Thursday, July 23, 2009

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.