12/31/09

* Aharonovitch: indict MK Taleb A-Sanaa Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch asked Attorney General Menahem Mazuz on Thursday to put MK Taleb A-Sanaa to trial for supporting a terror organization.

* CIA workers killed by 'Afghan soldier' Eight Americans working for the CIA have died in a bomb attack in Afghanistan, the worst against US intelligence officials since 1983.

* World Begins to Ring In the New Year Under explosive bursts of crimson, purple and blue, more than 1 million New Year revelers in Sydney got one of the world's biggest parties started Thursday.

* Jet Plot Shows Growing Ability of Qaeda Affiliates The plot to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight over American soil on Christmas Day represents an ominously new and lethal ability by a branch of Al Qaeda to attack the United States directly.

* Palestinians: Dramatic development in peace process possible A dramatic development in the peace process is expected in the coming weeks.

* Russia 'plans to stop asteroid' The head of Russia's federal space agency has said it will work to divert an asteroid which will make several passes near the Earth from 2029.

* As decade ends, Israelis more pessimistic A decade has passed, and a new decade is beginning. There were wars, talks of peace, economic prosperity, and an alarming crisis.

* Iran troops reportedly move into Tehran ahead of opposition rally An Iranian opposition website said on Thursday the government was moving troops and armored military vehicles to the capital.

* Spain test drives new model of EU leadership Spain takes over the rotating presidency on 1 January, but it will be a six-month tenure with a twist, as Madrid is the first to grapple with the complexities of the EU's new legal framework.

* Egypt allows foreign activists to march into Gaza Some 1,400 activists from 43 countries had gathered in Cairo since Sunday to mark the first anniversary of the Israeli three-week offensive on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

12/30/09

* Israel's population at 2010 is 7.5m On the eve of a new decade, Israel's population stands at 7.5 million, according to figures released Wednesday by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).

* Government supporters hold mass rallies against Iran's political opposition Hundreds of thousands of government supporters rallied against Iran's political opposition in Tehran on Wednesday.

* Ramadi attacks: Is Iraq heading for more sectarian bloodshed? One of the largest coordinated bombings to hit Iraq in recent months shook the central city of Ramadi on Wednesday morning.

* Why Prime Minister Putin may be throwing a wrench in US-Russia arms talks Russia's powerful prime minister, ex-President Vladimir Putin, may have just tossed a wrench into the sensitive last-minute negotiations aimed at finalizing a new US-Russian strategic arms reduction deal early in the New Year.

* Space head: Russia may send spacecraft to asteroid Russia's space chief said Wednesday his agency will consider sending a spacecraft to a large asteroid to knock it off its path and prevent a possible collision with Earth.

* 'Evangelicals deserve our support' The Foreign Ministry and the Interior Ministry differed in opinions this week regarding the status of and benefits given to Evangelicals in Israel.

* "Al-Qaeda practises beating body scanners" The terrorist group has even carried out test runs at smuggling explosives through European airports.

* PA, Abbas Bless Rabbi's Murderers as 'Martyrs' Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas publicly proclaimed three terrorists who murdered a Jewish father of seven children to be "shaheeds" - holy martyrs.

* Officials: U.S., Yemen reviewing targets for possible strike The U.S. and Yemen are now looking at fresh targets in Yemen for a potential retaliation strike.

* Terms of reference After 100 years of conflict, Arabs and Jews have seen peace envoys come and go; peace plans rise and fall.

12/29/09

* Rabbis: Abortion will delay the redemption The Chief Rabbis of Israel, Yona Metzger and Shlomo Amar, announced in a letter sent out Monday to state-employed rabbis that they would "strengthen" the work of an anti-abortion council in the rabbinate.

* Western counter-terrorism help 'not enough for Yemen' Yemen has said it is not getting enough support from the West to tackle al-Qaeda, as details emerge of the suspected US jet bomber's time there.

* PM returns after meeting Mubarak Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Tuesday evening returned to Israel after holding talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

* 'Hundreds of al-Qaeda militants planning attacks from Yemen' Hundreds of al-Qaeda militants are planning terror attacks from Yemen, the country’s Foreign Minister said today.

* Putin Urges US To Share Missile Defense Data Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that Russia wants the U.S. to share detailed data about its planned missile shield under a new arms control treaty.

* Obama's appeasement policy opens the way for Iran's strategic ascent in Mideast Despite the lingering demonstrations and disorder in Tehran, Iran's ruling mullahs are confident anew in their country's ability to surge to a hegemonic position in the Middle East without a major war.

* Ahmadinejad: Riots are Zionist masquerade Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday opposition rallies were a foreign-backed "nauseating masquerade".

* EU on alert over Russian oil supplies A fresh row between Russia and Ukraine over energy shipment fees - fast becoming something of a New Year's tradition - has caused alarm in the European Union.

* Settlers stepping up fight against freeze Yesha Council heads and heads of West Bank local authorities plan to step up their battle against the settlement construction freeze.

* Israeli settlement construction in East Jerusalem draws EU rebuke Israel has announced the construction of some 700 apartments in East Jerusalem just a month after the Jewish state proclaimed a freeze on the building of new settlements in occupied Palestinian territory.

12/28/09

* U.S. Widens Terror War to Yemen, a Qaeda Bastion In the midst of two unfinished major wars, the United States has quietly opened a third, largely covert front against Al Qaeda in Yemen.

* Abdulmutallab: More Like Me In Yemen Accused Northwest Bomber Says More Bombers On the Way; Al Qaeda Promises to Hit Americans

* Fatah warns of intifada against PA The killing of the three Fatah operatives in Nablus by the IDF over the weekend could trigger a third intifada.

* Israel to build 700 east Jerusalem homes Israel is planning to build nearly 700 new apartments in east Jerusalem, government spokesman Mark Regev announced.

* Lieberman: No peace deal in next 10 to 20 years Even as Netanyahu is trying to lure the Palestinians back to the negotiating table, Foreign Minister Lieberman said that he does not see any chance for a comprehensive agreement in the next 10 to 20 years.

* Vatican's top cleric in Arabia walks a thin line The Vatican's top cleric in the heart of Muslim Arabia tends to a flock of 2 million Christians spread around six desert nations.

* Barak Admits Terror Wave in Judea and Samaria Defense Minister Ehud Barak admitted Monday that a terror wave has hit Judea and Samaria in recent days.

* US seeks to relaunch Mideast peace talks US Mideast envoy to deliver two letters of guarantee to both Netanyahu and Abbas in hopes of relaunching peace negotiations.

* Israeli defense chief: Iran can build bomb by 2011 Iran will possess the technology to build a nuclear bomb by early 2010 and be able to produce one the following year, Israel's defense minister said.

* Iran opposition figures arrested after protests A number of opposition figures have been arrested in Iran, a day after at least eight people died during the most violent protests for months.

12/26/09

* Model Altar of Unhewn Stones Completed at Temple Institute The Temple Institute in Jerusalem announced Friday the completion of a model of the biblical altar which G-d, through Moses, commanded the nation of Israel to build at the Mount of Eval (Ebal) overlooking Shechem.

* US plane attack suspect quizzed after 'terror attempt' Nigerian reported to have links to al-Qaeda is being questioned after an attempted act of terrorism on a plane arriving in the US, officials say.

* Maverick Iraqi politician claims Iran could go nuclear within weeks Iraqi parliamentarian Mithal al-Alusi is warning that Iran is much closer to attaining nuclear capability than most sources, including the International Atomic Energy Agency and the US State Department, believe.

* Diplomacy: The Russians are coming In a luxury hotel at Suweima, on the eastern shores of the Dead Sea, the Russians held a "Track II" conference this week designed to send a clear message to the Arab world: "We are back."

* Six Palestinians killed in West Bank, Gaza attacks Israeli troops have killed six Palestinians - three in the Gaza Strip and three in the West Bank.

* Renewed clashes reported in Iran Iranian security forces and opposition activists have clashed in the centre of the capital Tehran, according to reformist websites and witnesses.

* Asia marks fifth anniversary of Indian Ocean tsunami Countries across the Indian Ocean are marking the fifth anniversary of the catastrophic tsunami that killed almost 250,000 people.

* Analysis: Poaching from Kadima In 1955 a local Jerusalem politician named Rahamim Kalanter, elected to the Jerusalem city council on a National Religious Party slate, remained inside the coalition after his party bolted in exchange for an appointment as deputy mayor in charge of religious affairs and sanitation.

* Iraqi and Iranian forces stand off in oil well row Iraqi and Iranian forces are dug in on either side of a disputed inactive oil well in the sensitive border area, with Iraqis vowing to fight if necessary to fend off another occupation of the well by Iranian soldiers.

* Al-Aqsa Brigades: Israel opening gates of hell Thousands of people on Saturday attended the funerals of three al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades members who were responsible for the shooting death of Jewish settler Meir Avshalom Hai.

* Minister Ayalon: 2010 decisive year on Iran Deputy foreign minister says not only Israel, but entire world to be tested next year with regards to Iranian nuclear program.

12/24/09

* Peres wishes world merry Christmas, year of peace President Shimon Peres on Thursday wished the Christian world a merry Christmas and a peaceful new year, as religious leaders ushered in holiday celebrations in the Holy Land.

* Anti-Freeze Action Plan Released Grassroots organizations in Yesha (Judea and Samaria), together with the National Union faction in the Knesset, have published a rough draft of a plan to actively fight the construction freeze.

* Significant Quantities of Oil Discovered in Center of Israel An everlasting hope of finding significant amounts of oil in Israel may have been realized with the announcement Thursday that “significant quantities” of oil were found in a well in the area of Rosh HaAyin, a city located east of Tel Aviv on the western edge of Samaria.

* INTERVIEW-Hamas armed wing says ready for new fight Hamas declares right to use "any weapon" against Israel

* Israel teenagers pledge 'no settlement evacuation' About 200 Israeli teenagers have pledged to disobey any orders to evacuate Jewish settlements during their military service.

* Iran says to launch new satellite early next year Defense Minister Vahidi says launch of 'Sunrise' sattelites will mark a 'big step for continued presence of Iran in space'

* Russia to work on new nuclear missiles: Medvedev Russia will work on a new generation of atomic weapons to strengthen its nuclear deterrent, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday, just hours after Moscow test-fired one of its most feared missiles.

* Pakistan Christians celebrate Christmas in fear No Christmas decorations brighten the tent camp sheltering Christians left homeless by the worst violence against minorities in Pakistan this year.

* Bethlehem ready for Christmas A 10m high pine tree stands decorated with Christmas ornaments outside Casa Nova coffee shop on Manger Square in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem.

* Deaths in Yemen raid on al-Qaeda At least 30 suspected al-Qaeda fighters have been killed in a dawn air raid by Yemeni forces in the eastern Yemeni province of Shabwa.

12/23/09

* Top cabinet ministers, defense officials meet to discuss Iran Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday convened a meeting of the forum of seven cabinet ministers along with top defense officials to discuss the Iranian nuclear issue.

* China's strategic alliance with Iran is off most radar screens Since the 1990s China has successfully been expanding its influence in the Middle East and Iran in particular without attracting the attention of the global community.

* Clashes at Montazeri ceremony, Iran opposition says Iranian security forces have clashed with opposition supporters in the city of Isfahan, opposition websites say.

* Franklin Graham: True Islam cannot be practiced in this country Evangelical Christian leader Franklin Graham challenged President Obama’s statement in Norway that Islam is a “great religion” and said Islam is “violent” and cannot be practiced in the United States.

* “Stop talking so much about Mideast” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Vygaudas Usackas urged European diplomats this week to "stop talking too much about the Middle East" and said he believes Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu "wants peace and genuinely wants a Palestinian state."

* Bethlehem gets first Christmas rock concert O Come All Ye Faithful to Bethlehem's first Christmas rock festival.

* Abbreviating Christmas in Iraq As a priest led prayers for a few dozen worshipers inside St. Joseph Chaldean Church here on Sunday, Iraqi police officers stood guard outside.

* Iraq signs oil deal worth tens of billions for field in South near Basra Iraq has signed a major energy deal with a consortium led by Royal Dutch Shell.

* Letters to God - a world searches for an address If you send a letter to Santa Claus, it may or may not reach the North Pole. But if you address one to God, Jesus, or King David, chances are it will wind up in a warehouse in Jerusalem.

* PM: Israel faces the Goldstone threat Prime Minister Netanyahu called on the opposition to support the Israeli government at a time when Israel is trying to fend off attacks on its rights to self-defense and advance the peace process with the Palestinian Authority.

12/22/09

* Iran dismisses US deadline for nuke deal Iran's president has dismissed a year-end deadline set by the Obama administration for Teheran to accept a UN-drafted deal to swap enriched uranium for nuclear fuel.

* No peace in Mideast in next decade - Russian expert The Middle East peace process is unlikely to produce any tangible results in the next decade or two, a Russian expert for Arab studies at the Institute of Strategic Studies and Analysis said on Tuesday.

* Egypt defends Gaza wall Egypt's foreign minister has said that a controversial wall being built along the country's border with the Gaza Strip will defend it "against threats to national security".

* Abbas: No intifada on my watch Palestinian president 'makes no guarantees' if no accord reached with Israel by end of his term in June

* US ups funds for Israeli missile defense US President Barack Obama has signed a defense spending bill that includes $202 million in funds for Israel's missile defense programs, the White House announced.

* Carter apologizes to Jewish community Jimmy Carter asked the Jewish community for forgiveness for any stigma he may have caused Israel.

* First New U.S. L-3 Spy Plane Due in Afghanistan by Christmas The Air Force as soon as Christmas Day will deliver to Afghanistan the first of 24 new Hawker Beechcraft Corp. planes modified by L-3 Communications Holdings Inc. to support ground troops with video, still images and eavesdropping.

* Ayalon: Strengthen Jewish Periphery or Risk Arab Autonomy Try Jews should be dispersed throughout the Negev and other peripheral areas in order to take control of area lands and counter Arab occupation.

* Charities urge EU ministers to visit Gaza A coalition of 16 aid groups has urged the EU's new foreign relations chief to visit Gaza as part of a new effort to end Israel's blockade of the strip.

* Bumper year for botanical finds Giant rainforest trees, tiny fungi and wild coffee plants are among almost 300 species that have been described by UK botanists for the first time in 2009.

12/21/09

* Iran, not Israel, is Arabs’ Worst Enemy, Survey Reveals Iran’s nuclear threat to regional security has replaced Israel as the Arab world’s public enemy number one for the Arab world.

* Larijani: Iran proud to support Hamas Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani on Sunday defended his country's support for Hamas, during a high-profile visit to Cairo.

* Clashes reported at funeral of Iranian dissident cleric Iranian reformists have clashed with police after the funeral of a dissident cleric, opposition websites say.

* There'll be nowhere to run from the new world government Global thinking won't necessarily solve the world's problems, says Janet Daley

* Israel uncovers first Jesus-era house in Nazareth Israeli archaeologists said Monday that they have uncovered remains of the first dwelling in the northern city of Nazareth that can be dated back to the time of Jesus.

* Copenhagen failure disappointing, shameful The Copenhagen summit, billed as a historic meeting about nothing less than saving the planet for human habitation, ended this weekend with a low-key accord that was rejected by poor nations, described as "disappointing" by EU leaders and condemned by NGOs as a "shameful, monumental failure."

* Police: Auschwitz sign thieves not neo-Nazis Polish police say five men detained over theft of 'Arbeit Macht Frei' sign from Nazi death camp do not belong to neo-Nazi groups, 'their intent was undoubtedly robbery-related'

* Report: Seized North Korean weapons were bound for Iran Wall Street Journal cites documents obtained by arms trafficking experts as saying planeload of arms seized in Bangkok this month were bound for Iran.

* Iran: 'Hiroshima must never be repeated' "The crime that was committed in Hiroshima must never be repeated," Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili told reporters at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan on Monday.

* Iraq PM in Cairo to improve ties with Egypt Iraq's prime minister opened a landmark visit to Egypt on Sunday in what aides described as an ambitious attempt to improve relations with one of the Arab world's most powerful players.

12/19/09

* Iran's government 'will not last', says Mehdi Karoubi The Iranian government is being kept in power by force and will not last its four-year term, one of the opposition presidential candidates has predicted.

* Copenhagen climate deal meets qualified UN welcome UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed a US-backed climate deal in Copenhagen as an "essential beginning".

* Lebanon PM Hariri to make landmark Syria visit Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri is due to hold talks in Damascus for the first time since his anti-Syrian coalition came to power in 2005.

* Iraq asks Iran to withdraw troops from oil field Iraq has demanded the immediate withdrawal of Iranian troops who it says have crossed into Iraqi territory and taken control of an oil well.

* Ayalon: EU won't cut our ties with J'lem Deputy foreign minister rebuffs European Union foreign affairs chief's statement calling capital 'occupied territory'; says EU, like Rome before, will fail to sever Israel's link to Jerusalem.

* 'Iranian cyber army' hits Twitter Twitter has been hit by an embarrassing security breach.

* Obama: US, Russia 'quite close' on arms treaty American president expresses confidence that successor pact to expired nuclear arms control deal will be agreed to in 'timely fashion'.

* Spain: We'll strive for a Palestinian state in 2010 The Spanish Foreign Minister said on Friday that Spain, as the next European Union president, intends on working towards a Palestinian state in 2010.

* Peres, Gul restoring 'friendly' ties In a further sign of Jerusalem-Ankara tensions coming to an end, President Shimon Peres met on Friday afternoon with his Turkish counterpart, President Abdullah Gul, and two agreed that the former "friendly and stable" ties between the two countries would be restored.

* Top UN official: Moratorium insufficient Israel's 10-month moratorium on settlement construction falls short of its commitments under the 2003 road map peace plan, a senior UN official told the UN Security Council on Thursday.

12/18/09

* US General: UAE's air force could take out Iran's he United Arab Emirates, a key US ally in the Persian Gulf, has the capability to overpower Iran's Air Force, US Centcom commander Gen. David Petraeus said last week..

* The world in 2025: Awash with weapons of mass destruction Fifteen years from now America is still globally preeminent, yet its relative power is in decline. The US faces multiple threats from state and non-state actors, some of which have superseded their nation states and could be in possession of weapons of mass destruction.

* President Obama warns leaders over climate summit deal US President Barack Obama has warned world leaders that time is running out to strike a deal at the UN climate summit in Copenhagen.

* Iran troops 'seize Iraq oil well' An Iraqi official played down the incident, saying the area was abandoned and right on a disputed border section.

* Muslim televangelist takes his message to millions Amr Khaled's unique brand of Muslim preaching has made him one of the most popular preachers in the world.

* Police Bar Jews from Temple Mount on Chanukah Arab fears of Jews taking over the Temple Mount convinced police to ban Jews from the site during Chanukah.

* Shock, outrage at Auschwitz sign theft Lawmakers, officials and Holocaust survivors expressed their profound shock and outrage on Friday after the infamous iron sign over the gate to the Auschwitz memorial site with the cynical phrase "Arbeit Macht Frei".

* EU: Map contradicts building moratorium The European Union on Friday afternoon condemned the government's decision to include West Bank settlements in the the national priority map.

* IDF bolstering computer defenses In the face of a growing cyber warfare threat, the IDF is beefing up its defenses against enemy hackers.

* EU adopts bumper budget for 2010 The European Parliament has adopted a bumper EU budget for 2010, with economic recovery spending amongst the items swelling the accounts.

12/17/09

* Photo Essay: New Temple Model for Chanukah About halfway down the steps from The Jewish Quarter to the Western Wall, enclosed in glass casing, stands a replica of one of the vessels of The Holy Temple that stood in Jerusalem until its destruction in 70 AD.

* Abbas: East Jerusalem the only capital of Palestinian state Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stressed Thursday that East Jerusalem will be the capital for the future Palestinian state.

* New climate deal may have to wait The Danish presidency of the climate summit in Copenhagen has sought to play down expectations of a comprehensive deal emerging from the meeting.

* Hamas: PLO vote on Abbas 'illegal' The PLO Central Council on Wednesday approved a resolution calling on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to stay in power until new elections are held in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

* New EU foreign policy chief lambastes 'Israeli occupation' Catherine Ashton on Tuesday leveled scathing criticism at the "Israeli occupation," in her first speech as the European Union's first high representative for foreign affairs and security policy.

* Moshe Arens: Barak's Ouster of Hesder Yeshiva 'Endangers Israel' Professor Moshe Arens, former Defense Minister and Ambassador to the US, told Arutz 7 Thursday that Defense Minister Ehud Barak "is endangering the country" by ousting the Har Bracha yeshiva from the Hesder Torah study-soldier program.

* Rabbis versus Christmas: Religious rivalry in Jerusalem benefits no one On the streets of Jerusalem, the religious war on Christmas is on. Last week, the "Lobby for Jewish Values" started handing out fliers condemning the holiday and inciting the public to boycott restaurants and hotels that sell or put up Christmas trees and other "foolish" Christian symbols.

* Nato fails to gain Russia aid in Afghanistan Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has failed to gain any commitment from Russia to help win the war against the Taliban insurgency.

* 'Coldest place' found on the Moon The Moon has the coldest place in the Solar System measured by a spacecraft.

* The next governor of Texas? Farouk Shami is a Palestinian-American immigrant who invented an ammonia-free line of hair care products which he parlayed into a fortune.

12/16/09

* Activists planning Temple Mount ascent A group of activists dedicated to bringing Jews to the Temple Mount told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday that they were hoping to see hundreds of participants take part in a planned "mass pilgrimage" to the site.

* Iran test-fires advanced missile Iran has successfully test-fired an improved version of a medium-range missile.

* Global Anti-Semitism 'Alive and Kicking' Global anti-Semitism is "alive and kicking," according to Information and Diaspora Affairs Minister Yuli Edelstein, who headlined a conference focusing on the issue.

* How cyberwarfare has made MI a combat arm of the IDF Using computer networks for espionage is as important to warfare today as the advent of air support was to warfare in the 20th century.

* Rich nations must assume environmental duties: pope Industrialized nations must recognize their responsibility for the environmental crisis.

* Abbas to Haaretz: Peace possible in 6 months if Israel freezes all settlements If Israel completely halts construction in the settlements, negotiations with the Palestinians on a final-status agreement can be completed within six months.

* Nato's Rasmussen seeks Russia's help in Afghanistan Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen is seeking greater Russian assistance for the war in Afghanistan, on his first official trip to Moscow.

* North Korea weapons: How much slips through? The seizure at Bangkok’s airport of 35 tons of North Korean arms being shipped by plane raises a disturbing question: How many weapons is North Korea managing to ship undetected to Iran?

* How to Fight Anti-Semitism: Conference Opens in Jerusalem The two-day 2009 Global Forum for Combating Anti-semitism (GFCA) opened in Jerusalem on Wednesday, with 500 participants from over 50 countries.

* EU's new foreign relations chief criticises Israel The EU's new foreign relations chief, Catherine Ashton, criticised Israel in her first speech on the Middle East and unveiled plans to visit the region in the New Year.

* Gulf petro-powers to launch currency in latest threat to dollar hegemony "The Gulf monetary union pact has come into effect," said Kuwait's finance minister, Mustafa al-Shamali, speaking at a Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) summit in Kuwait.

12/15/09

* 'Recognition of '67 border before talks' Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced on Tuesday that the Palestinians won't resume peace talks with Israel unless the international community recognized the 1967 borders as the boundaries of a Palestinian state.

* US to drill Iranian attack scenario A top Pentagon official said Monday that a US missile defense drill will simulate an Iranian attack.

* Copenhagen climate summit progress 'too slow' Negotiations at the Copenhagen summit are progressing too slowly, the UN's climate chief has warned.

* Hamas says will unite with Iran if Israel attacks Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal said on Tuesday that Islamist militant groups would back Iran if the country was attacked by Israel.

* Deputy FM: Syria 'fooled everyone' Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon says Syria is responsible for the failure of peace negotiations between Jerusalem and Damascus.

* Gulf Arab states move closer to single currency Gulf Arab nations put into force a monetary pact Tuesday, moving a step closer toward the elusive goal of a single regional currency and greater integration between the mainly oil-rich states.

* IDF: Christians to have free access to Bethlehem during Christmas Christian leaders representing a wide spectrum of sects were assured Monday morning by the commander of the IDF's Civil Administration Bethlehem Coordination and Liaison Office that Christian pilgrims would have free access to the birthplace of Jesus.

* Judicial jihad: Engaging a new battlefront On December 6, 2001, three months after the Durban hatefest, I attended the last meeting of its NGO Forum International Steering Committee in Geneva.

* PLO to vote on extending Abbas's term The PLO Central Council is expected to convene in Ramallah on Tuesday to vote on extending Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's term in office.

12/14/09

* Hamas celebrates 22nd anniversary since founding Tens of thousands of Palestinians have turned out in the Gaza Strip to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of the founding of the Islamist group Hamas.

* Haniyeh: Gaza just a step toward the liberation of all Palestine In a long, defiant speech on Monday afternoon, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said that gaining control of the Gaza Strip was "just a step toward liberating all of Palestine."

* Iran working on key A-Bomb component Iran is working on development and testing of a neutron initiator, a key final component of a nuclear weapon.

* Israel would risk ‘earthquake’ with misuse of Turkish airspace, PM warns Israel would risk ‘earthquake’ with misuse of Turkish airspace, PM warns

* New Asian gas line to weaken Russian influence A landmark pipeline carrying natural gas from Central Asia to China began working Monday in a development that will loosen Russia's grip over the region's vast energy resources.

* Al-Qaeda No. 2 blasts Obama, US Arab allies Terror group's deputy leader accuses US president of cheating Arab world by failing to advance Mideast peace talks, urges Muslims to wage war outside Israel, Palestinians territories

* Copenhagen Talks Enter Final Phase International climate talks have reached a boiling point.

* Oil executives gird for work in risky Iraq They sped into the Oil Ministry in armored convoys, flanked by muscled guards and men in dark suits, but oil executives marked a milestone this week when they attended an oil auction outside Baghdad's fortified Green Zone.

* Turk PM calls for unity over party ban, Kurds protest Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan called for national unity after a court ban on a Kurdish party caused angry protests and plunged the country into political uncertainty.

* Houston biggest US city to elect openly gay mayor Houston became the largest U.S. city to elect an openly gay mayor, with voters handing a solid victory to City Controller Annise Parker after a hotly contested runoff.

12/12/09

* Iraq oil capacity 'to reach 12m barrels per day' Iraq's oil capacity could reach 12 million barrels per day (bpd) in six years.

* Iran, Syria sign mutual defense pact Iran and Syria signed a defense agreement on Friday, according to an Iranian Press TV report.

* Palestine claims EU backing on East Jerusalem Palestine Prime Minister Salam Fayyad has said that the EU backs the establishment of East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

* Obama greets world's Jews for Hanukka "Michelle and I send our warmest wishes to all who are celebrating Hanukka around the world," US President Barack Obama said in a holiday greeting issued Friday, addressed to worldwide Jewry.

* Removing Saddam was right, even without WMD - Blair It would have been right to remove Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein even without evidence he had weapons of mass destruction (WMD), Tony Blair has said.

* Copenhagen climate change rally leads to arrests Trouble has broken out as thousands of people marched through Copenhagen demanding action from leaders at UN climate talks there.

* Pro-Kurd party MPs to withdraw from Turkey's parliament The court voted on Friday to ban the Democratic Society Party (DTP) because of alleged links with Kurdish separatist rebels.

* EU urges international action against Iran European Union leaders on Friday urged international action against Iran because of its refusal to cooperate over its nuclear program, as the threat of new sanctions looms.

* Mottaki: Iran agrees to nuclear fuel swap, with conditions Iran is ready to exchange the bulk of its stockpile of enriched uranium for nuclear fuel rods - as proposed by the UN.

* Hundreds of Swiss Muslims protest minaret ban Several hundred Swiss Muslims peacefully protested against their country's minaret ban on Saturday.

12/11/09

* EU urges international action against Iran European Union leaders on Friday urged international action against Iran because of its refusal to cooperate over its nuclear program, as the threat of new sanctions looms.

* Muslim radicalization gains momentum in US: analysts Long-feared by US intelligence, Muslim radicalization is gaining momentum in the United States.

* Iraq oil development rights contracts awarded A joint venture between the UK's Shell and Malaysia's Petronas oil companies has won the right to develop Iraq's giant Majnoon oil field.

* Massive Chanukah Menorah will Greet Airborne Guests It has already become an annual tradition that the Lightone company builds a giant Chanukah menorah right near the Ben Gurion airport.

* UK to shun settlement products? The British government advised all food chains in the UK to clearly mark any imported products made in Judea, Samaria, and the Golan Heights.

* Syria: All Israeli PMs for 20 years have agreed to Golan pullout Damascus has insisted it will demand a full Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights before it begins even indirect talks.

* Leaders discuss economic blueprint for next decade EU leaders gave the nod to plans for financial supervision on Thursday night (10 December).

* Copenhagen climate summit releases draft final text Rich countries are being asked to raise their pledges on tackling climate change under draft text of a possible final deal at the Copenhagen summit.

* Van Rompuy plans shake-up of EU summits The new EU president, Herman Van Rompuy, is planning to shake up the regular gatherings of EU leaders.

* Obama's 'war and peace' speech silences criticism US President Barack Obama's justification for war in his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech won general praise Friday as he left Oslo at the end of a quick visit to receive the prestigious award.

12/10/09

* Gates in Iraq to Meet Maliki and U.S. Commanders Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates landed here Thursday on an unannounced visit to meet with Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki of Iraq.

* Experts say Iran has clear path to nuclear weapons Last week the Harvard Kennedy School held a simulation game of the Iranian nuclear crisis, and Israel should be very concerned about its course and its outcome.

* EU warns Israel not to divide bloc over Jerusalem The European Union says Israel must not play "divide and rule" with the 27-member bloc over a recent resolution.

* Turkey warns IAF against using airspace If Israel were to violate Turkish airspace in order to conduct reconnaissance operations on Iran, Ankara's reaction would resemble an "earthquake."

* Syrian VP: Israel won't attack Iran without US support Syrian Vice President Farouk al-Shara estimated that Israel would not be able to attack Iran without the support of the United States.

* Egypt starts building steel wall on Gaza Strip border Egypt has begun constructing a huge metal wall along its border with the Gaza Strip as it attempts to cut smuggling tunnels.

* Iran's Khamenei named 'dictator of the year' A day before US President Barack Obama receives the Nobel Peace Prize, Norway presents an original initiative of its own.

* Glimmers in the Holy Land: Time to Reset U.S. Mideast Policy The time has come for the Obama Administration to do a reset of American policy in the Middle East.

* Hamas preparing 'offensive' tunnels Israel is likely to face advanced Iranian weaponry, long-range rockets, large missile silos and dozens of kilometers of underground tunnels connecting open fields with urban centers in the event of a future conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

* Population control called key to deal Population and climate change are intertwined but the population issue has remained a blind spot when countries discuss ways to mitigate climate change and slow down global warming.

12/09/09

* Gen McChrystal: Bin Laden is key to al-Qaeda defeat The top US commander in Afghanistan has said al-Qaeda will not be defeated unless its leader, Osama Bin Laden, is captured or killed.

* Begin: 'US administration not even like Carter's' US President Barack Obama's views on the issue of West Bank settlements are more challenging for Israel than those of former president Jimmy Carter.

* PM: Palestinians 'reject negotiations' Prime Minster Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday criticized the Palestinian leadership for deliberately refraining from engaging in serious peace talks with Israel.

* Peace Now: West Bank building 'more than in Israel' More homes are under construction per inhabitant in the occupied West Bank than inside Israel despite recent curbs on construction, says Peace Now.

* Copenhagen climate summit in disarray after 'Danish text' leak Developing countries react furiously to leaked draft agreement that would hand more power to rich nations, sideline the UN's negotiating role and abandon the Kyoto protocol.

* Minister: Iran to hit Israeli nuke sites if attacked Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi quoted as saying his country will strike back at Israeli weapons manufacturing sites, nuclear installations if Jewish state attacks Islamic republic's nuclear facilities.

* EU tries to breathe life into Middle East peace talks The EU has attempted to breathe new life into Middle East peace talks by calling for Israelis and Palestinians to share the sacred city of Jerusalem.

* Bride, Father Arrested for Crime of Moving Lips on Temple Mount A Jewish bride and her father were arrested on the Temple Mount the day before her wedding.

* Israel to Vatican: We won't return room of Last Supper Israeli delegation leaves for Rome in bid to resolve decade-long conflict over holy sites Catholic Church is asking be transferred to its propriety.

* Sovereignty Bill Braves Another Hurdle Jerusalem and the Golan Heights received more support for the sometimes faltering status of their Israeli sovereignty on Wednesday.

12/08/09

* Foreign Ministry: EU resolution ignores main obstacle to peace A resolution passed by European Union foreign ministers Tuesday to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of both Israel and a future Palestinian state "ignores the primary obstacle to achieving a resolution between Israel and the Palestinians."

* Settlers say will fight freeze with all their might Settler leaders on Monday night expressed their reservations over a remark made by Motti Yogev, deputy head of the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council.

* Baghdad car bombs cause carnage A series of car bombings has killed at least 127 people and wounded 448 in the centre of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

* Chavez: Venezuela acquires thousands of missiles President Hugo Chavez said Monday that Venezuela has received thousands of Russian-made missiles and rocket launchers.

* Mullen: US 'losing war in Afghanistan' US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen painted a disturbing picture on Tuesday, bluntly telling US troops at Ft. Campbell, Ky. - including some bound for Afghanistan - that "we are not winning.

* Russia to supply India with nuclear reactors Russia became the latest country to strike a civil nuclear deal with energy-hungry India on Monday.

* Justice Minister: Jewish law should be binding law in Israel Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman on Monday said he believes Jewish law (Halakha) should be the binding law in Israel.

* Virgin's Branson unveils first commercial spaceship Billionaire Richard Branson Monday unveiled the first commercial passenger spaceship, a sleek black-and-white vessel that represents an expensive gamble on creating a commercial space tourism industry.

* Netanyahu: Syria dropping Golan condition for talks Syria is now willing to negotiate without preconditions, having retracted its earlier insistence that talks could not begin unless Israel first agreed to withdraw from the entire Golan Heights.

* Obama: Turkey 'important player' on Iran In a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan Monday, US President Barack Obama called Turkey an "important player".

12/07/09

* Copenhagen summit urged to take climate change action Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen has described the UN climate summit in Copenhagen as an "opportunity the world cannot afford to miss".

* Israel pressing EU to reject Jerusalem draft Both Israeli and European officials believe the conclusions on the Middle East from EU foreign ministers' meeting will be different from a Swedish draft text calling for east Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

* Netanyahu: Today, Lebanon's real army is Hezbollah Prime Minister Netanyahu said that the Lebanese militia Hezbollah was taking the place of the Lebanese army as the country's major military power.

* New Iraqi election law approved Iraq's parliament has unanimously approved a new electoral law, paving the way for elections early next year.

* Gaddafi: Swiss minaret ban invitation to attack Europe According to Libyan leader, al Qaeda militants are now saying, “We warned you that they were our enemies... Come and join us for jihad against Europe.”

* World Bank gives Palestinian Authority $64 million Bank says goal of donation is to boost Fayyad's plan to set up institutions for a state within two years.

* What makes this settlement freeze different from any other? "One thing, at least, is emphatically different this time from all the previous rounds," said an Israel Defense Forces officer.

* PM: Israel ready for direct Syria talks without preconditions Israel is prepared for immediate negotiations with Syria, without preconditions, Prime Minister Netanyahu said.

* Settlers block distribution of building freeze orders Over a hundred police from the special patrol unit gathered at the settlement of Ma'aleh Levona to protect the defense officials entering the settlements to distribute construction freeze orders.

* Can President Barack Obama still count on Turkey? When President Barack Obama meets Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Washington, the talks will require an interesting balancing act to mirror the one Mr Erdogan himself seems to have been attempting.