Tuesday, May 05, 2009

05/05/09

* Emanuel: Thwarting Iran easier with Israeli-Palestinian talks The task of forming an international coalition to thwart Iran's nuclear program will be made easier if progress is made in peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

* China military build-up seems U.S.-focused: Mullen China's build-up of sea and air military power funded by a strong economy appears aimed at the United States.

* Mashaal: Hamas wants 10 year cease-fire Hamas has stopped launching rockets at Israel and is looking to establish a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders.

* Homeland agency pulled back extremism dictionary The same Homeland Security Department office that categorized veterans as potential terrorists issued an earlier report that defined dozens of "extremists" ranging from black power activists to abortion foes.

* Israel blasts UN report on Cast Lead Israel on Tuesday rejected as "patently biased" a UN inspection committee report which alleged that the IDF had intentionally attacked UN installations during Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip.

* US needs 'digital warfare force' The head of America's National Security Agency says that America needs to build a digital warfare force for the future.

* Netanyahu: Israel ready to resume talks Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Monday night stressed the importance of peace, calling for a three-tiered approach to working toward a resolution with the Palestinians.

* Peres backs Arab League peace initiative President Shimon Peres on Monday indicated that the Arab League peace plan could serve as a basis for moving the peace process forward.

* National Union MK: Pope an anti-Semite A heated meeting was held at the Knesset on Tuesday morning, after Knesset Member Michael Ben-Ari (National Union) demanded an urgent discussion on the pope's upcoming visit to Israel.

* Sudan 'launches attack on Chad' Chad's government has accused Sudan of launching a military attack, two days after the neighbours signed a reconciliation agreement in Qatar.