Monday, March 31, 2008

03/31/08

* Jordan: Collapse of Israel-Palestinian talks 'threatens region' Unilateral measures taken by Israel main obstacle for peace, King Abdullah tells Rice during Amman meeting.

* Israel pledges roadblock removals Israel and the Palestinians on Sunday agreed to a series of "concrete steps" aimed at paving the way for a final peace agreement later this year.

* Arab leaders: Arab initiative depends on Israel The fulfillment of the 2002 Arab land-for-peace proposal depends on Israel, Arab leaders concluded Sunday at the end of the annual Arab League summit in Damascus.

* Bibi: Concessions will strengthen Hamas There are no appropriate substitutes for Israeli control in the West Bank that do not put Israel in danger, Opposition Leader Binyamin Netanyahu said Sunday.

* Iraqi cleric calls off militias Iraqi Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr has ordered his fighters off the streets of Basra and other cities in an effort to end clashes with security forces.

* Muslims more numerous than Catholics: Vatican Islam has overtaken Roman Catholicism as the biggest single religious denomination in the world, the Vatican said on Sunday.

* Rice says deal possible before May US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice believes that a framework for an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians could be reached by the planned May 14 visit to Israel of US President George W. Bush.

* Turkish court weighs bid to shut down governing party Turkey's Constitutional Court will consider Monday whether to accept a case aimed at closing down the governing party for Islamist activities.

* Arutz Sheva Posts Censored "Fitna" Movie Explaining Islam Now on Arutz Sheva: Fitna, the controversial and censored movie by Geert Wilders that aims to energize the West into fighting back against its mortal enemy.

* Barak: New elections not far off Defense Minister Ehud Barak indicated Sunday night that despite previous statements to the contrary, he may decide to pull Labor out of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government due to Olmert's "accountability" for Israel's failure to attain its objectives during the Second Lebanon War.