12/21/07

* Australia kicks off New Year's parties A million revelers in Australia staked out prime spots along Sydney's iconic Harbor Bridge foreshore Monday, ushering in 2008 with a massive fireworks display.

* Scores dead in Kenya poll clashes Scores of people have been killed across Kenya in violence blamed on the disputed presidential election.

* 'Iran can help Egypt get nuclear energy' Iran is willing to assist Egypt in developing the technology to produce nuclear energy, Ali Larijani, the head of Iran's National Security Council, said on Sunday.

* Intel Community: 'Military killed Bhutto' Lower and middle level officers of the Pakistani army and the Pakistani air force were involved in the killing of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, according to various intelligence sources, including members of India's counter-intelligence service.

* Abbas expected to urge Hamas to accept early elections Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is expected on Monday to urge Hamas Islamists to agree to early elections, cede control of the Gaza Strip and hold talks with his Fatah faction, a Palestinian official said.

* Barak: Onus for conduct of war lies with government Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Monday that the overall responsibility for the conduct of the Second Lebanon War, including the decision to enter it and the decision to exit it, rests on the shoulders of the political echelon, regardless of the fact that the Knesset Foreign Affairs Committee chose not to focus on the government in its report.

* PM must OK new W. Bank construction As first reported by The Jerusalem Post on Sunday, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has instructed government ministers that any new West Bank construction must first be authorized by him and Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

* UN to begin Darfur peace mission The new United Nations peacekeeping force for Darfur in Sudan is due to start its operations.

* Kosovo to test Slovenia leaders Sixteen years after independence, Slovenia takes up the presidency of the EU on Tuesday, offering to act as a bridge with the Balkans.

* Sharif opposes Pakistan election delay Former Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif said today that elections should be held on time on Jan 8, adding that President Pervez Musharraf should be replaced by a national unity government.

12/29/07

* French president offers to assist Egypt's nuclear program French President Nicolas Sarkozy has expressed his country's willingness to assist Egypt's nuclear program.

* Iraq: al-Qaida 75 Percent Gone Iraq's interior ministry spokesman said Saturday that 75 percent of al-Qaida in Iraq's terrorist network had been destroyed this year.

* Bhutto's cause of death disputed Benazir Bhutto's supporters say the Pakistani government's account of how she died is "dangerous nonsense".

* Group: Bin Laden to Release Iraq Message Terror leader Osama bin Laden will release a new Internet message that focuses on Iraq and an al-Qaida linked insurgent group.

* Pope's exorcist squads will wage war on Satan The Pope has ordered his bishops to set up exorcism squads to tackle the rise of Satanism.

* 'Ethiopian Jewish life will continue' A collection of American-Jewish organizations, with the full support of the Ethiopian government, are forging ahead with plans to open a Jewish school and continue aid operations in Ethiopia.

* Oil sinks after $100 flirtation Oil prices fell in highly volatile trading on Wednesday after coming within striking distance of the $100 a barrel level.

* Jordan rebuffs Hamas bid to revive ties Jordan has twice in recent months rejected requests from the Damascus-based Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal to reestablish formal Jordan-Hamas relations.

* Yuan at new high vs dollar, ends above mid-point China's yuan hit a fresh post-revaluation high against the dollar on Friday and closed above its mid-point for the first time in a week.

* Official says PA dismantling Al-Aqsa and other militant groups The top Palestinian security official said on Saturday his government was dismantling militant groups.

12/28/07

* Pakistanis mourn at Bhutto burial Tens of thousands of people have attended the funeral of assassinated Pakistani politician Benazir Bhutto.

* 'Bhutto could've been bridge to Muslims' Israeli leaders paid tribute to slain Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto on Thursday, even though Israel and Pakistan do not have diplomatic ties.

* US election focus turns overseas US presidential hopefuls are battling for political advantage in the final days before the Iowa caucuses on 3 January start the nominating contest.

* Foreign Ministry plans to drop Syria from 'radical axis' list The Foreign Ministry has placed the Syrian issue as one of its central objectives for 2008.

* Japan and China pledge closer ties Japan's prime minister has urged China to use its growing influence to make an impact on global issues like climate change.

* PM to Abbas: Israel won't undermine final status talks Israel will not undermine negotiations toward a final-status agreement, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert promised Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

* Olmert Caves in to US: No Construction in Har Homa, Atarot As a result of the United States government's demands upon the government of Israel, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has ordered a halt to all construction in Judea, Samaria and parts of Jerusalem.

* Iran receives second shipment of nuclear fuel Russia has transferred a second shipment of nuclear fuel to the Iranian nuclear reactor at Bushehr.

* A grim year 2007 for Pakistan It has been a grim year for Pakistan. Since the start of 2007 the country has experienced 54 suicide terrorist attacks, including two Thursday, one of which killed Benazir Bhutto.

* Proud Portugal leaves mixed EU presidency record With Portugal at its chair, the EU completed two major projects – its new treaty and an expansion of its passport free zone to include nine new member states.

12/27/07

* Benazir Bhutto killed in attack Pakistani former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has been killed in a presumed suicide attack.

* 'Mubarak proposed Golan withdrawal' Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak presented Defense Minister Ehud Barak with a full plan to bring Syria and Israel back to the negotiating table.

* Olmert, Abbas try to revive talks The Palestinian and Israeli leaders are preparing for talks to try to stop the peace process being overshadowed by a row over Jewish settlement activity.

* Turkey worried Israel's support waning over Kurd issue Security sources told Haaretz on Wednesday that as Turkey steps up its offensive operations against the rebel Kurdish forces operating in northern Iraq, there is increased suspicion.

* Serbian MPs issue Kosovo warning The Serbian parliament has voted overwhelmingly to condemn any attempt by Kosovo to become independent.

* 200 New Immigrants on Final Nefesh B'Nefesh Flight in 2007 Some 200 new immigrants stepped on to the tarmac at Ben Gurion International Airport Thursday morning.

* Russia tests ballistic missiles Russia has successfully tested two intercontinental ballistic missiles that are to replace ageing rockets from the Soviet era.

* Groups appeal state bid to wrap up mass Ethiopian immigration Petitioners took action Wednesday against the planned return next week of Interior Ministry officials stationed in Ethiopia.

* Putin heir Medvedev's popularity soars The popularity of Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has more than doubled since President Vladimir Putin named him his preferred successor two weeks ago.

* Iraq: US Troops Target Splinter Group U.S. troops killed 11 members of a Mahdi Army splinter group early Thursday.

12/26/07

* Report says Iran has built a supercomputer Iran has successfully built a supercomputer, Channel 2 reported Tuesday evening.

* Egypt: Israeli construction in and around J'lem threatens peace Cairo criticized Israel's renewed efforts to build houses in East Jerusalem and in West Bank settlements, calling them damaging to the peace process.

* Iran unveils weapons deal with Russia Russia will supply Iran with the advanced S-300 surface-air missile system in accordance with an agreement sealed Tuesday night.

* Turkish jets in fresh Iraq strike Turkish warplanes have again launched strikes on Kurdish rebel targets in northern Iraq, officials say.

* Olmert 'awaits answer on Syria talks' Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday relayed to Syrian President Bashar Assad the message that "a lot has changed in relations between Israel and Syria."

* Pope calls for end to conflicts Pope Benedict XVI has appealed for just solutions to the conflicts in the Middle East, Iraq, Africa and elsewhere in his annual Christmas message.

* Survey: Annapolis was a big disappointment While the Annapolis peace conference has yet to fulfill its promise of bringing Israelis and Palestinians together in peaceful harmony, it has apparently succeeded in bringing them together on another issue.

* Questions and Answers About Americans’ Religion This time of year provides an opportunity to answer frequently asked questions about exactly where America stands today in regard to religion, based on Gallup's extensive archives.

* Iranian Jews find new homes in Israel Greeted by joyous relatives and a crowd of reporters, about 40 Iranian Jews landed in Israel on Tuesday, leaving behind their lives in the Islamic republic for new homes in the Jewish state.

* And Out of Zion Will Come the World's First Nano-Torah Out of Zion has come the world’s tiniest Bible, engraved in gold on silicon, to illustrate the science of nanotechnology.

12/24/07

* 'Israel could survive nuclear war' If a nuclear war between Israel and Iran were to break out 16-20 million Iranians would lose their lives - as opposed to 200,000-800,000 Israelis, according to a report recently published by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

* IDF scales back Bethlehem ops for Xmas The IDF began scaling back its operations in Bethlehem and the city's outlying areas on Sunday ahead of the expected arrival of more than 60,000 Christian pilgrims to the city in the next few days to participate in Christmas celebrations.

* Russia seeks role in Israel-Syria talks Russia wants to "facilitate" talks between Israel and Syria and in the last few months has conveyed messages from Damascus to Jerusalem, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

* Fatah map shows all of Israel as Palestine Fatah is planning to mark its 43rd anniversary this year with a new poster that presents all of Israel as Palestine.

* Jewish 'return' hits 20-year low The Israeli government says Jewish immigration to Israel has fallen to its lowest level in 20 years, with fewer than 20,000 Jews arriving in 2007.

* Report: New round of Israel-PA talks to focus on E. J'lem building plans The Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams are set to meet on Monday for the second time since the regional peace conference held last month in Annapolis, Maryland.

* Kurdish self-determination 'by all means' Geography, history -- and geopolitics -- has not been very kind to the Kurdish people.

* Western immigration up, despite trends While Immigrant Absorption Ministry data show that aliya figures are down about 9.3 percent for 2007, immigration is up in countries in which Nefesh B'Nefesh operates, according to the organization.

* Blair Catholic service 'moving' The service to receive former Prime Minister Tony Blair into the Roman Catholic Church was "moving", Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor has said.

* Sabbah slammed for challenging 'Jewish state' Two of the largest Jewish advocacy groups in the world harshly criticized the highest-ranking Catholic Church official in Jerusalem for challenging Israel's right to continue to exist as a Jewish state.

12/22/07

* Syria threatens to hit Dimona reactor "If Syria feels threatened by Israel, it will be hard to stop our missile operators from responding to the Israeli aggression by attacking the Dimona nuclear reactor."

* Saudis 'foil hajj attack plot' Saudi Arabia has arrested a group of men said to have been planning a "terrorist act" during the annual Muslim pilgrimage.

* 'Ditch nuke program, then we'll talk' US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday she was ready to meet her Iranian counterpart if Teheran abandoned its nuclear ambitions.

* Sarkozy warns of Taleban threat French President Nicolas Sarkozy has warned the international community must not let Afghanistan fall into the hands of extremists like the Taleban.

* Hamas weighing unconditional truce with Israel A senior Hamas official In Gaza said that his organization may offer Israel an unconditional truce in the Strip.

* Tony Blair joins Catholic faith Former PM Tony Blair has converted from the Anglican to the Catholic Church.

* UN: PA donors' conference is step towards Palestinian state The United Nations Security Council called this week's Palestinian Authority donors conference a "strong signal of support for the Palestinian people".

* Zawahiri's e-town meetings Ayman al-Zawahiri, the al-Qaida leader who is nominally Osama bin Laden's deputy, is holding an on-line version of the town meetings that have become such a feature of the American political campaign.

* EU marks 'historical' enlargement of borderless zone The EU's borderless zone expanded to nine mostly eastern European countries at midnight on Friday (21 December) in its biggest enlargement so far.

* Hizbullah deputy leader blasts Bush Hizbullah denounced US President George W. Bush for urging Lebanon's anti-Syrian lawmakers to push through their own choice for president if necessary to resolve a long political deadlock.

12/21/07

* 'Israel will attack Iran on its own' "I came back from a trip to Israel in November convinced that Israel would attack Iran," Bruce Riedel, a former CIA official and senior adviser to three US presidents, George W. Bush among them, told the American Newsweek magazine.

* PA TV Brings Back Program Showcasing Martyrs' "70 Virgins" A Palestinian Authority TV mainstay is back on the screen, with the Virgins of Paradise reminding would-be suicide bomber terrorist shahids (martyrs) of the reward that awaits them.

* 'Fall of Hamas needed to promote peace' A military incursion into Gaza to remove Hamas is needed if there is to be any real diplomatic process with the Palestinians.

* Olmert Gov't Bows to US Pressure, Nixes J'lem Neighborhood Wednesday's leak of a municipal plan to build a new Jerusalem neighborhood on land of a moshav destroyed in the War of Independence has caused the repudiation of the plan in the face of American pressure.

* Russian gas deal dashes EU hopes Russia, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan have signed a landmark deal to build a gas pipeline.

* 'Ramon pursuing bill promoting voluntary W. Bank evacuation' Deputy Prime Minister Haim Ramon is looking into possible legislation which would offer compensation to settlers willing to leave their West Bank residencies.

* Petraeus lauds Iraq violence fall The top US military commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, has described the recent fall in violence in Iraq as a "significant accomplishment".

* Millions stone the devil The 60-year-old Egyptian farmer spent years scraping together $11,000 to bring his wife and son here to perform Islam's hajj pilgrimage.

* Putin, the Kremlin power struggle and the $40bn fortune An unprecedented battle is taking place inside the Kremlin in advance of Vladimir Putin's departure from office.

* Over 400 Prominent Scientists Disputed Man-Made Global Warming Claims in 2007 Over 400 prominent scientists from more than two dozen countries recently voiced significant objections to major aspects of the so-called "consensus" on man-made global warming.

12/20/07

* 'Israel almost unable to counter Kassam' Israel's ability to counter and deal with the threat of Kassam rockets fired from the Gaza Strip is limited and almost non-existent.

* Zawahiri invites media questions Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-Qaeda's second most senior leader, is to answer questions submitted by journalists.

* 'Nuclear bunker being built for Olmert' Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office issued a statement Thursday strongly denying a report that Olmert's residence was being outfitted with a bunker that can withstand a nuclear or chemical attack.

* Israel says it opposes Russian plans for Moscow peace summit Israel said Thursday it is opposed to Russian plans to stage a Middle East peace conference in Moscow within the coming months as a follow-up to the recent Annapolis summit.

* Israel Gov't, Police Stand by as Hamas Broadcasts from Temple Mt More Olmert-Fatah-Hamas collusion: Hamas has been given exclusive radio broadcast rights from the Temple Mount this week - while Jews mourning the First Temple siege are banned from the site.

* Ceremony marks extended EU border A checkpoint between Austria and Slovakia has been dismantled in a symbolic ceremony marking the enlargement of the Schengen area.

* Archbishop says nativity 'a legend' Dr Rowan Williams has claimed there was little evidence that the Magi even existed and there was certainly nothing to prove there were three of them or that they were kings.

* Mohammed now second most popular boys' name in Britain For the last 13 years Jack has been the most popular boys' name in the land.

* Experts: Extreme rightists will use violence if settlements are evacuated Extreme right-wing activists are expected to use severe violence to disrupt any move to evacuate outposts or settlements, even the destruction of a few homes.

* Christian supporters of Israel to sit on Jewish Agency board The Jewish Agency for Israel and the International Fellowship for Christians and Jews, led by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, have signed an agreement expanding cooperation between the two organizations.

12/19/07

* Ex-MI Chief: NIE will enable Iran to get nukes Iran's covert nuclear weapons program is continuing, and the American intelligence community's misassessment of it has opened the door for Iran to achieve its nuclear ambitions.

* Putin named 'Person of the Year' Russian President Vladimir Putin has been named as Time Magazine's "Person of the Year".

* Assad: I turned down an offer to buy nuclear weapons Syrian President Bashar Assad turned down an offer to buy nuclear missiles from Pakistani weapons smugglers in 2001.

* Kurds: We will defend civilians Kurdish authorities in northern Iraq said Wednesday that their forces would defend civilians if they were caught up in any fighting between Turkish troops and Kurdish rebels.

* US not told of Turkish air strikes in n. Iraq US military commanders in Iraq didn't know Turkey was sending warplanes to bomb in northern Iraq until the planes had already crossed the border.

* Sarkozy: I've reached the end of the road with Assad "I've reached the end of the road with (Syrian President Bashar) Assad," French President Nicolas Sarkozy told reporters.

* Catholic leader rejects 'Jewish state' Israel's identity as a Jewish state discriminates against non-Jews, the Holy Land's top Roman Catholic clergyman said.

* Ahmadinejad takes part in the Hajj Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the president of Iran, joined millions of Muslims on Mount Arafat, east of Mecca, to mark the spiritual high point of the Hajj.

* Iran: Russia nuclear fuel enhances ties Russia's first shipment of nuclear fuel for Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant will strengthen strategic ties between Tehran and Moscow.

* Part III: The Abandonment of Jewish Farmers in Judea and Samaria Human rights week in Israel heralds the publication of a plethora of reports by groups funded by the European Union and the New Israel Fund, on the alleged mistreatment of Arabs in Israel.

12/18/07

* Turkish soldiers cross into Iraq About 300 Turkish troops have crossed into northern Iraq in a raid against Kurdish rebels, Iraqi officials say.

* IDF kills at least 13 Islamic Jihad, Hamas militants The Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday continued its assault on Gaza Strip militants responsible for the Qassam rockets that batter southern Israel on a daily basis.

* Putin's plan to keep power fraught with risks President Vladimir Putin's plan to hold on to power in Russia after his term ends has pleased investors and nations who want business as usual in the Kremlin.

* Abbas: Talks threatened by settlements Israeli settlement expansion poses a serious obstacle to Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said.

* World food stocks dwindling rapidly, UN warns In an "unforeseen and unprecedented" shift, the world food supply is dwindling rapidly and food prices are soaring to historic levels.

* PM: PA negotiators, Abbas out of sync Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has instructed Israeli negotiators to work on sealing an agreement with the Palestinians as quickly as possible.

* Black hole 'bully' blasts galaxy A powerful jet of particles from a "supermassive" black hole has been seen blasting a nearby galaxy, according to the US space agency (Nasa).

* Pilgrims in Arafat for Hajj rite Muslim pilgrims have poured onto Mount Arafat east of Mecca to mark the climax of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

* Rice visits Iraq's volatile north US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has made an unannounced visit to the volatile northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk.

* Turkey set for small step ahead in EU talks EU member states have agreed to take a small step ahead with Turkey's EU accession talks by opening two negotiating chapters.

12/17/07

* Russia ships nuclear fuel to Iran Russia has delivered its first shipment of nuclear fuel to a reactor it is helping to build at Bushehr in Iran.

* Putin ready to be PM after polls Russian President Vladimir Putin says he will become prime minister if his chosen successor, Dmitry Medvedev, wins the presidential election in March.

* Abbas rules out talks with Hamas, says Gaza heading to Catastrophe Palestinian President speaks before international Conference of Donors, says time has come for both Palestinians, Israelis to comprehensively implement road map.

* IAF: Training Abroad for the 'Real Thing' The Israel Air Force has been conducting an increasing number of training missions outside of Israel, over the Mediterranean, in the United States, Canada, Italy and other countries.

* US denies backing Turkey PKK raid The US has denied it gave permission for Turkish aircraft to carry out air strikes against Kurdish PKK separatist rebels in northern Iraq on Sunday.

* Technion releases first ever nano-Bible The entire vowelled-Hebrew text of the Bible has been inscribed by Technion scientists on a gold-coated silicon surface smaller than the head of a pin.

* Experts warn major Israel quakes fast approaching As if political instability and rampant insecurity in the Middle East are not worrying enough, Israeli experts are warning that a major earthquake could strike the region at any time.

* Big Morning for Pal. Auth.: Over $2 Billion Already Pledged Though PA leader Mahmoud Abbas has taken no steps to stop terrorism against Israel, he is being greeted at an international conference in Paris with admiration - and money.

* Al-Zawahiri: British 'fleeing' Iraq Ayman al-Zawahiri, the deputy leader of al-Qaeda, has said the British handover of security in Basra province proves fighters in Iraq are gaining the upper hand.

* Muslim pilgrims leave Mecca city at start of haj The annual haj pilgrimage began in Mecca on Monday when hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims put on white clothes, packed their bags and left for a tented encampment on the edge of the holy city.

12/15/07

* 'Gaza Strip will become a graveyard for IDF soldiers' "The IDF's withdrawal from Gaza will be nothing like its invasion, the Strip will become a graveyard for its troops."

* Sarkozy says 'reflection group' will discuss EU borders French president Nicolas Sarkozy has said that a committee set up to examine forthcoming EU challenges will discuss the future borders of the bloc.

* Security Council extends UN mission along Israeli-Syrian border The UN Security Council voted unanimously Friday to extend the UN peacekeeping mission along the Israeli-Syrian border.

* Dichter: NIE proves that Israel failed Washington's stance on the Iranian nuclear threat in the wake of the National Intelligence Estimate will lead to a "regional Yom Kippur."

* Iraqi oil exceeds pre-war output Iraqi oil production is above the levels seen before the US-led invasion of the country in 2003, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

* U.S. envoy urges Lebanon to quickly name new president Lebanon should move swiftly to elect a president, a U.S. envoy said.

* Musharraf ends Pakistan emergency Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has lifted a state of emergency and restored the country's constitution.

* EU agrees on Kosovo mission The European Union has given the political green-light to a 1,800-strong police and civilian mission.

* Belarus backs Russia on missiles Belarus says it is ready to "play its role" as a Russian ally if the US overrides Moscow's objections and creates new missile bases in Europe.

* Climate deal sealed by US U-turn Delegates at the UN summit in Bali have agreed a deal on curbing climate change after days of bitter wrangling.

12/14/07

* Israel, U.S. to meet to discuss differing assessments on Iran Israeli and American officials involved in the intelligence analysis of Iran's nuclear efforts will meet soon.

* Fatah official detained in Gaza Hamas, the Palestinian militant group in control of the Gaza Strip, says it is holding a key adviser to Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.

* Assad: Syria-Iran alliance unshakeable Syrian President Bashar Assad rejected claims that Syria's alliance with Iran had been weakened by Damascus' participation in last month's US-sponsored Mideast peace conference.

* Report: Hamas to escalate attacks on Israel Hamas has asked Iran to allow the organization to escalate its altercations with Israel.

* Al-Qaeda tape rejects Annapolis Al-Qaeda's deputy leader has purportedly said Arab leaders have betrayed the Palestinians by attending US-hosted Middle East talks last month.

* EU promises 'robust' action against Iran European diplomats here promised "robust" action from the European Union on Iran.

* EU offers Serbia deal on Kosovo European Union leaders have offered Serbia a fast-track route towards candidacy for EU membership.

* Vatican defends its 'right to spread its message' The Vatican, which has been accused of aggressively seeking souls in Russia and some other countries, said Friday it has every right to spread its message.

* Poll: Americans Have Overwhelming Support for Israel Americans' support for Israel in the conflict with the Arabs of Judea, Samaria and Gaza remains extremely high.

* EU leaders to hail benefits of globalisation Now that the EU's six-year long institutional impasse has ended, the 27-nation bloc is turning its attention to the outside challenge of globalisation.

12/13/07

* EU leaders sign landmark treaty EU leaders have signed a treaty in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, that is expected to greatly alter the way the 27-nation body operates.

* Report: Nasrallah demoted by Khamenei Some of Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah's responsibilities have been taken away by the organization's backer, Iran.

* EU rights charter signing attracts protest The leaders of the three main European institutions on Wednesday (12 December) signed a charter of fundamental rights that will be annexed to the EU's new treaty.

* Putin heads to Belarus for talks on merger Vladimir Putin could become the leader of a land even larger than Russia.

* Palestinian anti-terror forces training in Russia Palestinian forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have been sent for covert training sessions at a secret base in Russia.

* Saturn's rings 'may live forever' Saturn's iconic rings may be much older than we thought, scientists say.

* Russia, Iran agree on plant completion Russia and Iran reached an agreement Thursday on a schedule for finishing construction of the Bushehr nuclear plant.

* Ahmadinejad invited to be pilgrim Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will this week become the first sitting president of the Islamic republic to perform the pilgrimage to Mecca, his office said.

* The case against Kosovo independence If I were to say that Israel deserved to qualify for the European championship, most local football fans might agree. Israel played really well.

* Barak Agreed To Hand Temple Mount & Yesha to Arabs in 2000 Talks According to a document brought out of mothballs seven years after it was signed, Defense Minister Ehud Barak – then Prime Minister of Israel – agreed to transfer the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Judaism's holiest site, to Arab sovereignty.

12/12/07

* Ashkenazi: Growing possibility of large-scale Gaza op The possibility of a large-scale IDF operation in the Gaza Strip is growing, Chief of Staff Lt. -Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi said.

* Mid-East sides begin peace talks Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have started the first formal peace talks in seven years.

* 'France worried by Iran-Israel tension' French President Nicolas Sarkozy said in an interview published Wednesday that there is a danger of war erupting over Iran's nuclear program.

* Beirut: Army chief's successor killed An early morning bomb attack killed one of Lebanon's top military generals and at least three others as they drove through a Christian suburb of Beirut.

* Halevy: Israel must be in on US-Iran talks Highlighting new indications that the US government will directly engage with Iran in the near future on all issues including its nuclear program, former Mossad head Efraim Halevy said Tuesday that Israel must ensure that it is a direct participant.

* Palestinians want 'low-key' peace talks Israeli officials said the negotiations with the Palestinians on a permanent agreement will commence as scheduled on Wednesday.

* EU to fund pan-European radio station Radio fans will from next year onwards be able to tune in to a new pan-European station.

* Survey: U.S. Jews are losing interest in Israel American Jews are losing interest in Israel, according to figures released Tuesday in the American Jewish Committee 2007 Annual Survey of American Jewish Opinion.

* First names floated for Sarkozy's EU 'reflection' group The first names for who should head a 'reflection group' on the EU's future have started to be floated.

* Russia withdraws from arms treaty Russia has withdrawn from a key Cold War treaty setting limits on troops and weapons across Europe.

12/11/07

* Iranian opposition: Teheran resumed nuke program in 2004 An exiled Iranian opposition group on Tuesday contested a US intelligence report that said Teheran halted a nuclear weapons development program in 2003.

* Palestinian negotiators to urge settlement freeze during talks Palestinians will attend peace talks this week despite a plan by Israel to build new homes in East Jerusalem.

* Mashaal: Hamas ready to cede control Damascus-based Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal confirmed that the Islamic group would return control of security and government institutions in Gaza to the Palestinian Authority.

* Dozens killed in Algeria bombings At least 62 people have died in two bomb blasts in the Algerian capital, Algiers, officials have said.

* 8 gunmen killed as IDF ends Gaza op Eight Palestinian gunmen were killed and at least 10 wounded on Tuesday as IDF tanks and bulldozers backed by attack aircraft moved into the southern Gaza Strip.

* Medvedev says Putin should be PM Russian President Vladimir Putin should become prime minister after stepping down next year, his chosen successor Dmitry Medvedev says.

* Support Sought for Temple Mount Synagogue Haifa's long-time Chief Rabbi She'ar-Yashuv Cohen, who has taken part in many interfaith conferences and gatherings with Moslem religious leaders, says he's trying to gather support for a synagogue on the Temple Mount.

* France scores symbolic victory against Turkish EU membership France has scored a symbolic victory in its battle against Turkey joining the European Union by succeeding in removing the word 'accession' from an EU document.

* Moscow pushing for follow-up Mideast peace summit in April The United States supports the holding of a second peace conference in Moscow that would address Israel's conflicts with Syria and Lebanon as well as the Palestinian issue.

* EU moves closer towards unity on Kosovo The European Union has moved a step closer towards unity on Kosovo.

12/10/07

* PM: Israel to expose nuclear arms program Israel does not accept the bottom line of the US National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003, and will continue its efforts to halt the Iranian nuclear program.

* PM pledges to 'forge historic path' toward peace deal On the eve of the first peace talks in nearly seven years, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday promised to "forge a historic path" toward a final settlement with the Palestinians.

* Ramon: Cede part of Jerusalem to Palestinians Vice premier defends construction project in contested Jerusalem neighborhood but says Israel should consider handing over the city's Arab areas to the Palestinian Authority so as not to lose crucial US support.

* Egypt, Saudi Arabia Attempt Another Fatah-Hamas Unity Government For the second time in less than a year, leaders of two major Arab nations are working hard to bring the Fatah and Hamas terrorist factions together in a new unity Palestinian Authority unity government.

* Shas minister: Americans' attitude to report reminiscent of Auschwitz Yitzhak Cohen says during cabinet meeting 'US intelligence report was ordered by someone who wants dialogue with Tehran.

* 'Early independence' for Kosovo Kosovo will declare independence from Serbia "much earlier" than the expected month of May, a spokesman says.

* Israel wants citizens abroad back home Israel is trying to persuade hundreds of thousands of its citizens living overseas to return home in a project to coincide with the state's 60th anniversary next year.

* Putin sees Medvedev as successor Russian leader Vladimir Putin has backed First Deputy PM Dmitry Medvedev to replace him as president next year.

* Top level talks on Lebanon crisis Lebanon's army chief and potential president, Gen Michel Suleiman, has met the head of the Maronite church amid efforts to end the political crisis.

* Arab Christians try new ways to sustain spirit On a November weekend, over 10,000 Arab Christians, mostly from Egypt, boarded hundreds of buses headed to a desert camp outside Cairo for three days of non-traditional worship.

12/08/07

* Iranian letter accuses US of spying on its nuclear activity Iran has sent an accusatory letter to the United States, accusing it of spying on Iranian nuclear activity.

* EU host hails 'summit of equals' The host of the first meeting of EU and African leaders for seven years has described their gathering as a "summit of equals".

* Sneh: US intel report on Iran 'flawed' A US intelligence report that says Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003 is flawed.

* Lebanon presidential vote postponed Parliament on Friday again failed to meet on electing a new president, as Lebanon's factions deadlocked over a tangle of issues.

* 'Nothing can stop Har Homa construction' Nothing can prevent the new construction in Har Homa since it is within the municipal borders of the capital.

* Iran threatens Mid-East, US says US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has warned that Iran still poses a serious threat to the Middle East and the US.

* New Settlement Bid a Maccabean Effort Looking to the Maccabees for inspiration on how to respond to the events of today, activists will settle eight more hilltops Sunday.

* Serbia calls for more Kosovo talks in Belgrade Serb Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica on Saturday warned Kosovo Albanians against an "illegal" declaration of independence.

* Poll: Few West Bank settlers willing to leave homes for cash Only a small minority of settlers would leave their West Bank homes voluntarily if the government were to pay them compensation.

* 'Al Quds': Gaza groups weigh cease-fire Fears of an IDF incursion into Gaza have prompted top officials from Palestinian factions to hold a series of intensive meetings in Damascus.

12/07/07

* Thousands come to J'lem to protest plans to divide capital It was with a sense of religious fervor that the thousands of people who came Thursday to the Jerusalem International Convention Center sang Shuli Natan's "Jerusalem of Gold."

* Decision time on Iran nearing, Livni says Iran is close to crossing a technological threshold after which it will be able to secretly produce nuclear weapons without supervision.

* IDF to show US nuclear data on Iran Military Intelligence will present its hard core evidence on the Islamic Republic's nuclear program on Sunday.

* New PA Law: Negotiating Jerusalem is an Act of Treason The PA legislature has passed the first reading of a law forbidding any concessions in, or even negotiations regarding, Jerusalem.

* UN chief: Israel's settlement expansion plan 'not helpful' UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Thursday said Israel's decision to expand a Jewish settlement in east Jerusalem was "not helpful".

* Serbian official threatens to go to war over Kosovo The EU special envoy on Kosovo yesterday demanded the retraction of a threat by a senior Serbian official.

* Kenya battles swarms of locusts Kenyan authorities are battling swarms of locusts, which are reported to have damaged crops.

* Putin's party to name 'successor' President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party, which won a huge majority in recent parliamentary elections, is to choose its presidential candidate.

* Russia accuses US of backtracking on missile shield Washington has indicated it is willing to "refine" its plans to place parts of a missile defence shield in Central Europe to accommodate Russian concerns.

* Mofaz warns: Don't negotiate with Abbas Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz warned Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in a speech to Kadima activists in Petah Tikva on Thursday that he should not negotiate with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.