue talks with Abbas Prime Minister Ehud Olmert vowed on Monday to continue to speak regularly to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

* Russia Confirms Intention to Help Gulf Countries Develop Peaceful Nuclear Program Director of Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Mikhail Dmitriev said on Monday, Feb. 19, that Russia is ready to help the Gulf countries in developing a "peaceful" nuclear energy program.

02/17/07

* Abbas: World has no choice but to accept unity gov't Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas delivered a defiant message to a senior US envoy on Saturday, saying that the world would simply have to learn to live with a new coalition.

* Rice reviews Iraq security plan US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said Iraq's leaders are "off to a good start" with a new security plan intended to cut violence.

* Syrian president arrives in Iran Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, has arrived in the Iranian capital Tehran to discuss instability in Iraq and Lebanon.

* 'Outposts' Thriving in the West Bank With its playgrounds, identical houses and manicured flower beds, Bruchin looks like any placid Israeli suburb. Except that Bruchin is not supposed to exist.

* Haniya begins unity talks The Palestinian prime minister has begun coalition talks to establish a unity government.

* Raed Salah reaffirms former statements Arab-Israeli Islamic leader denies allegations of anti-Semitic incitement.

* Ahmadinejad: Iran and Lebanon are two parts of the same body Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Saturday that Lebanon and Hezbollah have his complete support in their struggle against Israel and the United States.

* Rice denies decision not to deal with unity government US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has denied that the United States told Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas it would refuse to deal with the future unity government.

* EU anti-hate law sparks debate on Nazi and Soviet crimes With Germany reviving its proposal on EU-wide minimum sentences for incitement to racial hatred and genocide denial, some EU states are taking a firm anti-communist stance.

* Action plan for killer asteroids A draft UN treaty to determine what would have to be done if a giant asteroid was on a collision course with Earth is to be drawn up this year.

02/16/07

* Friday prayers end relatively peacefully About 6,000 Muslim worshipers arrived at the Temple Mount at noon Friday, as police forces deployed by the thousands.

* Olmert: J'lem won't cut ties with Abbas There is no need to cut off ties with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas as a result of the Mecca agreement.

* Palestinian unity deal under way Palestinian PM Ismail Haniya has resigned his post and has been asked by President Mahmoud Abbas to form a new national unity government.

* Report: Al-Qaeda leader in Iraq hurt US and Iraqi forces pushed deeper Thursday into Sunni militant strongholds in Baghdad.

* Anglican leaders discuss U.S. church's liberal stance on gays Anglican leaders were meeting on Friday after spending a day discussing a report that found the church's American wing has taken steps to heal a rift.

* Unity government complicates peace efforts, says Rice The United States has informed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that it may shun the imminent Fatah-Hamas unity government.

* Chad may face genocide, UN warns The violence in Chad could turn into a genocide similar to that in Rwanda in 1994, the UN refugee agency has warned.

* U.S. Attempts to Calm Down Russian Missile Defense Fears U.S. plans to deploy missile defence systems in Poland and the Czech Republic are in no way directed at Russian strategic forces, the State Department has said.

* Rice on Summit: Full Steam Ahead - More or Less U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice will arrive in Israel on Saturday to hold preliminary discussions with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

* Violent protests in Kashmir over al-Aqsa dig Police fired teargas in Indian Kashmir's main city on Friday to disperse hundreds of people protesting against Israeli excavations near Islam's third holiest shrine in Jerusalem, police and witnesses said.

02/15/2007

* Giants meet to counter US power India, China and Russia account for 40 per cent of the world’s population, a fifth of its economy and more than half of its nuclear warheads.

* Abbas cancels Mecca Accord speech Less than a week after the signing of the Mecca "national unity" agreement, a new crisis is looming between Fatah and Hamas over the formation of a coalition government.

* Russia may leave arms reduction treaty A top Russian general said Thursday that Moscow may unilaterally opt out of a key Soviet-era arms reduction treaty with the United States that banned medium-range missiles, Russian news agencies reported.

* Turkey to send team to J'lem to inspect Mughrabi dig Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has agreed to a Turkish inspection of the construction work at the Mughrabi ramp in Jerusalem's Old City.

* Iran jets in long-range training Israel could be a target of recently reported Iranian air force drills aimed at giving jets long-range attack capabilities.

* Serbia rejects UN plan for Kosovo Serbia's parliament has overwhelmingly rejected a United Nations proposal on the future status of Kosovo.

* Webcast for Jerusalem excavations The Israeli authorities have installed cameras to film excavation work being carried out near the Temple Mount or Haram Sharif in East Jerusalem.

* Radical Shia cleric 'is in Iran' Radical Iraqi Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr is currently in Iran.

* U.S., Iraqi Forces Expand Operation U.S. and Iraqi forces expanded a security sweep to a southern Baghdad neighborhood Thursday, but suspected Sunni insurgents struck back with car bombs that killed four people.

* PA Planning New City Between Jericho and Ramallah A meeting took place this week in the Herzliya home of U.S. Ambassador to Israel Richard H. Jones.

02/14/07

* Baghdad security crackdown begins Iraq has imposed a raft of draconian new security rules on its war-torn capital.

* Aides deny claims Sadr has fled Iraq Supporters of the radical Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr today denied he had fled to Iran to evade a US crackdown aimed at curbing the spiralling violence in Iraq.

* Nato strike targets Taliban leader A Nato air strike has destroyed a compound housing a Taliban leader responsible for a wave of violence across southern Afghanistan.

* Thousands rally in Lebanon on Hariri anniversary Tens of thousands packed into a city square Wednesday to mark the second anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's assassination.

* Golan belongs to Syria, Druze protest "The Golan is an inseparable part of Syria," protested some 1,000 Syrians and 500 Druze.

* Lieberman Says Israel is On Its Own With Iran Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of Russian immigrant party Yisrael Beiteinu said that the Jewish State will not be able to depend on the international community to protect Israel from the Iranian threat.

* Former Mossad chief: Assassinate Ahmadinejad Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad should "be made to disappear from the arena," Meir Amit, a former director of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, advocated.

* Ashkenazi takes over as IDF chief, says army ready to implement Lebanon war lessons Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi took over as the 19th Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Wednesday morning, replacing Dan Halutz.

* Mugrabi bridge built for attack on mosque, Salah says The Israeli works near the al-Aqsa Mosque are meant as a direct attack on the holy Muslim site, Sheikh Ra'ed Salah of the Islamic Movement stated.

* Anglicans face difficult summit Leaders of the Anglican Church have gathered in Tanzania for a summit which is likely to be dominated by the divisive issue of homosexuality.

02/13/07

* Arab MP: Only nukes will erase Israel A member of the Egyptian Parliament from President Hosni Mubarak's ruling party said Monday that nothing short of a nuclear bomb would "work" with Israel.

* N Korea agrees disarmament steps North Korea has agreed to take the first steps towards nuclear disarmament, as part of a deal reached during six-nation talks in Beijing.

* Ruins discovered at Mughrabi site As the controversy swirls around the construction of the new bridge leading to the Temple Mount at the Mughrabi Gate, archeologists have already uncovered finds from the medieval period.

* Iran on course for nuclear bomb, EU told Iran will be able to develop enough weapons-grade material for a nuclear bomb.

* Putin calls for international conference on Mideast Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday reiterated his proposal for convening an international conference on the Middle East.

* Teraflops chip points to future A chip with 80 processing cores and capable of more than a trillion calculations per second (teraflops) has been unveiled by Intel.

* Jordan's king talks with Abbas on reviving Mideast peace Jordan's King Abdullah II urged Israel and the Palestinians Monday to actively engage in negotiations to end their lingering conflict.

* French MEP sees way out of EU constitutional crisis As proposals to chop, add to or scrap the EU constitution continue to crop up almost daily, a French MEP believes he has found the solution to the bloc's institutional impasse.

* Israel: No Final Status Talks at Summit As U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice prepares to convene a three-way summit with the leaders of Israel and the PA, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is sticking to his refusal to discuss three major elements of any final-status agreement.

* Mugrabi bridge plan to be reexamined The Jewish Quarter Development Company announced on Tuesday that it was withdrawing its request to build a new bridge at the Mugrabi Gate area in Jerusalem.

02/12/07

* Iran president attacks US claims Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says US accusations Tehran is fomenting violence in Iraq are an attempt to hide Washington's own failures.

* Israel test fires Arrow missile The defense establishment on Sunday evening test fired the Arrow system – the anti-ballistic missile system – for the first time during the night.

* EU addresses Palestinian boycott EU foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss the new deal on a Palestinian national unity government, and how they should respond to it.

* Israel must accept new PA gov't, Abbas says Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas has said that Israel must accept the new national unity government being set up between rival factions, a news agency reported.

* Israel to delay work at holy site Controversial construction work near the holiest site for Muslims and Jews in Jerusalem is to be put off to allow public consultations, officials say.

* Russia seeks closer ties with Saudi Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, has offered to help Saudi Arabia develop atomic energy and pledged to boost ties with the Islamic world.

* EU agrees on Iran sanctions but open to new talks The European Union agreed today to implement United Nations sanctions on Iran while holding a door open to fresh talks on defusing a standoff over what Western powers suspect is a covert Iranian bid to make atom bombs.

* U.S. officer: Iran sends Iraq bomb parts U.S. military officials on Sunday accused the highest levels of the Iranian leadership of arming Shiite militants in Iraq.

* Report: Saudi Arabia reaching out to Israel Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states have been sending overtures to Israel.

* Putin speech raises alarm on EU-Russia relations Russian leader Vladimir Putin's tough speech in Germany this weekend is a wake-up call to the harsh realities in EU-Russia relations.

02/10/07

* Lieberman: World accustomed to Muslim violence Right-wing minister slams Muslim riots on Temple Mount, demands more severe Israeli response.

* Quartet: Israel key to Mecca deal The Quartet of Middle East mediators has insisted any future Palestinian government must recognise Israel, while expressing "hope" that a deal on forming a unity government in Gaza will end violence.

* Holocaust scholar Wiesel may be victim of anti-Semitic attack Nobel Peace laureate and Holocaust scholar Eli Wiesel was dragged from an elevator and roughed up, possibly by a Holocaust denier, during a peace conference at a San Francisco hotel last week.

* Israel snubs Mecca deal In first official statement, officials in Jerusalem say Hamas-Fatah deal fails to meet Quartet preconditions and ‘is not what Israel expected’.

* Putin attacks 'very dangerous' US Russian President Vladimir Putin has attacked the United States for what he said was its "almost uncontained" use of force around the world.

* Report: US will be ready for strike on Iran in the spring Despite repeated denials by the US administration, preparations for a military strike against Iranian nuclear sites are in "advanced" stages.

* Excavation sparks world protests There has been strong worldwide reaction over Israel's decision to carry out construction work near the Al Asqa mosque, Islam's third holiest site, which is sacred to both Muslims and Jews.

* Riot police fire tear gas to break up protest in Kosovo by ethnic Albanians Thousands of ethnic Albanians demonstrated Saturday in downtown Pristina, protesting against a U.N. proposal for Kosovo they say doesn't go far enough in granting the province independence.

* US Iraq forces under new command The new commander of US forces in Iraq, Lt Gen David Petraeus, has assumed control ahead of a fresh push to quell violence in Baghdad.

* Lebanese army to keep Hizbullah arms Lebanon's defense minister said on Friday that a truckload of ammunition belonging to the Hizbullah seized the previous day in an east Beirut suburb, would be used by the Lebanese army in case of future Israeli attacks.

02/09/07

* Violence at Jerusalem holy site Violence has broken out at Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque after Israeli police moved in to break up crowds of stone-throwing Palestinian protesters.

* EU cautiously optimistic on new PA deal European Union officials said Friday they were cautiously optimistic about a Palestinian Authority power-sharing deal.

* Muted response to Mecca agreement Israel and the United States have reacted with caution to an agreement by Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas to form a national unity government.

* 'Border clash was an isolated incident' A top officer in the Northern Command told The Jerusalem Post Thursday that Hizbullah - as a result of the border flare-up - had readied itself in preparation for additional violence.

* Kosovo independence will open up Pandora's box - Russia's Ivanov Russia's defense minister said granting independence to the Serbian province of Kosovo may set a dangerous precedent.

* Security Minister slams Egypt over arms flow into Gaza Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter said Thursday that Egypt is not doing enough to curb arms smuggling into the Gaza Strip.

* Barroso puts pressure on The Hague over EU constitution European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso on Thursday (8 February) urged the Netherlands to start "moving" towards a compromise on the EU constitution.

* Gaza celebrates unity deal Palestinians in Gaza have been celebrating in the streets after Hamas and Fatah leaders signed a power-sharing agreement in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

* Islamic body urges Israel to stop mosque dig Malaysia, which chairs the Islamic world's largest grouping, urged Israel on Friday to stop excavations near Jerusalem's most important holy Islamic site.

* Top cleric: US within Iran's 'firing range' A top Iranian cleric said on Friday the United States was within Iran's "firing range".

02/08/07

* Palestinian talks into second day Leaders of Palestinian rivals Fatah and Hamas are to continue crisis talks for a second day in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca.

* Saniora tells LAF to counter IDF threats Prime Minister Fuad Saniora on Thursday ordered the Lebanese Armed Forces to respond to Israeli threats to Lebanese sovereignty.

* Hundreds gather in Jerusalem to protest Temple Mt. construction Hundreds of people gathered outside the Old City of Jerusalem's Dung Gate on Thursday to protest against the construction of a new bridge to the Temple Mount.

* Iran successfully test fires land-to-sea missile Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards successfully has test-fired a land-to-sea missile with a range of about 350 kilometres (210 miles).

* Rice rejects Middle East 'linkage' concept US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice rejected Wednesday the linkage concept.

* Deputy health minister arrested in U.S.-Iraqi raid U.S. and Iraqi forces raided an Iraqi Health Ministry complex in central Baghdad Thursday morning and arrested the deputy health minister.

* Archeologist: Ancient cistern proves location of Second Temple An Israeli archeologist said Wednesday that he has pinpointed the exact location of the Second Jewish Temple on the Temple Mount.

* U.S., Africans Vow to Fight Terrorism Military chiefs of nine African countries pledged Wednesday to work with U.S. forces to prevent the spread of terrorism in the Sahara desert region.

* Syria says firm in support of Hizbullah, Hamas President Bashar Assad vows to keep supporting Hizbullah and Hamas despite US pressure on Syria to stop backing groups.

* Cameras to track Mughrabi excavations Israel plans to install security cameras at the Mughrabi excavation site which will broadcast real-time footage of the controversial construction outside the Temple Mount.

02/07/07

* Ending Iran's defiance American pressure at this time will not be taken lightly by Iranian regime.

* Abbas in Mecca: No option but to reach agreement The leaders of the rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah vowed to reach an agreement to end weeks of infighting.

* US, Iraq troops push deep into Baghdad Sunni bastion Iraqi and US forces Wednesday pushed deep into one of Baghdad's most notorious Sunni bastions.

* EU to beef up diplomatic corps in Central Asia EU states are keen to open four new EU embassies in Central Asia by 2008.

* Abbas: Dig near Al-Aqsa Mosque likely to endanger peace efforts Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday said that Israeli excavation works near the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem were likely to endanger regional peace efforts.

* Survey finds 300m China believers The number of religious believers in China could be three times higher than official estimates, according to a survey reported by state media.

* US to have Africa military command The US president has approved plans to create a US military command for Africa.

* Sudan Leader Frustrates Security Council Security Council members expressed frustration and skepticism Tuesday at Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir's failure to give a green light to a joint United Nations-African Union force.

* Israel to request upgrade in EU standing Israel is trying to upgrade its standing in the European Union to be equal to that of Switzerland and Norway.

* Russia Lays Out Weapons Purchase Plans The Russian military will sharply increase the number of new intercontinental ballistic missiles to be deployed this year.

02/06/07

* Haniyeh calls on Arabs to defend Al Aksa Mosque Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh on Tuesday called on Israel's Arabs to unite on the Temple Mount and defend the Al Aksa Mosque.

* Syria 'can broker peace in Iraq' Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said his country can play a major role in international efforts to end sectarian violence in Iraq.

* Gun sales triple in Lebanon Gun sales in Lebanon have increased threefold since the onset of the current political standoff between the Lebanese government and Hizbullah and the opposition.

* Palestinian PM 'hopeful' on talks The Palestinian PM Ismail Haniya has said he hopes a meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas will lead to a government of national unity being formed.

* Merkel criticizes Iran, Syria during Mideast trip German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday criticized Iran and Syria for their role in the Middle East.

* Global Warming: The Cold, Hard Facts? Global Warming, as we think we know it, doesn't exist. And I am not the only one trying to make people open up their eyes and see the truth.

* Khamenei: Israel dividing Muslim world Iranian supreme leader tells Pakistani President Musharraf, 'Zionist regime was created by West to divide Muslim world'.

* Ethiopian leaders urge end to Falashmura immigration to Israel Ethiopian rabbis and spiritual leaders (keisim) called on the government Monday to halt the Ethiopian Falashmura aliyah to Israel.

* Blood libel on Lebanon TV The traditional anti-Semitic blood libel in which Jews are accused of murder and using blood for religious purposes has once again found expression in the Arab world.

* Netherlands set to delay EU referendum decision The Netherlands is set to postpone a decision on whether to hold a second referendum on the European constitution.

02/05/07

* Germany's Merkel in Saudi for Mideast talks German Chancellor Angela Merkel met Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Sunday on the second leg of a Middle East tour.

* Baghdad Security Operation to Start Soon Violence raked the capital Monday as the general who will lead Iraqi forces in the coming security crackdown in Baghdad took charge.

* Mashaal says Mecca talks must end infighting Following weekend of clashes between Hamas and Fatah that claimed lives of 27 people, witnesses say gunmen begin withdrawing from streets.

* Syria accused over Iraq attacks A senior Iraqi official has said half of all insurgent attacks in Baghdad are carried out by militants from Syria.

* World braced for huge surge in bird flu cases The number of cases of the deadly bird flu virus is increasing around the world as scientists struggle to combat the disease.

* Iran: Giant achievements coming soon "Giant achievements" by Iran will be unveiled by its president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in the coming days.

* Conference Aims to Help Child Soldiers An international conference aimed at preventing the recruitment of child soldiers around the world and returning them to normal society opened Monday.

* Rice ripped for avoiding terrorist label on Hamas A US Jewish group on Monday demanded US Secretary of State Condaleeza Rice immediately retract remarks she made during a press conference in Europe two weeks ago.

* City of David tunnel excavation proceeds without proper permit The excavation of a tunnel under Jerusalem's City of David has gone on for months without a license from the Israel Antiquities Authority.

* EU welcomes, Serbia rejects UN Kosovo draft The EU has strongly urged Serbs and Kosovan Albanians to engage in talks on the basis of a UN proposal on the future of Kosovo.