Saturday, July 21, 2007

07/21/07

* Lieberman: It is time to form an emergency government Israel Beiteinu's Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman urged the government and the opposition to consider forming a national emergency government.

* Turkey prepares for key election Political campaigning has ended in Turkey ahead of Sunday's general election, seen as one of the most important in the nation's history.

* PM: Israel can't hold West Bank forever Anyone who believes that Israel can maintain its current hold on all the West Bank is "living in a dream."

* Blair seeks two-state solution Tony Blair, Britain's former prime minister, has told Middle East mediators that there needs to be a "clear political perspective" for a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

* Eitan: We must not negotiate with Syria Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to Damascus proves that Israel must not open negotiations with Syria.

* Russia says only UN can decide the future of Kosovo Russia's Foreign Ministry said Saturday that only a UN Security Council's resolution could determine a legitimate status of Kosovo.

* 'Israel, Abbas plan to kill our leaders' Hamas leaders on Thursday condemned Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's decision to hold early parliamentary and presidential elections and vowed to foil the vote.

* 'Syrian officials interested in renewing talks with Israel' Senior Syrian officials told the Danish foreign minister, Per Stig Møller, that their country was "ready to renew negotiations with Israel under the auspices of the international Quartet."

* Poland indicates it is ready to compromise on EU voting rights Days before EU's foreign ministers kick off detailed talks on the bloc's new treaty, Poland has signalled it will not insist on further debates.

* Hamas warns Blair not to ignore group Hamas warned Tony Blair on Saturday his credibility as the new international Middle East peace envoy will be damaged if he ignores the organization.