09/29/07

* Syria doesn't want war with Israel 'in distant or near future' Syrian Vice President Farouk Shara said on Saturday that his country did not want war with Israel "in the distant or near future."

* Israel holding off on full-scale Gaza assault Israel is not considering an imminent invasion of the Gaza Strip but the option is still on the table.

* PA official: Abbas, Olmert likely to hold meeting on Tuesday Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas will likely meet Tuesday.

* Turkey-Iraq agree security pact Iraq and Turkey have signed a security agreement aimed at curbing the activities of the Turkish Kurdish separatist group, the PKK.

* Iran to label CIA, US Army terror groups Iran's parliament on Saturday approved a nonbinding resolution to label the CIA and the US Army "terrorist organizations."

* UN: We have criticized Israel unfairly The United Nations Human Rights Council has not managed to deal fairly with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

* Key nations to delay new Iran sanctions Six key nations agreed Friday to delay a new UN resolution that would toughen sanctions against Iran until November to see if Teheran answers questions about its suspect nuclear program.

* Serbia to 'offer Kosovo autonomy' Serbia is prepared to offer its secessionist province of Kosovo the "largest autonomy in the world" in upcoming talks on the future of the independence-seeking region.

* 'Deal possible 6 months after ME parley' Israel and the Palestinians may sign a peace agreement within six months of the international Mideast peace conference scheduled for November.

* 'Jewish groups most at risk of attack' More than $24 million went out Friday to mostly Jewish not-for-profit organizations in major cities across the country.

09/28/07

* '200 suicide bombers await the Merkava' 200 female suicide bombers are awaiting the Merkava tanks.

* Serbia's neighbors see no silver lining for Kosovo Balkan states bordering Serbia saw scant hope of a breakthrough in New York talks between Serbs and Kosovo Albanians.

* Jibril: Israel will attack Syria soon Israel has already made a decision to attack Syria and was just mulling over where to land its first strike.

* Hizbullah: If Israel attacks Syria, we'll respond "If Israel dares to make an adventurous move against Syria, it will pay a heavy price," a member of Hizbulla's political council warned.

* Turkey and Iraq sign security deal Turkey and Iraq have signed an accord in Ankara to deal with separatist Kurdish fighters who have been attacking Turkey from bases in Iraq, but it does not allow for Turkish troops to enter Iraq.

* Hamas looking to make peace with Fatah – report Hamas has formulated a new plan for reconciliation with rival Fatah following the crisis in the Palestinian Authority since the Islamist group's violent takeover of the Gaza Strip last June.

* Vatican urges Muslims to reject violence, work for peace The Vatican urged Muslims on Friday to reject violence, work with Christians for peace and to teach their young to love and respect all people.

* Iran Strengthens Ties With South America Iran and Venezuela cemented an alliance aimed at countering the United States.

* Somalis face worsening plight Tens of thousands of Somalis, who have fled the violence-wracked capital Mogadishu, are facing yet another humanitarian crisis.

* Personal data protection under threat in EU treaty draft Negotiations on the new EU treaty have thrown up sensitive questions about how citizens' personal data should be kept and accessed in the future.

09/27/07

* "Sweet" Feast of Tabernacles For the upcoming Feast of Tabernacles, Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianki welcomed children of all ages to a Candy Sukkah (tent) set up in Safra Square, downtown Jerusalem.

* Gaza: 11 Palestinians killed in IDF ops Eleven Palestinians were reported killed as violence in the Gaza Strip heated up Thursday following a barrage of Kassam rockets and mortar shells.

* Iraqi Sunni leader meets Sistani Iraqi vice-president and Sunni leader Tariq al-Hashemi has held talks with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's most senior Shia cleric.

* Abdullah, Mubarak appeal to PA factions Jordan and Egypt urged the Palestinians on Wednesday to cast aside their differences to make way for peace and statehood.

* Turkey, Iraq in 'Kurd rebel deal' Turkey and Iraq have agreed on a deal to allow Turkish forces to cross into Iraq to pursue Kurdish rebels.

* Saudi FM calls summit 'encouraging' Saudi Arabia's foreign minister described as "encouraging" his talks with US officials about a proposed Mideast peace meeting.

* Warner takes Hollywood to Abu Dhabi Warner Brothers, Time Warner’s film and TV division, has launched an “unprecedented” multibillion-dollar partnership to develop a media and entertainment hub in Abu Dhabi virtually from scratch.

* Russia promises retaliation if weapons deployed in space Russia is ready to take appropriate measures if weapons are deployed in space, the commander of the Russian Space Forces said Thursday.

* Saudis worried Iran nuclear issue headed to 'confrontation' Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said here Wednesday that Iran's standoff with Western powers over its nuclear program is heading toward a "confrontation."

* Rabbis set up alternate kashrut authority for produce in 'shmita' year Religious-Zionist rabbis announced Tuesday that they have established an alternate kashrut authority to provide certification for produce in several cities during the shmita, or sabbatical, year.

09/26/07

* Barak: Gaza operation near "We will use all our diplomatic means to weaken the Hamas leadership and its effectiveness, but the truth must be told, we are nearing an extensive operation in Gaza.

* Dollar falls to another euro low The dollar has fallen to yet another all-time low against the euro, after further weak US economic data.

* Report: 2 rockets aimed at J'lem seized in Beit Jala Palestinian security forces uncovered on Wednesday two rockets ready to be launched in the town of Beit Jala near Jerusalem.

* Ahmadinejad unveils world without Israel Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad used his speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday to unveil a vision of a world without Israel.

* Russia: When Politics Becomes A Family Affair The prime minister is the defense minister's father-in-law. The energy minister is the health minister's husband. The justice minister's son is married to the deputy Kremlin chief of staff's daughter.

* 'A nuclear Iran could lead to war' French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Tuesday the international standoff over Iran's nuclear program will only be resolved with a combination of "firmness and dialogue."

* Qatar: Iraq conflict too big for US The Emir of Qatar has said Iraq can no longer remain the responsibility of just one country and called for a strengthening of the United Nations' role there.

* Arab leaders: ME parley 'waste of time' Less than two months before the US-sponsored Middle East peace conference is expected to convene, most of the Arab countries have yet to confirm their participation.

* US Anglicans reject gay bishops Leaders of the Episcopal Church in the United States have agreed to halt the selection of gay priests as bishops to prevent a split in the Anglican Church.

* Turkey cut out of new euro coins map Member states have modified the original version of a new euro coin design - already in circulation - by cutting Turkey off the map aimed at representing larger Europe.

09/25/07

* Syrian newspaper: U.S. must alter policy for Mideast summit to succeed The United States ought to revise its policy in the region if it wants the upcoming Mideast peace conference to succeed.

* World leaders set to address UN The United Nations' annual general assembly is due to begin its formal session, with speeches by the US and Iran keenly awaited.

* Bush backs creation of Palestinian state US President George W. Bush reaffirmed his support for a Palestinian state at a meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in New York City.

* FM Livni: 'Israel is Committed to Establishing Palestine' Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Livni declared Israel's support for the creation of an Arab state in Judea, Samaria and Gaza.

* Ahmadinejad grilled in Columbia Q&A Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, speaking at Columbia University on Monday, evaded the question of whether he would seek the destruction of the State of Israel.

* Bush to Abbas: Statehood for Palestinians in reach U.S. President George W. Bush met Monday with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and PA Prime Minister Salam Fayad in New York.

* U.S. and EU are ready to recognize Kosovo independence The United States and the European Union will recognize Kosovo if the Balkan province declares independence from Serbia in early December when last-ditch negotiations end.

* Dichter shuts down Husseini Foundation dinner in E. J'lem Public Security Minister Avi Dichter ordered police last week to prevent the Faisal Husseini Foundation from East Jerusalem from holding its annual fund raiser in the city.

* Turkey parliament may vote on new constitution next year A draft constitution for Turkey, which has fueled tensions between the Islamist-rooted government and secularist forces, is likely to be submitted to parliament early next year.

* NATO and EU relations simmer over soldiers NATO is feeling the pinch as the UN and EU both dip into the same resources to fulfil defence obligations leaving the military alliance thin on soldiers.

09/24/07

* 'Chances of war with Syria still high' The IDF continued to maintain a high level of alert along the northern border on Sunday as senior defense officials told The Jerusalem Post that while close to three weeks have passed since Israel's alleged air strike in Syria, there is still a chance war could break out.

* 'IAF strike ruined chances for peace' The September 6 air strike on a Syrian nuclear facility has destroyed any chances for peace between Syria and Israel, senior Syrian officials said Monday.

* Archeologists find 2nd Temple quarry An ancient quarry where King Herod's workers chiseled huge high-quality limestones for the construction of the Second Temple, including the Western Wall, has been uncovered in Jerusalem, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced Sunday.

* A restless Sarkozy vows to lead Europe into a new era President Nicolas Sarkozy of France strode into the Napoleon III salon of the Elysee Palace and staked his claim to the leadership of Europe.

* Secret US air force team to perfect plan for Iran strike The United States Air Force has set up a highly confidential strategic planning group tasked with "fighting the next war" as tensions rise with Iran.

* Nationalist Camp MKs to Shas, Yisrael Beiteinu: Quit the Gov't! MKs Tzvi Hendel and Yitzchak Levy, both of the National Union party, call upon the Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel Our Home) parties to quit the government.

* 'Rabbis told Jews to shun Evangelicals' Israeli rabbinic authorities have abruptly called on Jews to shun a major Christian tourism event, baffling and upsetting evangelical groups that traditionally have been big supporters of the Jewish state.

* Quartet announces new peace summit The Quartet of Middle East negotiators has pledged support for another Middle East peace conference, with the US indicating Syria would be one of the "natural invitees".

* Iranian madman Mahmoud Ahmadinejad walks among us Hatemonger Mahmoud Ahmadinejad landed in a hornet's nest of outrage yesterday as Columbia University prepared to welcome him with open arms today and stuck by a dean's outrageous assertion that it would let Adolf Hitler speak, too.

* Abu Mazen: Olmert Agreed to Make Jerusalem Arab Capital The chairman of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), met with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice last week - and told her that Prime Minister Olmert agrees, finally, to turn eastern Jerusalem into the capital of a future state of Palestine.

09/22/07

* Ahmadinejad warns against attack Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has issued a tough warning to any country considering an attack on Iran.

* Al Qaeda takes 'media jihad' to new heights The sixth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks has provided an opportunity for Al Qaeda to show off, once again, its mastery of the Internet as a tool for international propaganda, terrorism experts said Friday.

* Parashat Yom Kippur: Unconditional love A major aspect of our Yom Kippur liturgy is the service of the High Priest on this Day of Forgiveness.

* Iran unveils new missile at parade Iran has unveiled a new long-range missile among an array of armaments displayed in an annual military parade commemorating the country's 1980-88 war with Iraq.

* Endless talks on Kosovo may lead to 'hostilities', US warns Talks on the future status of Kosovo are likely to continue after the 10 December deadline set by the international community, but letting them run into an "endless process" may lead to new hostilities in the region, a senior US diplomat has warned.

* Kadima slams Ramon over call for divided J'lem Vice Premier Haim Ramon faced a firing squad of Kadima ministers and MKs attacking him at Thursday's Kadima council meeting for his recent call to divide Jerusalem in a final-status agreement with the Palestinians.

* 'I'm not going to comment,' says resolute Bush on Syria attack US President George W. Bush emphatically refused to address reports of an Israeli attack on Syria despite persistent questioning during a White House press conference Thursday.

* Two million displaced inside Iraq Nearly two million Iraqis have fled their homes for other parts of Iraq since the US-led invasion, creating a "human tragedy without precedence," the country's Red Crescent said.

* Diplomats pushing for Darfur peace Top diplomats from 26 countries met Friday to give political momentum to upcoming peace talks in Darfur and push for an agreement on the composition of a new peacekeeping force that the U.N. warns will not be effective without key contributions from non-African countries.

* Fatah official: Talks with Hamas likely after November summit A senior Fatah official said Saturday that talks with the rival Islamic movement Hamas are likely to be held following an international peace conference slated for November.

09/21/07

* Report: Syria, North Korea hold high-level talks in Pyongyang North Korea and Syria held high-level talks Friday in Pyongyang, the North's state media reported, amid suspicions that the two countries might be cooperating on a nuclear weapons program.

* 144-nation atomic energy conference criticizes Israel Conference censures Israel for refusing to put its nuclear program under international purview.

* IDF ups alert level on northern border The IDF has raised the level of alert along Israel's northern border out of concern that Syria will attempt to retaliate for an alleged IAF attack within its borders on September 6.

* Army weighs 'complete' Gaza pullout A day after the cabinet defined the Gaza Strip as "hostile territory," The Jerusalem Post learned Thursday that the IDF is working on a proposal that calls for a "complete disengagement" from the Gaza Strip - involving the closure of all border crossings with Israel and the transfer of all responsibility over the Palestinian territory to Egypt.

* Arctic seabed 'belongs to Russia' A Russian expedition has proved that a ridge of mountains below the Arctic Ocean is part of Russia's continental shelf, government officials have said.

* Israeli archeologists ordered out of court hearing A group of Israeli archeologists and public officials who petitioned the High Court of Justice against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the Antiquities Authority over ongoing Wakf infrastructure work on the Temple Mount were ordered out of the courtroom during a hearing Thursday, an archeologist said.

* Crowds attend Lebanese MP funeral Thousands of Lebanese have turned out for the funeral in Beirut of anti-Syrian MP, Antoine Ghanim, who was assassinated on Wednesday.

* Court urges Sudan war crimes arrest The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has urged world leaders to "break their silence" and press the Sudanese government to arrest one of its ministers for alleged war crimes.

* Sheikdom shakedown: Dubai moves on Nasdaq n a complex set of transactions, Dubai is moving to acquire 19.9 percent of the Nasdaq in New York, placing the Arab government in an ownership position of the key U.S. stock exchange and raising concerns in Congress.

* Israel on alert for most sacred Jewish day Israel shut off the Palestinian territories for the holy Jewish day of atonement, and went on alert for a possible attack, 34 years after Syria and Egypt launched a surprise assault that sparked war.

09/20/07

* UN chief urges Israel to reconsider decision on Gaza Ban Ki-moon warns that any cutoff of vital services to Strip would violate international law, punish already suffering civilian population.

* Rice says international peace conference must be 'substantive' US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday an upcoming US-sponsored Middle East conference must be "substantive," and that Israel and the Palestinians must draft a document before the meeting that lays "foundations for serious negotiations."

* Iran says it successfully tested self-produced fighter jets Iran said on Thursday it had "scared its enemies" by test flying two new generation, domestically-produced jet fighter planes and had shown its battle readiness, the latest riposte to speculation about a war over Tehran's nuclear plans.

* Defense Minister Barak: Attack on Gaza Coming Nearer Wednesday's decision by the mini-security cabinet to declare Gaza a "hostile entity" continues to make international waves - while Defense Minister Ehud Barak says a large-scale Israeli attack on Gaza is coming closer.

* Al Qaeda to declare war on Musharraf Osama bin Laden will release a new message soon declaring war on Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, al Qaeda announced Thursday.

* An uneasy military marriage in Turkey Despite the verdict at the polls, Turkey's staunchly secular military is far from caving in to the Islamic-rooted civilian authority that is now in full control of Parliament, the government and the presidency.

* Israel to launch spy satellite in India Israeli space capabilities will take a giant leap this week when an Indian missile launches the IDF's most-advanced satellite to date, capable of transmitting tiny images in all weather conditions.

* Euro Hits New High, Crests $1.40 Level The dollar fell to a new low against the euro on Thursday as the european currency breached $1.40 for the first time since its debut in 1999.

* Rep. Peter King: There are "too many mosques in this country" New York Rep. Peter King, a prominent House Republican, said there are "too many mosques in this country" in a recent interview with Politico.

* Yom Kippur Services to be Secular-Friendly In an open pre-Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) letter to synagogue sextons, communal leaders and others, Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger reminds them of their heavy responsibility vis-a-vis those who come to synagogue only once a year.

09/19/07

* Hamas: Decision is an act of war A Hamas spokesperson on Wednesday called the security cabinet's decision to declare the Gaza Strip an enemy entity a comprehensive declaration of war, for which Israel would bear the consequences.

* 'Dozens died in Syria-Iran missile test' Proof of cooperation between Iran and Syria in the proliferation and development of weapons of mass destruction was brought to light Monday in Jane's Defence Weekly, which reported that dozens of Iranian engineers and 15 Syrian officers were killed in a July 23 accident in Syria.

* Iran promises "response" to Zionism's supporters on Oct. 12 Supporters of the "Zionist regime" will receive a response from Iran during the world Qods Day rallies on October 12, the IRNA news agency reported government spokesman, Gholam-Hossein Elham, saying Wednesday.

* Rice: Hamas hostile entity to us as well US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday that the US "will not abandon the innocent Palestinians in Gaza," shortly after Israel declared the territory to be an enemy entity and said it would cut off power and fuel supplies to it.

* Chief Negotiator Favors Division of Jerusalem, Incl. Old City In a letter to a fellow Kadima politician, the lead negotiator on behalf of the government in talks with the Fatah-run half of the Palestinian Authority confirmed his plan to relinquish sovereignty over much of Jerusalem, including in the Old City.

* Egypt rejects armed strike against Iran Egypt is opposed to any military action against Iran and is working on normalizing its own relations with the Islamic Republic after 28 years of frozen ties, the foreign minister said Wednesday.

* EU monies 'should fund Galileo' The European Commission has outlined its plan to get the Galileo satellite navigation system back on track.

* Rice attacks UN watchdog on Iran US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has attacked the head of the UN nuclear watchdog for urging caution in the dispute over Iran's nuclear programme.

* Rabbinate bans Jews from Succot march The Chief Rabbinate has banned Jewish participation in the Feast of the Tabernacles march in the capital, scheduled for October 2, due to concern that some of the groups participating are involved in Christian missionary work, officials said Tuesday.

* Air Force activates provisional Cyber Command At a celebration of the Air Force's 60th birthday Tuesday, Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne moved forward on the service's Cyber Command, officially activating it as a provisional unit with its headquarters, for now, at Barksdale Air Force Base.

09/18/07

* J'lem downplays Iranian threat; Olmert: I respect Assad Israeli officials are treating Iran's latest claims that it has 600 Shihab-3 missiles aimed at targets throughout the country the same way it treated Teheran's claims.

* Peres: Israel Gave Land Before, but Rec'd No Peace, No Security President Shimon Peres says the "land for peace" formula on which Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is working has not worked for Israel.

* N. Korea denies cooperating with Syria North Korea strongly denied Tuesday that it has secretly helped Syria develop a nuclear program.

* Russia 'worried' by Iran war risk Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has expressed fears over the threat of war in Iran after talks with his French counterpart, Bernard Kouchner.

* Syria: U.S. nuclear claims are 'false,' biased toward Israel Syria criticised the United States on Tuesday, accusing it of spreading false claims of Syrian nuclear activity and cooperation with North Korea.

* Indonesia's big one 'on its way' An international team of earthquake specialists says Indonesia faces another potential "giant" quake in the near future.

* Oil Hits New Intraday High Above $81 Oil prices climbed to a new high, above $81 a barrel, on expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve would cut benchmark federal funds rate later.

* Report: India to launch Israeli spy satellite in upcoming days India plans to launch an Israeli spy satellite over the coming days.

* Europe is not a 'threat' Barroso tells UK European commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has told UK politicians they have nothing to fear from Europe and they should back the new Reform Treaty.

* Independence for Kosovo is off the agenda, envoy reveals The international community is backing away from a clear endorsement of independence for Kosovo.

9/17/07

* 600 Iranian missiles said to be pointed at targets in Israel Six hundred Iranian Shihab-3 missiles are pointed at targets throughout Israel, and will be launched if either Iran or Syria are attacked, an Iranian website affiliated with the regime reported on Monday.

* Israelis 'blew apart Syrian nuclear cache' It was just after midnight when the 69th Squadron of Israeli F15Is crossed the Syrian coast-line.

* France warning of war with Iran French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner says the world should prepare for war over Iran's nuclear programme.

* PA Chairman Abbas threatens to boycott November peace summit Palestinian authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas will not attend Washington's regional peace summit in November unless Israel agrees to a reach an agreement with the Palestinians there, Abbas' associates told Haaretz Sunday, adding the summit could "prove dangerous".

* Sadr group quits Iraq ruling bloc The political movement loyal to radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr has withdrawn from Iraq's governing Shia alliance.

* Israeli astrophysicists help find oldest-known planet outside solar system The discovery of the oldest planet yet identified outside our solar system - just announced in the prestigious journal Nature - illustrates the process that is likely to lead to the sun burning out in approximately five billion years.

* Oil industry 'sleepwalking into crisis' Lord Oxburgh, the former chairman of Shell, has issued a stark warning that the price of oil could hit $150 per barrel, with oil production peaking within the next 20 years.

* 'Settlers must move to save their lives' Anita Finkelstein almost tossed the personally addressed letter from the "One House" movement warning that her home in the Tekoa settlement would soon be in "trapped in hostile territory" because it is located on the Palestinian side of the security barrier.

* Interior Ministry eyeballs biometric passports Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit recently declared that as Israel's passports and identity cards are easily counterfeited, he will push to replace all of them to increase security and meet the increasingly stringent requirements of other countries admitting Israeli visitors.

* Bush setting America up for war with Iran Senior American intelligence and defence officials believe that President George W Bush and his inner circle are taking steps to place America on the path to war with Iran, The Sunday Telegraph has learnt.

09/15/07

* Report: IAF attacked N. Korean nuclear shipment to Syria The secret IAF foray into Syrian airspace was in fact an Israeli air strike directly linked to a North Korean shipment of suspected nuclear material which was delivered to Syria three days before the attack.

* Putin 'may seek 2012 re-election' Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he expects to remain an influential figure in Russian politics after he steps down next March.

* Saudis, Egyptians refuse Mashaal visit The Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jareeda reported Friday that there is no communication between the group's leadership in Gaza and its leadership abroad.

* US claims HIzbullah still smuggling arms through Syria The US ambassador to Lebanon said on Friday that there was clear evidence the Shiite terror organization Hizbullah was still smuggling weapons across the Syrian border.

* Mubarak slams reports about his health as 'inciting chaos' Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Friday slammed recent media reports about his allegedly poor health and said they aim to provoke chaos.

* US sees religious freedom setbacks A US government report has said that conditions for religious freedoms have worsened in the Middle East and Central Asia.

* More than 90,000 Muslims arrive at Temple Mount Some 93,000 Muslim worshippers arrived at the Temple Mount for the first Friday prayer of the holy month of Ramadan.

* EU warns Ukraine on upcoming elections EU leaders have warned Ukraine it cannot expect deeper integration unless it tidies up its political mess in upcoming elections.

* Al-Qaida offers bounty for cartoonist The leader of al-Qaida in Iraq offered money for the murder of a Swedish cartoonist who recently produced images deemed insulting to Islam.

* US: Syria on nuclear watch list A senior US nuclear official said Friday that North Koreans were in Syria and that Damascus may have had contacts with "secret suppliers" to obtain nuclear equipment.

09/14/07

* Rice: US trying to stop spread of WMDs The United States is worried about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and is working to prevent such proliferation from occurring.

* Bush pledges Iraq troop reduction US President George W Bush has made a televised address backing a limited withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

* 'Turkey gave Israel intel on Syria' Turkey provided Israel with intelligence on Syria prior to last week's alleged IAF flyover into the country.

* Syria says not planning a military response to IAF air strike The Syrian deputy foreign minister said Friday that Damascus is not planning a military response.

* Russia's Zubkov confirmed as PM Viktor Zubkov has been confirmed as Russia's new prime minister and has pledged to wage a war on corruption.

* IDF blocks W. Bank Palestinians trying to reach Al-Aqsa Mosque Hundreds of Palestinians thronged two major West Bank checkpoints, trying to reach Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque on the first Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

* Fatah takes battle with Hamas to mosques Loyalists of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are taking their fight with Hamas to the mosques of the West Bank, to stop what they call Islamist brainwashing and recruiting.

* Iran Leader: Bush Will Be Tried President Bush will one day be tried in court just like deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein for his involvement in the Iraq tragedy, Iran's supreme leader said.

* China Cracks Down on One-Child Violators Urban Chinese who have more than one child will get a black mark on their credit record.

* 'Rice trip must set conference's agenda' Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit expressed hope Thursday that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's upcoming visit to the region will result in an agenda and location for a planned US-sponsored peace conference.

09/13/07

* Livni pushes UN to get tougher with Iran The UN Security Council should adopt more and tougher sanctions against Iran to try to halt Iran's nuclear program.

* Report: Israel spots nuclear installations in Syria Israel believes that North Korea has been supplying Syria and Iran with nuclear materials.

* Saudis question Middle East talks Saudi Arabia has said that a US-backed Middle East peace conference will be pointless unless it tackles key issues and sets a timetable for a final deal.

* Heightened state of alert announced over Rosh Hashana The security establishment has announced Tuesday the highest state of alert throughout Israel over Rosh Hashana.

* Ramadan begins across Muslim world Ramadan, a month of day-long fasting, spiritual reflection and sometimes night-long revelry, has begun for most of the world's 1.2 billion Muslims.

* Oil hits record on supply fears Oil prices have risen above $80 a barrel for the first time, a day after Opec moved to boost its output of crude in an effort to ease cost pressures.

* Ahmadinejad: Iran can help secure Iraq, Israel is 'cruel' Iran wants "peace and friendship for all," the country's president said Wednesday while again denying Western assertions his nation is pursuing nuclear weapons and trying to destabilize Iraq.

* Jews From 18 Countries Coming on Aliyah Jews from several countries around the globe will be making Aliyah [immigration to Israel] this coming week.

* Hamas urges militants not to target Israeli border crossings The Hamas government urged Gaza militants Thursday not to attack border crossings with Israel in order to ensure the flow of basic goods into Gaza during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

* Belgrade will not bargain on Kosovo, Serbian PM says The breakaway province of Kosovo cannot be the object of "any sort of trade or any sort of deal" with Belgrade.

09/12/07

* 'IAF targeted Iranian weapons in Syria' The Israel Air Force jets that allegedly infiltrated Syrian airspace early last Thursday apparently bombed an Iranian arms shipment that was being transferred to Hizbullah.

* Putin names next prime minister Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted the resignation of PM Mikhail Fradkov and nominated a financial crime investigator to replace him.

* 'Advisors to Assad pressuring him to respond with force' Advisors to Syrian President Bashar Assad are pressuring him to respond to the alleged IAF attack by "landing a blow to an Israeli target."

* Rosh HaShanah-Sabbath Holiday, Wed. Night thru Sat. Night The Jewish People begin nearly a month of holidays Wednesday evening: Two days of Rosh Hashanah, followed immediately by the Sabbath of Repentance.

* Powerful quake shakes Indonesia A powerful earthquake has struck off the western Indonesian island of Sumatra, sparking fears of a tsunami.

* Gaza Strip braces for IDF response Hamas began evacuating most of its security installations and civilian offices in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday.

* Russia tests giant fuel-air bomb The Russian air force has tested a giant fuel-air bomb which the military says is the biggest non-nuclear explosive device in the world.

* Euro hits new all-time high against U.S. dollar The euro hit a new all-time high against the U.S. dollar on Wednesday, climbing as high as US$1.3878 amid speculation that the Federal Reserve will soon cut interest rates.

* U.S. Officials Begin Crafting Iran Bombing Plan A recent decision by German officials to withhold support for any new sanctions against Iran has pushed a broad spectrum of officials in Washington to develop potential scenarios for a military attack on the Islamic regime.

* Security Forces on Highest Alert For Rosh HaShanah & Ramadan Israel’s security forces are on highest alert ahead of the Jewish holidays, which coincide this year with the Muslim month of Ramadan.

09/11/07

* New bin Laden video surfaces A new video purportedly featuring an introduction from al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was released Tuesday -- the sixth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington.

* Hamas: Kassam attack on IDF training base 'a victory from God' A Hamas spokesman praised Tuesday's rocket attack on an Israeli army base, calling it a "victory from God."

* Iraq welcomes US surge 'progress' The Iraqi government has welcomed a positive report on the progress of the US military surge in Iraq by the top US commander there.

* Abbas jets off to Jidda to get Saudis on board PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to fly to Saudi Arabia Tuesday and meet with the Saudi king.

* Syria warns flyovers will have tragic consequences Syria revved up Tuesday its rhetoric on Israel's reported violation of Syrian airspace.

* Yishai: Shas will quit gov't if Temple Mount is relinquished Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Eli Yishai said Tuesday morning that his ultra-Orthodox Shas party will leave the government if Israel relinquishes the Temple Mount.

* Hizbullah: IAF mission practice for Iran Hizbullah leaders on Monday joined those speculating about the mission, saying it was a practice IAF run to see whether Israel could penetrate into Iran.

* Chip implants linked to animal tumors When the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved implanting microchips in humans, the manufacturer said it would save lives.

* September 10 and history September 10 has been robbed of its importance as a day on its own accord, now deriving its significance from proximity to the date it precedes.

* Merkel supports Sarkozy on future of EU debate German chancellor Angela Merkel has backed France's idea of setting up a "council of the wise" to debate the future of Europe.

9/10/07

* Turkish FM slams Israel over fuel tanks Turkey on Monday called the discovery of fuel tanks allegedly dropped by IAF aircraft "unacceptable," and Syria branded it a "hostile act."

* Congress expected to grill general on violence data Congress is expected this week to pick apart U.S. military data suggesting attacks and civilian casualties in Baghdad have sharply decreased in recent months.

* Iran's nuclear foes 'racing to hell': Ahmadinejad President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday lashed out at his Western foes which demand Iran halt its sensitive nuclear activities, saying they were "racing to hell".

* Analysis: What's guiding Damascus? This weekend's report of Israeli air force activity over northeastern Syria along the Turkish- Syrian border on September 6 comes in the context of disturbing trends in Syrian military behavior.

* Pope says abortion "not a human right" Pope Benedict rejected the concept that abortion could be considered a human right on Friday and urged European leaders to do everything possible to raise birth rates and make their countries more child-friendly.

* Israel's population numbers 7.2 million This Rosh Hashana eve there are 7.2 million Israeli citizens in the country, according to data released Monday by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).

* Poll: Abbas's popularity on the rise Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's popularity has increased since his rivals from Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip, and the Palestinian leader would easily win a re-election if a vote were held today, according to a poll released Monday.

* Netanyahu: We're in 1939 Opposition leader says military option should be used if Iran about to get nuclear weapons.

* Olmert offers Abbas prisoner release ahead of Ramadan Prime Minister Ehud Olmert offered on Monday to release Palestinian prisoners ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, during a meeting with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in Jerusalem.

* Al-Qaida promises 9/11 hijacker video Al-Qaida said Monday that it will release a new video of Osama bin Laden presenting the last testament of one of the Sept. 11 suicide hijackers, marking the sixth anniversary of the attacks.

09/08/07

* Hanegbi: Israel and Syria don't have an interest in conflict "Israel and Syria don't have an interest in conflict, and the United States, along with Arab countries, are making sure not to cause unnecessary tension."

* 'Embrace Islam' Bin Laden urges A new video tape purportedly made by al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden has urged the American people to embrace Islam in order to stop the war in Iraq.

* Syrian paper slams US-Israel cooperation A Syrian government newspaper accused the US on Saturday of encouraging Israel's reported violation of Syrian airspace by remaining silent on the issue.

* Arab League says pullout condition for negotiations Secretary-General of the Arab League Amr Moussa has demanded the evacuation of settlements as a condition to the continuation of peace negotiations.

* 'Israel and occupation will disappear' "Like the Israeli terror was leashed on Syria two days ago, it will reach each and every Muslim country if we remain in this situation."

* Putin, Bush fail to ease missile defense tension US President George W. Bush and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin failed to make clear progress in talks Friday to defuse tensions over US missile defense plans that have angered Moscow.

* Sources: Petraeus wants no troop cuts until spring The top U.S. commander in Iraq will recommend to President Bush that current U.S. troop levels be maintained in Iraq through next spring.

* Fast-track treaty talks start in Portugal The first test of whether the fast-track timetable for the new EU treaty has a chance of succeeding will took place (7 September).

* Oil price tests an all-time high The price of oil has risen close to a record level, putting more pressure on Opec to give a positive signal about production levels at its meeting in Vienna next week.

* Syrian president denies working against stability in Iraq Syria's president has denied in an interview with CBS anchor Katie Couric that his government is allowing terrorists entry into Iraq.