07/31/09

* Temple Altar Construction Begins on Day of Destruction The Temple Institute has already built several of the Temple vessels such as the Ark and the menorah.

* Islamist death 'good for Nigeria' A Nigerian government minister has expressed relief at the death of an Islamic sect leader, Mohammed Yusuf.

* Jewish, Not Arab, Roots in Judea and Samaria US Pres. Obama's demand that Israel not settle Jews in the Biblical areas of Judea and Samaria ignores thoroughly-documented Jewish roots in the Land of Israel.

* Israel says Gaza war 'necessary' An Israeli government report has said that the Israeli military campaign in Gaza earlier this year was "necessary and proportionate".

* Holy Temple Festival in Samaria A first-of-its-kind all-night Holy Temple Festival will be held Saturday night in the Jewish town of Tapuach in Samaria.

* Israel ranked one of world's least peaceful states For the third year in a row, Israel fared very poorly in the Global Peace Index, being placed just 141 out of 144 countries, and ranked more peaceful than only Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia.

* Iran blames West for protester deaths The Iranian foreign minister is blaming foreign countries for the deaths of opposition supporters in Iran's post-election turmoil.

* Iran president: No rift with supreme leader President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says there is no rift between him and Iran's supreme leader, lashing back at criticism from within his own hard-line camp.

* U.S. troops accused of damaging Babylon's ancient wonder The U.S. military did major damage to the site of one of the wonders of the ancient world while converting it into a base.

* Afghan civilian deaths increase The number of civilians killed in the conflict in Afghanistan so far this year has risen 24% compared with the same period last year.

07/30/09

* US misstepped regarding settlements The current tensions between Israel and the United States might have been avoided had US President Barack Obama not taken such a harsh stance against settlement construction.

* China concerned about abortions Authorities in China have highlighted inadequate knowledge of contraception and poor sex education as major factors in the high number of abortions there.

* Stone Vessel with Priestly Inscription Uncovered In Jerusalem A rare 2,000-year-old ritual earthenware vessel inscribed with 10 lines of text has been discovered in an excavation near the Zion Gate of the Old City of Jerusalem.

* Turkey seeks active role in Hamas-Fatah reconciliation Palestinian sources tell Al-Jazeera Ankara's request part of general goal to play greater role in Arab-Israeli peace process.

* Netanyahu freezes East Jerusalem construction Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has frozen a project for the construction of some 900 apartments in East Jerusalem.

* Nigeria forces storm sect mosque Nigerian security forces have stormed a mosque where militants from an Islamic sect blamed for days of deadly violence have been hiding out.

* PA, Israeli ministers meet in Tel Aviv The first ministerial level meeting between Israel and the Palestinian authority since the establishment of the Netanyahu government took place yesterday in Tel Aviv.

* Why Iran's conservatives are airing their dirty laundry In the final days before President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's inauguration next week, splits among the country's conservative elite have become increasingly conspicuous.

* N Korea seizes S Korea vessel A South Korean fishing boat has been towed away by a North Korean patrol boat off the peninsula's east coast, South Korean officials say.

07/29/09

* 'Russia, Iran to hold naval maneuver' According to the report, the maneuver will include 30 Russian and Iranian ships, as well as helicopters.

* Must we lose the two Temples again? There is a persistent narrative by the Islamists to deny any past Jewish presence on what they call Haram al-Sharif.

* Temple Institute to Build Sacrificial Altar on Tisha B'av The Temple Institute will begin building the sacrificial altar on Thursday, Tisha B’av.

* Global warming is the new religion of First World urban elites Ian Plimer has outraged the ayatollahs of purist environmentalism, the Torquemadas of the doctrine of global warming.

* J'lem expects Arab gestures soon US Middle East envoy George Mitchell left his Israeli interlocutors with the impression Tuesday that he would be able to extract some normalization gestures towards Israel.

* Battles with militants kill hundreds in Nigeria, group says More than 400 people have been killed in a spate of violence in northern Nigeria.

* Saudis scramble to stop Hajj swine flu crisis Saudi Arabia has launched an investigation into its first fatality from the H1N1 Virus as it tries to head off a swine flu epidemic before millions descend for the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

* U.S., China agree on economic strategies Two days of high-level talks between the United States and China concluded with broad agreement on separate strategies to help their economies.

* Gates Pressures Kurdish Leaders to Cooperate in Iraq Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates pressed Kurdish regional leaders on Wednesday to resolve their disputes with the Iraqi government in the next few months.

* Saudi rejects Israel recognition without withdrawal Regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia on Wednesday rebuffed US calls for diplomatic overtures toward Israel.

07/28/09

* 'Say 'No' to US settlement pressure' Calling on Israel to simply say "no" to US pressure to freeze settlement activity and to divide the capital, close to a thousand people rallied outside Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's Jerusalem home.

* US-Israeli talks make 'progress' US Middle East envoy George Mitchell and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu say talks about reviving the regional peace process have made "good progress".

* Ashkenazi: There is no imminent threat of war on Lebanon border Despite the turmoil caused by the explosion of a hidden weapons depot in southern Lebanon nearly two weeks ago, the IDF does not view the situation in the North as indicative of an impending war.

* US-China ties 'to shape century' The relationship between the US and China will shape the 21st Century, President Barack Obama has said, as top officials met in Washington for talks.

* 'Obama unlikely to present peace plan' Recent talks with US envoy George Mitchell have left Israeli officials with the impression that - contrary to expectations in some circles - President Barack Obama is not going to unfurl his own regional peace plan.

* As Tisha B'Av Approaches, Knesset Focuses on the Temple Mount As Tisha B'Av, the annual day of mourning over the destruction of the Temple, approaches, Members of Knesset met to talk about the Temple.

* Completed 'Operation 11' Greets Mitchell, Netanyahu Activists finished building 11 new outposts in Judea and Samaria Monday night in time for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's meeting with U.S. special envoy George Mitchell.

* US pressure on Arab states grows Amid a flurry of US diplomatic activity in the Middle East, the Obama administration is increasing the pressure on Arab countries to do more.

* Obama says US, China to shape 21st century The 21st century will be defined by relations between China and the United States, US President Barack Obama said.

* Pakistan says Indian submarine harms regional peace India's launch of its first nuclear-powered submarine capable of carrying ballistic missiles is "detrimental to regional peace and stability."

07/27/09

* US urges Iran reply by September US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has urged Iran to respond to US diplomatic overtures by September.

* Nigerian Islamist attacks spread Islamist militants have staged three co-ordinated attacks in northern Nigeria leaving dozens dead, meaning about 150 have been killed in two days.

* US envoy in Mid-East peace push The US has launched a new drive to kick-start Middle East peace talks, with visits to Israel, Syria and Egypt by special envoy George Mitchell.

* Clinton says Iran's nuclear pursuit is "futile" Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that Iran would not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon and reiterated Washington's commitment to protect close ally Israel from any threat posed by Tehran.

* Hamas Implementing Islamic Law in Gaza In the two-plus years Hamas has been running Gaza, a process of "creeping Shariah-ism" has been ongoing,.

* Gaza campers stage Schalit abduction Children in Hamas summer camps reenacted the abduction of IDF soldier Gilad Schalit in the presence of top Hamas officials.

* Right-wing rally planned in Jerusalem To protest the US demand for a settlement freeze and to take a stand in favor of a unified Jerusalem, right-wing activists and settler leaders plan to rally Monday evening in Paris Square on the capital's Rehov Agron.

* More than 300,000 settlers live in West Bank There are now more than 300,000 residents living in Jewish West Bank settlements, according to the IDF.

* The Western Wall Enters the Twitter Age The Western Wall has entered the Twitter age with a service that lets people from around the world send their prayers to be printed and placed as notes in the wall.

* No option is off the table on Iran Israel has not ruled out any means of dealing with Iran's nuclear threat, and is taking "no option off the table."

07/25/09

* 'We'll hit Israeli nuclear facilities' Iran threatened Saturday to strike Israel's nuclear installations if it is attacked by the Jewish state.

* North Korea 'executes Christians' Human rights groups in South Korea say North Korea has stepped up executions of Christians, some of them in public.

* British foreign minister urges acceptance of Arab Peace Plan British Foreign Minister David Miliband told his Syrian counterpart on Friday that the Arab Peace Initiative was the best opportunity.

* Syria: We can help solve Iran nuclear dispute Syria can play a role in finding a political solution to nuclear and other disputes between Iran and the West.

* Netanyahu hails spirit of Arab peace initiative Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Thursday expressed interest in the Arab Peace Initiative for the first time.

* Why is Israel suddenly resuming immigration from Ethiopia? Quietly, without fanfare or any sort of serious debate, the government is resuming Falashmura immigration from Ethiopia.

* Iraqi Kurds head to the polls Polls opened Saturday in presidential and parliamentary elections in Iraq's autonomous region of Kurdistan.

* Global protests over Iranian crackdown Protesters in dozens of cities worldwide on Saturday demanded the release of hundreds of detainees in Iran.

* India widens climate rift with west A split between rich and poor nations in the run-up to climate-change talks widened on Thursday.

* WHO says pandemic gaining speed, sees winter risks The H1N1 flu virus is starting to infect older people, and pregnant women and the obese are at highest risk, the World Health Organization said.

07/24/09

* Barkat: We'll resist attempts to divide J'lem Mayor Nir Barkat said Thursday that people of all faiths may develop property and live in any part of the city.

* Fatah: No Recognition of Israel – Ever Senior members of Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah have announced that their group will never recognize Israel.

* U.S. warns Israel: Don't build up West Bank corridor The U.S. administration has issued a stiff warning to Israel not to build in the area known as E-1.

* FM: Iran nuke program could set off arms race If Iran develops nuclear capabilities it will start an arms race in the Middle East that would threaten the world.

* Poll: Israelis wary of PA leadership A new poll, conducted during a week of heightened tensions between Israel and the US over settlement construction and stymied diplomatic negotiations, reveals in stark terms just how wary Israeli Jews are regarding the Palestinian leadership.

* How robot drones revolutionized the face of warfare Barely an hour's drive from the casinos of Las Vegas, a group of unassuming buildings have become as important as the trenches were to WWI.

* US Middle East envoy heads to Syria The US State Department on Thursday said that the Obama administration's special Middle East envoy is heading to Syria.

* China set to overtake Germany as world's largest exporter A World Trade Organization report published on Wednesday (22 July) repeats an earlier forecast of a 10 percent fall in world trade levels this year.

* US envoy: Securing Pakistan's Swat a top priority President Barack Obama's special envoy to Pakistan said Thursday that securing hard-fought gains in the Swat Valley and ensuring the safe return of refugees uprooted by the government's anti-Taliban campaign should be Islamabad's top priority.

* Flu chief: Pandemic in early stages The global swine flu epidemic is still in its early stages, even though reports of over 100,000 infections in England alone last week are plausible.

07/23/09

* Bin Laden son 'believed killed' One of Osama Bin Laden's sons is believed to have been killed by a US missile strike in Pakistan earlier this year.

* Hundreds planning Temple Mount ascent Hundreds of right-wing activists are intending to attempt to march up to the Temple Mount next Thursday morning, Tisha Be'Av.

* Afghan war is 'worth the effort' US Vice-President Joe Biden has told the BBC that the war in Afghanistan is in the interests of the US and the UK.

* PM delays discussion on Temple Mount project On the backdrop of protests from Jordan, the Palestinian Authority and the Muslim Waqf, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently postponed a decisive discussion aimed at setting a date for beginning the construction of the new Mugrabi Gate.

* Islamists gather at Chicago Hilton A global Islamic extremist political organization hosted its first organized conference in the United States on Sunday.

* US pessimistic on Iran overtures The US secretary of state has said Washington is still willing to engage with Iran but that political turmoil there means a response is unlikely.

* Christian Right Crusades for Israel John Hagee, a leading Christian evangelist who heads the Christian United for Israel movement, told 4,000 followers in Washington Wednesday night that, "The chief obstacle to peace in the Middle East is not Israelis living on the West Bank.

* Swine flu fears prompt Hajj curbs Arab health ministers have agreed to prevent vulnerable groups joining this year's Muslim Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, because of fears over swine flu.

* Obama Boomerang: Demand for Building Freeze Spurs Rush to Buy U.S. President Barack Obama's attempt to freeze building for Jews in Judea and Samaria appears to be backfiring.

* Obama presses Iraq troop withdrawal, promises help President Barack Obama pressed plans to remove US troops from Iraq in 2011 in talks with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

07/22/09

* Netanyahu aide says no to resumption of peace talks Israel's National Security Advisor, Uzi Arad, rejected in recent days a Palestinian request to renew talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

* Netanyahu: Hamas, Hizbullah and Syria Are Directly Helping Iran In a speech to the Knesset Wednesday, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu hinted at covert intelligence Israel has.

* Clinton stirs Israeli fears US will accept nuclear Iran Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday stirred Israeli fears that Washington would accept a nuclear armed Iran.

* US 'will repel nuclear hopefuls' Iran and North Korea will face severe consequences if they do not abandon their nuclear ambition.

* Turkey ready to resume Israel-Syria mediator role Turkey is ready to agree to resuming its role as mediator in indirect talks between Israel and Syria.

* Solar eclipse wows Asia People across Asia have been watching the longest total solar eclipse this century.

* Pakistan Objects to U.S. Expansion in Afghan War Pakistan is objecting to expanded American combat operations in neighboring Afghanistan, creating new fissures in the alliance with Washington at a critical juncture when thousands of new American forces are arriving in the region.

* Iraqi PM in US for Meetings with Obama, Ban Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki meets with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House Wednesday.

* Israel cuts 1948 'catastrophe' from Arabic texts The Israeli government will remove references to what Palestinians call the "catastrophe" of Israel's creation from textbooks for Arab schoolchildren.

* Brussels takes Bulgaria and Romania to task again Brussels on Wednesday issued Bulgaria and Romania with urgent 'to-do' lists.

07/21/09

* Israeli official: US should honor past deals Israel's deputy prime minister said Tuesday that U.S. calls for a freeze on West Bank settlement construction run counter to past agreements.

* Arrests at new Iranian protests Iranian riot police are reported to have arrested a number of pro-reform protesters in Tehran after demonstrations turned violent.

* Amman revoking Palestinians' citizenship Jordanian authorities have started revoking the citizenship of thousands of Palestinians living in Jordan to avoid a situation in which they would be "resettled" permanently in the kingdom.

* Amar: US settlement policy contravenes Torah Chief Sephardi Rabbi Shlomo Amar called this week on American Jews to explain to the Obama administration the religious obligation of every Jew to live in every part of the Land of Israel.

* Iraq cleric on rare public visit Iraqi Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr has made a rare public appearance in Syria, where he met President Bashar Assad.

* Russia, France up pressure to halt e. J'lem construction One day after the United States demanded that Israel stop building projects in east Jerusalem, Russia joined the call.

* Dead Sea a Finalist in World Wonder Contest A panel of experts chose the Dead Sea Tuesday as one of 28 finalists competing in the New 7 Wonders of Nature contest.

* Evangelicals back Israel in Washington Over 4,000 Christians are gathering in Washington this week to advocate for Israel on Capitol Hill.

* Cyprus remains tough on Turkey's EU talks Cyprus will continue to block Turkey's EU talks until Ankara stops acting like a "neighbourhood bully".

* Asia to Experience Lengthy Eclipse Wednesday Hundreds of millions of people across Asia are waiting to witness what is being described as the longest solar eclipse of the 21st century.

07/20/09

* Moon astronauts urge Mars mission Two of the astronauts who took part in the first Moon landing 40 years ago have called for renewed efforts to send a manned mission to Mars.

* Khatami urges referendum on poll The former President of Iran, Mohammad Khatami, has called for a referendum on the legitimacy of the government, following June's disputed elections.

* Israel condemns Iran-PA meeting Israel has accused a senior Palestinian official of meeting "the extreme enemies of peace" after he held talks with Iran's foreign minister.

* Sheikh Khatib: We'll never give up al-Aqsa Islamic Movement leader tells Arab children Israeli occupation of Jerusalem must end

* "The Temple Will Never be Rebuilt," Islamist Movement Says The deputy chief of the Islamist movement in Israel Kimal Al-Khatib told thousands of children in a Saturday Islamist protest on the Temple Mount that the Jewish Temple will never be rebuilt.

* Jews to Reclaim Land in Jordan? The Israel Land Fund, a group dedicated to restoring Jewish property in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, is reportedly looking east.

* 60 million people need swine flu vaccine Sixty million Europeans will need priority vaccination against swine flu, EU health commissioner Androulla Vassiliou has said.

* Netanyahu defies U.S. on East Jerusalem settlement Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying he would not take orders over Israeli settlement in East Jerusalem, rejected on Sunday a U.S. demand to halt plans to build more homes for Jews in the disputed area.

* Lebanese forces near Israeli border on alert Tensions along northern border heightened following series of incidents, including fire at Hezbollah arms cache, infiltration of unarmed civilians into Israel

* Ayatollah warns against helping Iran's enemies Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned senior officials on Monday not to help Tehran's enemies after two former presidents expressed defiant opposition to the result of June's disputed presidential poll.

07/18/09

* In video: When man went to the Moon Forty years ago, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first people to walk on the Moon.

* Israeli warships rehearse for Iran attack in Red Sea Israeli warships have deployed to the Red Sea for what has been described as a rehearsal for a possible attack on Iran.

* Mass Protest Planned Against Jewish Nation's Land Sale A major protest in Jerusalem, and at 50 junctions around the country, is planned for Sunday.

* Provocation in north: Lebanese cross border waving Hezbollah flags Fifteen Lebanese citizens, including several children, crossed the border from Lebanon into Israel Friday evening.

* Fugitive linked to Jakarta blasts Indonesian officials say there are "strong indications" a key wanted fugitive was behind Friday's deadly attacks on two hotels in Jakarta.

* Sharia trial for Somalia hostages Two French security advisers seized in Somalia will be tried under Sharia law, an official from their captors.

* Iran: 'Trust' needed to end nuclear row The new head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization said Saturday the Islamic Republic and the West needed to renew efforts to build mutual trust in order to end a dispute over Tehran's nuclear program.

* Sharm El Sheikh NAM strives for bigger role at world arena As the 15th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) wrapped up Thursday in the Egyptian Red Sea resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh.

* 'Turkey hopes one day to open an embassy in East Jerusalem' Turkish President Abdullah Gul said Friday that his country hopes some day to open its embassy to Palestine in East Jerusalem.

* Pope Endorses "World Political Authority" Some in the media are calling it just a statement about "economic justice." But Pope Benedict XVI's "Charity in Truth" statement, also known as an encyclical, is a radical document that puts the Roman Catholic Church firmly on the side of an emerging world government.

07/17/09

* 'Iran greatest global security threat' US Defense Secretary Robert Gates believes that Iran's nuclear program is the greatest current threat to global security.

* Fatal blasts hit Jakarta hotels At least nine people have been killed, including two suspected suicide bombers, in two blasts at luxury hotels in the Indonesian capital Jakarta.

* Israeli warships rehearse for Iran attack in Red Sea Israeli and Egyptian officials said two ships had sailed through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea.

* Ahmadinejad: Iran will "bring down" Western foes Newly re-elected President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday his next government "would bring down the global arrogance."

* Ultra-Orthodox Jews visit Hamas Four members of a group of ultra-Orthodox Jews opposed to the existence of Israel have visited Hamas in Gaza.

* Call for Iran protesters' release Former Iranian President Ali Akbar Rafsanjani has called for the release of people jailed after protesting at the result of the recent election.

* Britain prepares for 65,000 deaths from swine flu The NHS has been told to plan for a worst-case scenario of 65,000 swine flu deaths this year.

* China's Rebound Carries U.S., Asia Toward Recovery China's economic comeback is under way, towing along companies from Intel Corp. to Hyundai Motor Co. and starting to make up for weak demand in other major economies.

* Syria: No Golan, No Talks Damascus has told the United States bluntly that unless Israel agrees as a precondition to hand over the Golan Heights, there will be no further peace talks.

* Israel: Lebanon Army helped Hezbollah hide arms cache The Lebanese Army helped Hezbollah militants destroy evidence of its continued military activity in the south of the country after a hidden arms cache exploded there earlier this week.

07/16/09

* Warships in Suez prepare for Iran attack Israeli missile class warships sailed through the Suez Canal to the Red Sea ten days after a submarine capable of launching a nuclear missile strike.

* Israel: Syria and Iran still giving arms to Hezbollah Israel accused Iran and Syria on Thursday of contributing to a "direct and flagrant" violation of the cease-fire in Lebanon by continuing to send weapons to the Hezbollah militant group.

* Syria ready for talks with Israel Syria is ready to negotiate with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, French sources told Arab daily al-Sharq al-Awsat in a report published on Thursday.

* London publicly supports Blair for EU president post Tony Blair would have London's full backing for the new post of EU president, UK's Europe minister confirmed.

* East Europeans nervous as US courts Russia A group of prominent former Eastern European leaders wrote to President Barack Obama on Thursday that their region is gripped by anxiety that he could forget their interests as he seeks to repair ties with Russia.

* Head of Iran's nuke agency steps down Gholam Reza Aghazadeh, the head of the Iranian nuclear agency, has resigned.

* In video: When man went to the Moon A further five missions landed on the lunar surface over the course of the next two-and-a-half-years.

* World may back Iran op as part of deal A deal taking shape between Israel and Western leaders will facilitate international support for an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.

* China grows faster amid worries China's economy grew at an annual rate of 7.9% between April and June, up from 6.1% in the first quarter, thanks to the government's big stimulus package.

* Kids TV praises Gaza mom's suicide bombing It's meant to be a children's program, but "Young Pioneers" on Hamas-run television is well-known for pushing the boundaries of what most people would deem suitable content for children.

07/15/09

* 'Iran Could Produce a Nuclear Bomb in Six Months' Iran can produce a nuclear bomb within six months, according to the German Intelligence Agency (BND).

* UK 'backs Blair for EU president' Tony Blair will be the UK's official candidate for EU president, Baroness Kinnock has apparently confirmed.

* Developing world calls for 'new world order' More than 50 heads of state from the developing world met Wednesday in Egypt to tackle the fallout from the global economic meltdown.

* Egypt's foreign minister meets Iranian counterpart Tensions between Iran and Egypt have lessened somewhat recently, with the two nations' foreign ministers meeting three times this week.

* Jerusalem Named #17 Best Tourist City An annual poll by the Travel and Leisure Magazine has named Jerusalem its 17th top city for tourists throughout the world.

* World Bank to give Palestinians $33.5m. in aid The World Bank on Tuesday announced plans to spend an additional $33.5 million on Palestinian infrastructure initiatives.

* Palestinians ban Al-Jazeera for airing Arafat conspiracy allegations The Palestinian Authority banned Al-Jazeera television from operating in its territory on Wednesday.

* Korean armies face off but repeat of war unlikely North Korea's barrage of missile tests and a recent underground nuclear blast have unnerved many South Koreans.

* In Israel, US envoy maps peace with Syria The arrival in Jerusalem of a US diplomat with a longstanding interest in bringing about Israeli-Syrian peace is fueling speculation that the Obama administration is trying to relaunch negotiations between Jerusalem and Damascus.

* Russia proves effectiveness of its naval nuclear force - Navy A recent mission involving launches of ballistic missiles from under ice proved the combat readiness of the naval component of Russia's nuclear triad.

07/14/09

* Rebuilding Iraq's economy, brick by brick Improved security means the U.S. may bring in experts from other Middle Eastern countries to train Iraqi workers.

* Russia says no Iran sanctions for START deal Russia will not agree to tougher sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program in exchange for a new nuclear arms cuts deal with Washington.

* China demands Turkish retraction China has demanded that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan retract his accusation that Beijing practised genocide against ethnic Uighurs.

* Arab source: 2 IDF ships crossed Suez Canal Two IDF battleships crossed the Suez Canal from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea on Tuesday.

* Euro parliament elects new leader The European Parliament has elected former Polish Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek as the chamber's president.

* Syria to EU: Israel obstacle to peace Israel poses an obstacle to peace in light of its continued blockade on Gaza.

* Int'l project seeks to inscribe Bible in 100 languages Thousands of people from around the world are taking part in an interfaith effort to hand-inscribe 100 Bibles in their native languages and display them at a Jerusalem museum.

* Promoting Holy Land Tourism in the USA The Ministry of Tourism has embarked on a campaign to further promote North American tourism to Israel.

* NATO air defense drills begin in the Baltic NATO states will start in the Baltic states on Tuesday a series of air defense exercises involving Czech fighter jets.

* Kaddoumi: Mahmoud Abbas Helped Kill Arafat Farouk al-Kaddoumi, a senior Palestine Liberation Organization leader, claims that Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas was directly involved in the murder of former PA chairman and terrorist leader Yasser Arafat.

07/13/09

* PM to Palestinians: Abandon right of return ‪‪During State ceremony marking 105 years since Herzl's death, Netanyahu says Palestinians' must "recognize Jewish nation's right to its own state, relinquish desire to gradually eat away at Israel."‬‬

* Somalia urges Somali-Americans not to join rebels Amid the worsening conflict in his country, Somalia's president made a plea for Somalis living in the United States to stop sending their young men to fight.

* Fatah Official: “Our Goal is Not Peace, but Rather Palestine” "Our goal has never been peace,” says a Fatah official in a PA TV panel.

* Pakistan's displaced begin return The first of some two million Pakistanis displaced by the Swat valley conflict have begun to return home.

* Defeated Iran candidate: Islamic Republic may "collapse" A defeated candidate in Iran's disputed election has said the Islamic Republic may face "collapse" unless it embraces change, in unusually blunt language from a prominent establishment figure.

* EU: "Accept PA State as Full Member of UN" European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana is taking steps to move the establishment of a Palestinian Authority state through the United Nations, whether Israel agrees to it or not.

* European Parliament gets on its feet A new generation of MEPs will be trying to find their way around the famously labyrinth-like European Parliament building in Strasbourg this week as the constitutive session of the assembly gets under way.

* Wave of Iraq church bombings stretches into third day A church in Iraq was bombed Monday, the seventh Christian house of worship in the country to be bombed in three days.

* Turkey, EU nations sign Nabucco gas pipeline deal Five of the six parties to the Nabucco gas pipeline project signed on Monday an intergovernmental agreement on the transit of Caspian gas to Europe, skirting Russia.

* NKorea's Kim has pancreatic cancer North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has life-threatening pancreatic cancer.

07/11/09

Gore: U.S. Climate Bill Will Help Bring About 'Global Governance' Former Vice President Al Gore declared that the Congressional climate bill will help bring about "global governance."

* Medvedev sees single currency dream in G8 coin gift Even if Russia's call for a global currency failed to gain much traction at a G8 summit, President Dmitry Medvedev took home a coin meant to symbolize that the dream may one day come true.

* Obama speaks of hopes for Africa US President Barack Obama, on his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa since taking office, has said Africa must take charge of its own destiny in the world.

* Obama tells pope he wants to reduce abortions in U.S. President Barack Obama promised Pope Benedict on Friday that he would do everything possible to reduce the number of abortions in the United States.

* Iran to offer West 'new package' Iran's government says it is preparing a new package of proposals to put to the West.

* Major mosques close in Urumqi, China Five major mosques near the center of violence last weekend in Urumqi, the capital of China's far-west Xinjiang region, were closed Friday morning.

* Tribal region poses harsh test for Pakistan army After relative success against Islamic extremists elsewhere, Pakistan's military faces its toughest test yet — a surgical operation against the country's most dangerous militant.

* U.S. –Russian Summit: Will the Results Match the Rhetoric? After the glow produced by an exchange of warm words by U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev at the Moscow summit earlier this week, many regional analysts and news commentators are looking to the future with a somewhat chillier glance.

* French FM meets Hizbullah legislator France's foreign minister held talks Friday with a Hizbullah legislator in the latest European outreach to the Iranian-backed terror group.

* Egypt drops bid for Palestinian unity government Egypt has ceased efforts to mediate the formation of a national unity government between the rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah, Israel Radio reported on Saturday.

07/10/09

* Netanyahu aide: No Golan pullout for peace Israel will not withdraw from the entire Golan Heights in return for a peace deal with Syria.

* IDF and Iran already Engaged in 'Cyber War' While Israel has publicly refrained from striking Iran, a secret “cyber war” may have already begun.

* G8 pledges to boost food supplies Leaders of the G8 developed nations have pledged $20bn (£12bn) for efforts to boost food supplies to the hungry, on the final day of a summit in Italy.

* Kurds Defy Baghdad, Laying Claim to Land and Oil With little notice, Kurdistan’s leaders are moving forward on a new constitution, alarming some Iraqis and Americans.

* Israel orders 1st stealth F-35 squadron Israel moved a step closer to receiving its first stealth fighter jets this week after the Israel Air Force submitted an official Letter of Request (LOR) to the Pentagon to purchase its first squadron of 25 F-35 stealth fighter jets.

* China reimposes curfew in Urumqi A night-time curfew has been reimposed in the restive western Chinese city of Urumqi.

* Dead Sea Faces Lively Competition as World Wonder The Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth, confirmed its place for consideration in the next stage of the international competition to grade the seven natural wonders of the world.

* Hamas-style education A children's show on Hamas' TV network aired a special episode last week dedicated to female suicide bomber Reem Salah al-Riyashi.

* German FM: Settlements remain obstacle to peace Chances for peace in the Middle East are better than at any time in the past 15 years, but Israeli settlements remain an obstacle.

* 'Iran could build bomb within a year' Both the US and Israel believe Iran has the technical capacity to build one nuclear bomb within a year if it decides to do so.

07/09/09

* Egypt nabs Palestinian-led terror cell 'plotting Suez attacks' Egyptian authorities have arrested 25 al-Qaida-linked terrorists on suspicion of plotting attacks on oil pipelines and ships crossing the Suez Canal.

* China leaders vow Xinjiang action The pledge, reported by state media, was the first public comment by top leaders on the violence that has left 156 people dead in the city of Urumqi.

* Netanyahu adviser raises "MAD" nuclear scenario Israel must have "tremendously powerful" weapons to deter a nuclear attack or destroy an enemy that dares to launch an atomic strike.

* EU parliament 'has equal power' to member states The European Parliament is on a level power footing with member states in the EU's complex institutional triangle.

* Ban criticises G8 climate efforts UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has criticised leaders of the G8 industrial nations for failing to make deeper commitments to combat climate change.

* Jews fast, mourn destruction of Jerusalem The "Three Weeks" of gradually-increasing mourning over the destruction of the Holy Temples and Israel's exile begins Thursday.

* EU apologizes for statements against settlements The European Union Commission apologized to Israel's Ambassador to the Union, Ron Kuriel, over statements it made earlier this week claiming that the settlement policy was stifling the Palestinian economy.

* Germany calls for ban on neo-Nazi Web sites abroad Germany's Justice Minister on Thursday called for foreign Internet service providers to remove neo-Nazi images, texts and other content.

* Cyberattacks Jam Government and Commercial Web Sites in U.S. and South Korea A wave of cyberattacks aimed at 27 American and South Korean government agencies and commercial Web sites temporarily jammed more than a third of them over the past five days.

* Worst violence since US pullback hits Iraq Bombings killed more than 40 people in Iraq on Thursday in the worst violence since U.S. combat troops withdrew from urban areas last week.