Tuesday, July 28, 2009

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."