Tuesday, May 15, 2007

05/15/07

* PM: 'We're ready to invite Arab leaders without preconditions' "We are ready to come and to invite" Arab leaders "without preconditions from our side or theirs," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told reporters.

* Atomic Agency Concludes Iran Is Stepping Up Nuclear Work Inspectors for the International Atomic Energy Agency have concluded that Iran appears to have solved most of its technological problems and is now beginning to enrich uranium on a far larger scale than before.

* Mossad Chief Warns of Syrian 'Tactical' Negotiations The director of the Israeli espionage agency, the Mossad, told a closed government meeting last week that Syria was broadcasting messages indicating a willingness to enter into negotiations with Israel.

* US, Russia 'to moderate rhetoric' Russian President Vladimir Putin and visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have agreed to tone down the rhetoric in public exchanges.

* Pakistan proposes Muslim peace-keeping force in Iraq Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf proposed sending a Muslim peace-keeping force to Iraq as foreign ministers of Islamic countries met on Tuesday to discuss problems facing the Muslim world.

* European parliament marks Jerusalem Day While Israeli officials slammed European diplomats' boycott of the Knesset's Jerusalem Day celebration.

* Religious Zionists to continue visits to Temple Mount Religious Zionist rabbis and yeshiva students are planning to continue their visits to the Temple Mount.

* Portugal pushes for June treaty deal As incoming EU presidency in the second half of this year, Portugal has made it clear that if there is no significant agreement on a new treaty in six weeks time.

* Central Bureau of Statistics figures show J'lem is Israel's largest city Jerusalem is Israel's largest city, with a jurisdiction of 126,000 dunam and 732,000 residents.

* Gaza faction boosts police ranks About 500 Fatah loyalists have returned to Gaza from police training in Egypt as factional fighting escalates with Fatah's main Palestinian rival, Hamas.

* US evangelist Jerry Falwell dies Leading US conservative evangelist Rev Jerry Falwell has died in hospital in Virginia after being found unconscious in his office, his assistants said.