03/31/10

* Police Allow Limited Number of Jews on Temple Mount Jerusalem police Wednesday morning began to allow small groups of Jews to ascend the Temple Mount, where Jews previously had been barred for fear of provoking Arab riots.

* Iran nuclear scientist Shahram Amiri 'defects to US' An Iranian nuclear scientist who has been missing since June has defected to the US, according to a US media report.

* Iran intel and proxies zoom in on U.S. presence in the Gulf Iran has focused its intelligence efforts on the U.S. military presence in the Gulf.

* Jerusalem Bus Ad Campaign for Rebuilt Temple Our Land of Israel has launched a Passover advertisement campaign on Jerusalem's buses that calls for rebuilding the Jewish Temple in its original location, atop the Temple Mount.

* Deputy Minister: If US Balks at Veto, Shun 'Hussein Obama' Deputy Minister Ayoub Kara reacted acerbically to a BBC report that the United States may abstain from using its veto power if the UN Security Council votes to condemn Israeli building for Jews in eastern Jerusalem.

* Jordan, S. Korea sign $130 million nuclear deal Jordan says it has signed a $130 million agreement with a South Korean consortium to build the kingdom's first nuclear research reactor.

* Iraqi PM fights to hold power, risks sectarian war Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's postelection strategy suggests he is prepared for a long and bitter fight to hold on to power.

* 21% of settlers back resisting evacuation 'by any means' Twenty-one percent of settlers believe that all means must be employed in to resist the evacuation of most West Bank settlements, including the use of arms, according to a recent Hebrew University study.

* Medvedev vows not to allow terrorists to destabilize Russia Terrorists will not be allowed to destabilize the situation in Russia, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday following two double bombings in Dagestan and Moscow.

* Congress Pressures Obama to Retreat on Jerusalem Approximately 75 percent of U.S. Congress members are prepared to sign a letter calling for an end to public criticism of Israel by the Obama administration and to "reinforce its ties with the country."

03/30/10

* Vladimir Putin demands Moscow bombing suspects caught Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says catching the organisers of suicide bombings in Moscow on Monday should be a "matter of honour" for investigators.

* Turkey makes case against sanctions on Iran Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday he did not favor imposing economic sanctions to pressure Iran into showing that it has no covert nuclear weapons program.

* Rightists arrested over Pesach sacrifice Noam Federman, Yehuda Glick detained on suspicion of planning to sacrifice young goats near Temple Mount.

* G8 ministers urge world to take stronger action on Iran Top diplomats from the world's leading economies are ramping up pressure on Iran to prove its nuclear ambitions are peaceful or face tough new sanctions.

* Merkel says EU-Turkey talks are 'open-ended' Chancellor Angela Merkel made a symbolic concession on language concerning Turkey's EU membership prospects during a visit to Ankara on Monday.

* Iraqi commission moves to disqualify winning candidates Six winning candidates in Iraq's parliamentary elections will be stripped of their votes and lose their seats.

* CIA: Iran capable of producing nukes Iran is poised to begin producing nuclear weapons after its uranium program expansion in 2009, even though it has had problems with thousands of its centrifuges.

* Hate crimes force Jews out of Malmo Marcus Eilenberg is a Swedish Jew whose family roots in Malmo run deep. His paternal grandparents were Holocaust survivors.

* Catholics find ties to the church tested by crisis An Austrian priest avoids mention of Pope Benedict XVI in his Masses. A Philadelphia woman stops going to confession, saying she now sees priests as more flawed than herself.

03/29/10

* Jerusalem posters call for 3rd Temple Posters leaving out Al Aksa mosque plastered on buses with east Jerusalem routes.

* Obama resigned to nuclear Iran Bolton says Washington pressuring Israel not to strike nuke facilities.

* Israel won’t change nuclear policy Defense official: No plan to offer concessions regarding purported capability.

* Moscow Metro hit by deadly suicide bombings At least 38 people have been killed after two female suicide bombers blew themselves up on Moscow Metro trains in the morning rush hour, officials say.

* Barack Obama rallies forces on visit to Afghanistan Barack Obama has told US forces on his first visit to Afghanistan as US president that they are there to help Afghans to forge a "hard-won peace".

* Passover Closure to Lift for Easter The IDF will impose a closure on Judea, Samaria, and Gaza during the Passover holiday, meaning that Palestinian Authority Arabs will not be allowed to enter Israel during that time.

* Arab League Summit Focused on Jerusalem, "Resistance" The Arab League concluded its 22nd summit in Libya on Sunday without any changes from its longstanding policies.

* Sensors turn skin into gadget control pad Tapping your forearm or hand with a finger could soon be the way you interact with gadgets.

* Erdogan and Merkel spar ahead of Turkey visit The integration of the three million Turkish nationals in Germany has once again emerged as a source of discord between Berlin and Ankara ahead of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit to Turkey.

* Israeli minister says U.S. boosts Arab hardliners The Obama administration's pressure on Israel to curb settlement activity will bolster Palestinian hardliners and hinder peace efforts.

03/27/10

* Amr Moussa: We must prepare for failure of peace process The chief of the Arab League warned Saturday that Israel's actions could bring about a final end to the Middle East peace process.

* US, Russia sign pact to cut nuclear arms President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed on Friday to sharp cuts in the nuclear arsenals of both nations in the most comprehensive arms control treaty in two decades.

* PM: No change in policy on Jerusalem Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu convened his senior ministers in Jerusalem on Friday afternoon to discuss the demands made by US President Barack Obama and his overall trip to Washington.

* Iran: Muslims must foil Israeli plot Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki called on the international community to "foil an Israeli plot to change the identity of Jerusalem."

* Iraq coalition talks 'open to all' - Iyad Allawi The leader of the secular alliance that narrowly won Iraq's parliamentary election has offered to work with all parties to form a coalition government.

* Israeli tanks 'enter Gaza' after deadly clashes Israeli tanks advanced briefly into the Gaza Strip following clashes with Palestinians in which two Israeli soldiers died.

* Euro strengthens after EU agrees Greece deal The euro has strengthened against the dollar and the pound after eurozone leaders agreed a financial aid package to help debt-laden Greece.

* Clergy abuse threatens to tarnish pope's legacy The Vatican is facing one of its gravest crises of modern times as sex abuse scandals move ever closer to Pope Benedict XVI - threatening not only his own legacy but also that of his revered predecessor.

* S Korean warship sinks, rescue efforts continue while 46 missing A South Korean naval vessel with 104 crew members onboard sank into waters off the west coast of the Korean peninsula late Friday due to an unknown cause.

* Arab League chief urges closer ties with Iran The head of the Arab League urged the 22-nation bloc on Saturday to engage Iran directly over concerns about its growing influence in the region and its disputed nuclear program.

03/26/10

* Iran says Muslims must act over Jerusalem Iran attacked Israel's construction plans in east Jerusalem on Friday, saying Muslims around the world needed to take action.

* Arab League summit to focus on Jerusalem The 22nd Arab League summit which opens Saturday in the Libyan city of Sirte is expected to focus on Jerusalem.

* PM: No change in policy on Jerusalem Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu convened his senior ministers in Jerusalem on Friday afternoon to discuss the demands made by US President Barack Obama and his overall trip to Washington.

* Greek crisis is 'tip of the iceberg,' Chinese official says A senior Chinese official entered the debate on the heath of Europe's economy.

* Deal reached over Greece debts at Brussels summit All 16 eurozone countries have backed a financing plan to help debt-laden Greece, which will include IMF money.

* Binyamin Netanyahu humiliated after Barack Obama 'dumped him for dinner' For a head of government to visit the White House and not pose for photographers is rare. For a key ally to be left to his own devices while the President withdraws to have dinner in private was.

* Modern exodus – Pessah sees surge in tourism locally, abroad Many Israelis will be taking advantage of Pessah to go on vacation. Hotels across the country are nearly completely booked and flights are becoming hard to come by.

* PA "Venture Capital': Gets $500 Million to Arabize Jerusalem The Arab League agreed Thursday to raise $500 million in order to fight Jewish growth in Jerusalem.

* Vatican attacks media on 'Pope role' in sex abuse cases The Vatican has attacked the media over charges that the Pope failed to act against a US priest accused of abusing up to 200 deaf boys two decades ago.

03/25/10

* Almost a quarter of Republicans think Obama 'may be the Antichrist' as 14 states sue over healthcare reforms Americans who suggest Barack Obama should rot in hell are apparently deadly serious.

* Jordan: Israel is playing with fire Jordan's king warned Israel in a rare public rebuke that it is "playing with fire" with its settlement policy.

* Supreme Court: No Passover Sacrifice Again This Year The Supreme Court has rejected a petition requesting that Jews be enabled to offer the Passover Sacrifice this coming Monday, the eve of the holiday.

* Saudi Arabia detains dozens of 'al-Qaeda militants' More than 100 suspected militants linked to al-Qaeda have been arrested in Saudi Arabia, officials have said.

* Russia, China press Iran on nuclear program A senior Russian diplomat said on Wednesday that Russia and China had pressed Iran to accept a United Nations offer to replace fuel for an atomic reactor.

* Saudi: Israel's arrogance challenges the world Saudi Arabia on Wednesday condemned Israel's "arrogant" policies of building settlements in east Jerusalem.

* Frantic EU seeks solution to Greek debt crisis European leaders are facing a moment of truth at a Thursday summit, as markets press them to come up with a financial safety net for Greece.

* Petraeus apologizes to Ashkenazi Commander of the United States Military's Central Command (CENTCOM) Gen. David Petraeus, whose widely-reported recent claim that Israeli intransigence was a problem for the US military in the Middle East and was fomenting conflict caused much concern within the Israeli security.

* Iraq parliamentary election recount 'unnecessary' The head of Iraq's election commission has ruled out a manual recount of all the votes in the country's parliamentary election.

* Passover Sacrifice Offered to Passersby in Jerusalem Rabbi Yehuda Glick, head of the Organization for Human Rights on the Temple Mount, led a young goat down the streets of Jerusalem Wednesday.

* EU leaders under pressure to reach Greek deal at summit EU leaders are under intense pressure to come up with a solution to Greece's ongoing debt dilemma when they meet in Brussels on Thursday.

* Ashton secures deal on new diplomatic service EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has finalised her blueprint for the EU's first ever diplomatic service after the European Commission.

03/24/10

* Netanyahu holds talks with Obama amid settlement row Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has held talks with US President Barack Obama - their first meeting since a row over plans to build homes in East Jerusalem.

* Jerusalem approves contentious new building plan The Jerusalem municipality has approved 20 new apartments for Jews in east Jerusalem.

* Arab League chief pushes for closer ties with Iran The Arab League chief wants the 22-nation bloc to engage Iran directly over concerns about its growing influence and its nuclear activities.

* IDF official to Hamas: Don't repeat mistakes of Gaza war A senior Israel Defense Forces commander said Tuesday that the Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip were growing stronger.

* 'Israel saves, doesn't endanger, US lives' US-Israeli intelligence cooperation is "important for Israel and is helping save American lives," Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said late Monday night.

* Petraeus requests West Bank, Gaza be included in Centcom's sphere The U.S. military's Central Command has sought to expand its area of operations to include the Palestinian Authority.

* Washington's Shrinking Options on Iran Nuke Sanctions When Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addressed the Israel lobbying group AIPAC on Monday, one of her best-received lines was her vow that "the United States is determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons."

* US-Russian nuclear deal to be signed in Prague Prague has agreed to host the signing of a new U.S.-Russian treaty to reduce long-range nuclear weapons.

* European leaders spar over Greece bailout ahead of EU summit The Greece debt crisis continues to bring out public and not always amicable efforts among European nations to compromise on a Greece bailout plan.

* Politically motivated move, blow to intelligence-sharing Britain's expulsion of an Israeli diplomat over an alleged Mossad assassination seems certain to damage counterterrorism efforts.

03/23/10

* Netanyahu reaffirms 'right to build' in Jerusalem Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted Israel's "right to build" in Jerusalem, following a row with the US over plans for new homes in the city.

* Hillary Clinton warns Israel faces 'difficult' choices US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called on Israel to make "difficult but necessary choices" if it wants a peace agreement with the Palestinians.

* 'Peace talks after settlement freeze' The Palestinians would agree to hold indirect talks with Israel if they received assurances that the government of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu would abide by the recent Quartet demand for a total freeze on settlement construction.

* Mars as you've never seen it before: The colossal ice walls that show another side of the Red Planet It looks like a filmmaker's apocalyptic vision of Earth following a devastating natural disaster.

* Turkey's Governing Party Proposes Changes in the Constitution Members of Parliament from Turkey's religious conservative governing party proposed constitutional changes on Monday that would make it harder to ban political parties and easier to prosecute military officials in civilian courts.

* U.S. Officials Meet Iraqi Leader After Recount Call The two top American officials in Iraq met Monday with Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki after his endorsement over the weekend of a recount in the parliamentary elections incited fears of a political crisis.

* Polls: Israelis View Obama as Pro-Arab A lopsided plurality of 42 percent of Israelis view U.S. President Barack Obama as pro-Arab.

* Commission set for limited role on 2020 targets Draft conclusions for this week's European Summit (25-26 March) suggest EU leaders are preparing to give the European Commission only a limited role.

* Rabbi Druckman: The Almighty, not Obama, Has World in His Hands U.S. President Barack Obama thinks he guides the world, but the truth is that the Almighty is behind the wheel, Bnei Akiva Yeshivot chairman Rabbi Chaim Druckman said.

* Obama, Netanyahu to meet at White House US President Barack Obama is meeting Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Tuesday at the White House.

03/22/10

* Netanyahu urged to take tough stance during US visit Minister Shalom tells Likud convention PM's trip to Washington crucial because 'US is our greatest ally,' but adds that ruling party 'waved the flag of settlement, in case anyone has forgotten.'

* Khamenei cold to Obama overture Iran's supreme leader accuses US of plotting to overthrow clerical regime.

* Academic Paper in China Sets Off Alarms in U.S. It came as a surprise this month to Wang Jianwei, a graduate engineering student in Liaoning, China, that he had been described as a potential cyberwarrior before the United States Congress.

* Obama Punished Israel by Diverting Anti-Iran Bunker Bombs Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s visit to the United States this week will include a demand that U.S. President Barack Obama release previously-promised bunker-busting bombs.

* Greek leader warns Berlin that EU at risk if no aid Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou implicitly criticised Germany on Saturday for opposing efforts to help his country out of its fiscal crisis, warning they risked destabilising the EU.

* EU capitals defend Ashton's powers in diplomatic corps EU capitals are calling for more money and clearer powers for the head of the bloc's diplomatic corps, as foreign ministers meet in Brussels on Monday (22 March) to review plans for the new institution.

* Analysis: Is there a shift in US military thinking? Defense officials worried that Petraeus’s comments are harbinger of weakened ties

* Haaretz fiddled with Obama poll Pollster says paper used figures misleadingly to make Obama look good.

* Iraq election commission rejects calls for vote recount Iraq's election commission has rejected calls from the president and prime minister for a recount of votes cast in the general election on 7 March.

* State: Passover Sacrifice Would Provoke Muslims State attorneys asked for the Supreme Court to forbid Jews to bring sacrifices on the Temple Mount.

03/20/10

* 'Gestures - yes, but not in J'lem' Israel is willing to be flexible towards the United States following a crisis that erupted between the two countries during Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel earlier this month, but will not give up on some core issues.

* UN chief: Settlements must be stopped Israeli settlement building anywhere on occupied land is illegal and must be stopped, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said.

* Quartet to Israel: Freeze settlements Top international diplomats on Friday called on Israel and the Palestinians to return to peace negotiations.

* Jihad as American as apple pie, says US-born cleric Violent jihad, or Islamic holy war, is "becoming as American as apple pie," US-born fugitive cleric Anwar Al-Awlaqi said.

* China's Growth Shifts the Geopolitics of Oil Last summer, Saudi Arabia put the final bolt in its largest oil expansion project ever, opening a new field capable of pumping 1.2 million barrels a day — more than the entire production of Texas.

* Egypt prayers for Hosni Mubarak's recovery Mr Mubarak, who is 81, is still in Germany recuperating from surgery he underwent nearly two weeks ago.

* Bushehr reactor to start this Summer Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Iran's new Russian-built nuclear power plant will begin operating this summer, even as the United States called for Russia to delay the startup.

* Saudi Arabia Seeks Strike on Iran The German news magazine Der Spiegel has reported that Saudi Arabia is hoping Israel will strike Iran's nuclear facilities.

* Thousands rally against Putin across Russia A coalition of opposition groups declared a national "Day of Anger" with some 50 rallies tapping into rising discontent at unemployment.

* Russia to back 'smart' Iran sanctions Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday that Russia may accede to a sanctions resolution on Iran.

03/19/10

* Temple Institute wants to Offer Biblical Passover Sacrifice The Temple Mount Institute has filed suit in its fight for the right to sacrifice a sheep on the Temple Mount prior to Passover, as commanded in the Torah.

* Middle East Quartet urges Israeli settlement freeze The international Quartet of Middle East peace mediators has called on Israel to freeze all settlement activity.

* Hezbollah: Iran strike to ignite Mideast Violence could spread across the Middle East with Israel paying a "heavy price" if it launched military action against Iran.

* Putin: Russia to start up Iran nuclear plant in summer Russia will start up the nuclear reactor it is building at Iran's Bushehr atomic power plant in mid-2010.

* Poll: Nearly half of U.S. voters support total settlement freeze Almost half of all U.S. voters believe that Israel should be made to cease all settlement construction as part of a future peace deal with the Palestinians.

* Purported al-Awlaki message calls for jihad against U.S. American-born Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki is calling for jihad against America, claiming "America is evil".

* Van Rompuy and Barroso to both represent EU at G20 European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and EU Council chief Herman Van Rompuy have decided who will speak on which subject when they both represent the union at international meetings such as the G20.

* Militants declare campaign vs Iraqi political parties The threat from Islamic State of Iraq was contained in a speech from the group's leader, Omar al-Baghdadi, on an audio tape posted on jihadist forums.

* Obama blocks delivery of bunker-busters to Israel The United States has diverted a shipment of bunker-busters designated for Israel.

* Saudi Arabia Seeks Strike on Iran The German news magazine Der Spiegel has reported that Saudi Arabia is hoping Israel will strike Iran's nuclear facilities.

03/18/10

* EU foreign chief Baroness Ashton arrives in Gaza Strip Baroness Ashton's trip comes amid a new push by the EU and US to revive stalled Middle East peace talks.

* 'Arab-Israeli conflict hurts US' US Gen. David Petraeus charged Tuesday that the Arab-Israeli conflict hurts America’s ability to advance its interests in the Middle East.

* Tehran aiding al Qaeda links, Petraeus says Iran is assisting al Qaeda by facilitating links between senior terrorist leaders and affiliate groups, the commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East told Congress on Tuesday.

* US President Barack Obama denies crisis with Israel US President Barack Obama has denied there is a crisis in Washington's ties with Israel over its settlement plans, as a war of words continues.

* Yesha Council to Clinton: Jerusalem is Ours In a letter to US. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Jewish leaders in Judea and Samaria explain the unshakeable historic and religious bonds between the Jewish People and Jerusalem.

* Merkel says errant states should be kicked out of eurozone German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the eurozone must be able to expel members that repeatedly break the club's fiscal rules in the future.

* Iraq PM back in lead in vote count A coalition headed by Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, has taken a slim lead over the bloc led by his main challenger, Iyad Allawi.

* Clinton in Russia to Push Arms Talks Toward Deal With the United States and Russia still haggling over the fine print of a long-delayed arms control pact, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived in Moscow on Thursday to meet Russian leaders.

* US envoy urges China to help on Iran Beijing needs to take seriously American concerns about the value of the Chinese currency, but bilateral disputes should not impede cooperation on global issues such as climate change and Iran's nuclear program.

* US Lawmakers Stand Up Against Obama for Israel U.S. Congressional lawmakers have flooded the White House and the media with letters and news releases complaining about the Obama administration’s unprecedented scolding of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

03/17/10

* Despite US Pressure, Israel Insists: No Preconditions for Talks Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's bureau appeared Tuesday to rebuff United States pressure to make immediate gestures toward the Palestinian Authority.

* Hillary Clinton affirms US support for Israel after row US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has dismissed the idea that US-Israeli relations are in crisis amid a row over Jewish settlers in Arab East Jerusalem.

* EuroMed 'Partnership' with Israel Focuses on PA State Israeli MKs sat down in Jordan this past week with Arab delegates at the environmentally-focused EuroMed conference.

* Followers of Sadr Emerge Stronger After Iraq Elections The followers of Moktada al-Sadr, a radical cleric who led the Shiite insurgency against the American occupation, have emerged as Iraq's equivalent of Lazarus in elections last week.

* Ailing Euro Seen as a Signal of Deeper Woes on Continent It used to be easy to sum up the way European business executives viewed exchange rates: a strong dollar was good; a strong euro was bad.

* 'The Palestinian Authority is Not Prepared for Statehood' Itamar Marcus, head of Palestinian Media Watch, spoke with Israel National Radio's Yishai Fleisher at this year's Jerusalem Conference on why Palestinians are not ready for statehood.

* EU calls for renewal of indirect Israel-Syria peace talks The European Union's top diplomat Tuesday called on Syria and Israel to resume indirect peace talks, which have been stalled since last year.

* Iran nuclear programme 'solely civilian' - Turkish PM The Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has told the BBC that he believes Iran has no intention of developing nuclear weapons.

* Iran, Hamas Launch 'Facebook Intifada' Iran has called for the launching of a “media intifada” against Israel, and the first results are apparently visible online, in the form of a Hamas Facebook group.

* EU economic governance inevitable, Belgian PM says Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme has said that joint economic governance among some or all EU member states is an inevitable consequence of the creation of the euro.

03/16/10

* Palestinian unrest subsides in J'lem After a morning of violent clashes, during which dozens of masked Palestinians hurled rocks at Israeli police and burnt tires in various east Jerusalem neighborhoods, order seems to have been restored to the capital.

* Israel's J'lem actions 'absurd' Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said Monday that Israel's actions in Jerusalem were "absurd, an evasion, maneuvering and an attempt to suffocate the Palestinians."

* 'Hamas used kids as human shields' Hamas gunmen used Palestinian children as human shields, and established command centers and Kassam launch pads in and near more than 100 mosques and hospitals during Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip last year.

* U.S. confident Mideast peace talks to continue The U.S. is confident proximity talks between Israel and the Palestinians will continue, despite recent tension over Israel's plan to construct 1,600 new housing units in an East Jerusalem neighborhood.

* Blair courts controversial US pastor Rick Warren in bid to unite faiths Tony Blair is preparing to launch a "faith offensive" across the United States over the next year.

* EU's Ashton chides Israel over Jerusalem settler plan EU foreign policy chief Baroness Ashton has said Israel's decision to build new settler homes in occupied East Jerusalem endangers peace talks.

* Hurva is again a house of prayer After a nearly 62-year hiatus, the renowned Hurva synagogue inside the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City has been rebuilt and is again an operational house of prayer.

* U.S. to accelerate Iraq pullout, credits Iraqis for election security The United States, declaring the election a security achievement, has been preparing to accelerate its withdrawal from Iraq.

* US envoy George Mitchell postpones Israel visit US envoy George Mitchell has postponed a visit to Israel amid a continuing row over Israel's decision to build more Jewish homes in Arab East Jerusalem.

* Iraq Election Results Hint of Political Shift Partial election results released Monday suggested a sharp and divisive shift in power in Iraq.

03/15/10

* PA calls Arabs to "defend al Aqsa" Top Fatah official: Israel "playing with fire" through Temple Mount "provocations."

* Ashton to push for resumption of Israel-Palestine peace talks On the eve of her first trip to the Middle East, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has said she will urge a restart of peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians.

* Abbas: Iran hampering unity talks PA leader says Iran is impeding efforts to reach a deal between Fatah and Hamas.

* Obama aide condemns "destructive" Israeli homes plan Israel's announcement of plans to build 1,600 homes for Jews in East Jerusalem was "destructive" to peace efforts, a top aide to Barack Obama says.

* New Terrorist Weapon: "Lawfare" Twists the Law The recently-formed "Lawfare Project" has launched a new type of strategy to fight Muslim-led manipulation of law in its war against democracy.

* Security Fears: Police Cancel Upcoming Temple Mount Activities In light of security assessments in Jerusalem and the rioting of the past few days there, police have canceled the monthly Temple Mount Gates march, scheduled for this Monday night.

* Turkey calls for more active EU foreign policy Turkey has urged the European Union to seek more influence in the South Caucasus and the Middle East, regions where Ankara already considers itself to be a major player.

* "Arms drive" in South East Asia South East Asian nations are ramping up their military capacity in a move that could destabilize the region.

* Israeli envoy sees "historic crisis" with U.S. Israel and the United States are in a "crisis of historic proportions" over a settlement dispute that has brought relations to a 35-year low, Israel's ambassador to Washington said.

* Israel keeps restrictions on Jerusalem mosque access Israeli police maintained restrictions on access to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound - Islam's third holiest site - for the fourth day running amid tensions in Jerusalem.

03/13/10

* Clinton rebukes Israel over East Jerusalem homes US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has sharply rebuked Israel over its recent decision to build new settlements in East Jerusalem.

* China's oil demand increase 'astonishing', says IEA China's demand for oil jumped by an "astonishing" 28% in January compared with the same month a year earlier.

* U.S. promises to halt Israeli building in East Jerusalem A Palestinian official told the newspaper Al-Quds Al-Arabi Saturday that U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell promised Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that the U.S. will bring a halt to Israeli building in East Jerusalem.

* UN worried by war of words between Israel and Lebanon A recent wave of bellicose rhetoric between Israel and Lebanon has fueled fears the two hostile neighbors could be headed for another conflict.

* India and Russia ink pacts in defence and strategic spheres NEW DELHI: India and Russia on Friday sealed agreements in the defence and strategic spheres.

* Iraq PM uses early lead to pursue new govt allies Seizing on an early lead in Iraq's election, the prime minister's political coalition began reaching out to rivals Friday.

* Somali official to residents: Flee battle zones Frightened Somalis stacked household goods on carts pulled by donkeys and fled the heaviest fighting the capital has seen in almost a year Friday.

* Iraq Election May Leave Kirkuk Status Uncertain Early election results appear to reflect a hardening of divisions between Kurds, Arabs and Turkmens in northern Iraq.

* Obama Nasa plans 'catastrophic' say Moon astronauts Former Nasa astronauts who went to the Moon have told the BBC of their dismay at President Barack Obama's decision to push back further Moon missions.

* Pakistan Army Digs In on Turf of the Taliban From a forward base in the bare brown foothills of the soaring mountains of South Waziristan, Pakistani soldiers fired artillery at insurgents sheltering in scrub across the valley.

03/12/10

* Biden says peace talks must resume despite Mid-East row US Vice-President Joe Biden says there must be no delay in resuming Mid-East peace talks, despite a row over Israeli plans for new homes in East Jerusalem.

* Deputy FM tells U.S.: Israel won't make any more concessions Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon on Thursday defended Israel's decision to approve construction of 1,600 new housing units in East Jerusalem.

* 'Hated Israel will be annihalated' The Palestinians and the nations of the Middle East will be rid of a “bad omen” once Israel is annihilated, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday.

* Iraq awards China major oil deal near Iran border Iraq has concluded an agreement for the development of a major crude oil field near the Iranian border.

* Jerusalem College Holds Conference on Miracles Jerusalem's Lifshitz College brought the realm of the mystical into the world of academia Thursday by holding a conference on the topic of 'Miracles in Our Generation.'.

* France and Germany eye top job in EU diplomatic corps With plans for the EU's new diplomatic corps entering their final stage, EU capitals have quietly begun to negotiate over who will take the top jobs up for grabs.

* Early Iraq poll results suggest close contest Early results from Iraq's election suggest a tight contest may be developing between Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and his main rival Iyad Allawi.

* Egypt stepping up pressure against Hamas Cairo has severely toughened its stance on exit permits for Hamas leaders from Gaza and is demanding that Hamas unconditionally sign a reconciliation agreement with Fatah prepared by the Egyptians.

* Russian PM Vladimir Putin arrives in India for talks Russian PM Vladimir Putin is in India for talks expected to focus on arms and energy contracts.

* Poll Shows Youth Leans Rightward Fifty-six percent of Jewish youths believe that Arabs should not be elected to the Knesset, a poll has found.

03/11/10

* Israel: We Will Continue to Build in Jerusalem "Those who say we flustered [U.S. Vice President Joseph] Biden by building in Jerusalem do not understand that Jerusalem is ours," says Minister of Diaspora Affairs Yuli Edelstein.

* Peace talks 'difficult' for Abbas amid settlement row The Palestinian Authority has said indirect talks with Israel will be "very difficult" if more homes are built on occupied land as planned.

* Army chief: Israel faces unprecedented threats Despite the relative calm at this time, Israel faces a deceptive security situation and an unprecedented combination of threats, IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi warned.

* Blair: Words won't create trust Israelis and Palestinians must "get on with the positive agenda that will create change."

* Russian PM Vladimir Putin due in India for talks Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is due in India for talks expected to focus on arms and energy contracts.

* Norway Doomsday Seed Vault Hits 1 / 2 Million Mark Two years after receiving its first deposits, a ''doomsday'' seed vault on an Arctic island has amassed half a million seed samples.

* February Brings Highest Number of Tourists in Israeli History The people of Israel welcomed more visitors in February 2010 than in any other month in the Jewish state's history.

* Israel planning 50,000 housing units in East Jerusalem Some 50,000 new housing units in Jerusalem neighborhoods beyond the Green Line are in various stages of planning and approval.

* New EU states make bid for more diplomatic clout Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic have warned that member states could disengage from EU foreign policy unless they get a fair share of power in its new diplomatic corps.

* Six killed in attack on World Vision office in Pakistan Militants have attacked the office of a Western aid agency in north-western Pakistan, killing six people, police and the agency have said.

03/10/10

* US slams new J'lem homes approval The decision by an Interior Ministry committee to announce approval of plans for some 1,600 housing units in northeast Jerusalem’s Ramat Shlomo neighborhood cast a pall Tuesday night over the visit of US Vice President Joe Biden.

* Israel calls off exercises near Lebanon, Syria after pressure from Obama Officials said the administration of President Barack Obama has warned Israel that its exercises along the borders with Lebanon and Syria were escalating regional tension.

* Delay on Arms Pact Slows Reset of U.S.- Russia Ties When President Obama got on the telephone with President Dmitri A. Medvedev of Russia last month, he was under the impression that they were finally close to wrapping up a long-delayed arms control treaty that he had originally expected to sign in December.

* Israel Partnering in Africa Against Terror Following February talks between Israel and the Kenyan government in which the African country requested Israeli assistance in fighting terror.

* EU crisis fund idea puts eurozone at 'crossroads' Controversy over the future of the eurozone after the Greek crisis is at a new pitch over ideas for a rescue fund.

* Christians flee after Nigeria's massacre Fresh gunfire has sent Christian villagers in Nigeria fleeing as a senior official accused the country's military chiefs of having ignored warnings about last weekend's massacre.

* Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attacks US for Afghan 'double game' Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has accused the US of playing a "double game" in Afghanistan after the US used the same term to condemn Iran's role.

* EU's Ashton sets out diplomatic vision The EU's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, says Europe has a "once in a generation opportunity" to build a robust new diplomatic service.

* Gates in Saudi Arabia to Discuss Iran Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for talks with the Saudi royal family that senior defense officials said would be focused on Iran.

* After Delay, Partial Iraq Vote Results Expected Thursday Iraq's electoral commission is expected to announce partial results of parliamentary elections by Thursday.

03/09/10

* Biden: US 'determined' to prevent a nuclear Iran US Vice President Joe Biden expressed America's "absolute, total, unvarnished commitment to Israel' security" at a press conference in Jerusalem.

* Aviation Week: Hamas, Hizbullah May Push Israel to War Worrisome escalations in arms stockpiling by Hamas and Hizbullah have convinced defense analysts that another war with Israel is on the horizon this year or in 2011.

* Israel, Syria announce nuclear energy ambitions Mideast rivals Israel and Syria on Tuesday each announced ambitions to develop nuclear energy.

* Russia sees new nuclear arms treaty by April A new treaty limiting U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals could be signed within two or three weeks.

* 'Israel won't initiate attack in North' "We are not looking for confrontations. Israel will not initiate attacks in the northern arena but we are strong and deterring," Defense Minister Ehud Barak said.

* Iraq election turnout 62%, officials say The voter turnout in Iraq's general elections was 62%, officials said, despite attacks that killed 38 people.

* EU visit to Gaza is 'poke in the eye' for Israel Israel has agreed for EU foreign relations chief Catherine Ashton to visit Gaza next week in a mission criticised by a former Israeli diplomat.

* Iran's Ahmadinejad to visit Afghanistan Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad plans to visit Afghanistan on Wednesday, a government spokesman said.

* UN's Weak Response to Muslim Slaughter of Christians Hundreds of Christians were brutally slaughtered with axes and knives by a Muslim Nigerian mob on Sunday.

* Robert Gates warns of 'hard Afghan fight ahead' US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has warned that "hard fighting" lies ahead, in his first visit to Afghanistan since the launch of a major offensive there.

03/08/10

* PA agrees to "proximity talks" Ahead of Biden visit to Israel, Netanyahu to meet with Mitchell again.

* Ashton throws down the gauntlet over Gaza trip EU foreign relations chief Catherine Ashton has said she plans to visit Gaza on her Middle East trip next week, putting Israeli authorities in an awkward position.

* Analysis: Not all VP visits are significant, but this one is Washington wants to ensure that Israel and the US remain on the same page regarding how to deal with Iran.

* Votes being counted in Iraq election Counting is under way in Iraq's elections, with preliminary results expected in several days.

* "Rachel's Tomb was never Jewish" Speaking to Saudi paper, Turkish PM criticizes Israel's nat'l heritage list.

* Internet access is "a fundamental right" Almost four in five people around the world believe that access to the internet is a fundamental right, a poll for the BBC World Service suggests.

* SuperPower: Visualizing the internet SuperPower: a season of programs exploring the power of the internet.

* Cyberwar declared as China hunts for the West's intelligence secrets Urgent warnings have been circulated throughout Nato and the European Union for secret intelligence material to be protected from a recent surge in cyberwar attacks originating in China.

* Geert Wilders to the House of Lords: "The Left is facilitating Islamization" It is great to be back in London. And it is great that this time, I got to see more of this wonderful city than just the detention centre at Heathrow Airport.

* Plans emerge for European Monetary Fund Plans for a European Monetary Fund emerged over the weekend as the ongoing debt crisis in Greece forces European politicians to rethink the euro area's institutional architecture.

03/06/10

* 'Iran developing massive launch site' Iran is building a new rocket launch site with North Korean assistance.

* Ex-Leader Is Top Rival to Premier in Iraq Vote The serpentine career of Ayad Allawi, who served briefly as Iraq’s interim prime minister five years ago, has taken another unlikely turn.

* UN worried by Temple Mount clashes The United Nations Security Council expressed concern overnight Friday after Israeli forces clashed with Palestinian rioters.

* West drafts weakened Iran sanctions Western countries, under pressure from Russia and China, drafted a blueprint for a fourth round of sanctions against Iran.

* Ukraine's Yanukovych signals shift over Russia fleet The newly elected president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych has suggested he would allow Russia's Black Sea Fleet to remain in his country beyond 2017.

* Lost Jewish tribe 'found in Zimbabwe' In many ways, the Lemba tribe of Zimbabwe and South Africa are just like their neighbours.

* Obama vows to reduce nuclear weapons US President Barack Obama has pledged to cut the number and role of nuclear weapons in America's national security strategy.

* Liberals rap Kremlin as Stalin is worshipped Communist Party chiefs led a procession of largely elderly people across Red Square on the 57th anniversary of Stalin's death.

* Egypt's president undergoes surgery Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has handed over the reins of government to Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif while he undergoes surgery for gall bladder removal in Germany.

* 'Hamas losing control over Strip' Ahmed Ja'abri, commander of Hamas' armed wing, Izaddin al-Kassam, recently sent an urgent letter to Hamas leader in Damascus Khaled Masha'al, warning that the situation in the Gaza Strip was "deteriorating."

03/05/10

* Iraqi Shiites Turn Prayer Meetings Into Election Rallies On the last official day of campaigning before Sunday's parliamentary election in Iraq, the supporters of Shiite religious parties came out in force.

* Biden to open indirect talks Days before a visit by US Vice President Joe Biden, Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer expressed optimism about the situation in the Middle East.

* 'Soon 2-states won’t be possible' In the near future, a two-state solution may no longer be viable.

* Polling stations bombed as Iraq election begins At least 14 people have been killed in Baghdad on the first day of voting in Iraq's parliamentary elections.

* Officials bypass Netanyahu to plan Peres-Abbas meeting Talks have recently been underway to arrange a summit meeting in Rome this April between President Shimon Peres and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

* Aharonovitch: Hamas ignited Temple Mount riots Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch arrived at the Temple Mount on Friday afternoon and accused Hamas and the Islamic Movement's northern branch of igniting riots in Jerusalem's Old City.

* Jews with guns - not only in the Israel Defense Forces In the year after the election of Barack Obama as president, more than 14 million weapons were sold in the United States compared with 12.7 million the year before.

* U.S. vows to assign blame if Israel-PA talks fail The United States government has committed to playing a role in indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

* US vote on Armenian genocide angers Turkey Ankara on Thursday (4 march) recalled its ambassador from Washington in protest over a resolution passed by US lawmakers recognising the Armenian genocide in 1915.

* China rhetoric raises threat concerns Recent statements by Chinese military officials are raising concerns among U.S. analysts that the communist government in Beijing is shifting its oft-stated "peaceful rise" policy toward an aggressive, anti-U.S. posture.

03/04/10

* Mideast peace talks could begin as early as Sunday Indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority may begin as early as Sunday.

* Jerusalem's Master Plan May Endanger United Capital Jerusalem's revised master plan favors Arab housing, may lead to eliminating a Jewish majority in the capital.

* U.S. Fears Election Strife in Iraq Could Affect Pullout The deadly suicide bombings in Iraq on Wednesday highlight the central quandary facing President Obama as he tries to fulfill his campaign pledge to end the war there.

* China slows rise in military spending China has said its military spending will increase by 7.5% in 2010, ending a long run of double-digit growth.

* 'Heritage decision not political' During an address to the Knesset on Wednesday afternoon, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu attempted to alleviate tensions between the opposition and the coalition and stop the fragile calm in Jerusalem and the West Bank from shattering completely.

* Brussels sets out new economic strategy for EU The European Commission set out its long-awaited proposals for a new European economic strategy on Wednesday.

* Dutch anti-Islamists makes key gains in local elections Preliminary results in Dutch local polls suggest an anti-Islam party has made major gains and may pose a serious challenge in June parliamentary polls.

* Saudi FM: Israel a religiously oriented culture Prince Saud al-Faisal tells New York Times about enlightened 'liberal' trends in his country, compared to 'extreme' conservative religious movement in Jewish state.

* U.S., EU urge Syria to drop nuclear secrecy The U.S. and the European Union are urging Syria to stop stonewalling attempts by the International Atomic Energy Agency to investigate its nuclear activities.

* Golan Residents on the Alert Though Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced that he "knows nothing" about reports of Syria’s "willingness" to accept the Golan in stages.

03/03/10

* Arab ministers back new Israel-Palestinian peace talks Arab foreign ministers have agreed to back the resumption of indirect Palestinian-Israeli talks, which could see fresh negotiations soon.

* U.N. council ready to tackle Iran nuclear issue Gabon's U.N. Ambassador Emanuel Issoze-Ngondet, president of the Security Council for March, said the Iranian nuclear issue was not on the agenda of the 15-nation panel this month, but council members might still hold a meeting on it.

* Mubarak: Heritage sites decision dangerous Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday telephoned Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who told him that his latest moves may have "dangerous implications".

* Economists: Another Financial Crisis on the Way Even as many Americans still struggle to recover from the country's worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, another crisis – one that will be even worse than the current one – is looming.

* UN warns HIV/Aids leading cause of death in women HIV has become the leading cause of death and disease among women of reproductive age worldwide, the UN program on HIV/Aids says.

* Iraqi elections have high stakes, but low bar The candidates include sitting judges and journalists who are covering the elections, but in Iraq, no one's complaining about conflicts of interest. Handing out guns, cash and appliances to woo voters? No big deal.

* Hamas moderates can't halt the slide toward Tehran Hamas has suffered more than a little embarrassment in the past few weeks. It began with the assassination of Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh in Dubai.

* Erdogan Goes on Defensive Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey on Tuesday fought back against efforts to portray the recent arrests of dozens of senior military officers as part of a struggle between his Islamic leaning government and the country's secular establishment.

* Iraq's Top Cleric Refuses to Influence Elections No one man in Iraq has more power to change the outcome of the country’s elections on Sunday than a frail cleric who lives in an ascetic house.

* Greece's New Plan Brings Some Calm to Markets Wall Street opened quietly Wednesday as Greece announced more tax increases and pay cuts in its effort to control its deficit and bring down its borrowing costs.

03/02/10

* Netanyahu: No plans against Syria Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Tuesday tried to tone down rhetoric against Iran and Syria.

* PM: Iran arms race is runaway train Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Tuesday addressed the state of affairs on Iranian sanctions, or lack thereof.

* Nasrallah slams Arabs' 'silence' Hizbullah Secretary-General Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah on Monday night reprimanded Arab states for their "silence" in the face of Israel's national heritage plan.

* 'Keep Cave of Patriarchs off list' The Palestinian Authority on Monday called on the international community to stop Israel from placing the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron and Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem on its list of national heritage sties.

* New East Jerusalem plan unveiled, and then delayed The Mayor of Jerusalem has announced a plan to demolish an area of Arab East Jerusalem to make way for an upmarket district of luxury hotels and gardens.

* Chilean Quake Likely Shifted Earth's Axis, NASA Scientist Says The earthquake that killed more than 700 people in Chile on Feb. 27 probably shifted the Earth’s axis and shortened the day.

* Gasoline embargo seen toppling mullah regime Harsh sanctions, particularly a gasoline embargo, could endanger the mullah regime in Iran.

* Abbas urges Arab action on Jerusalem After meeting with the Jordanian king earlier this week, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak Tuesday in Sharm el-Sheik.

* Member states and EU commission clash over diplomatic service The European Commission and EU member states are in the middle of a nasty scrap over who is to have the most influence on Europe's new diplomatic corps.

* Bachelet urges Chile earthquake survivors to stay calm Chile's president has appealed for calm in the earthquake-ravaged city of Concepcion, vowing a stern response to any renewal of looting and violence.

03/01/10

* Iran: Arab Resistance Key to Demise of World Powers Iran’s senior nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalil, says that Palestinian Authority resistance is the key to freedom for Muslims and the demise of western dominance.

* IAF expands training for rapid refueling Exclusive: Long-range destinations like Iran would necessitate risky practice.

* Abdullah: Protect J'lem holy sites Jordan’s king slams Israeli “provocation" after police storm Temple Mt.

* “Zionist regime seeks world control” Ahmadinejad says Israel's existence is "an insult to all of humanity."

* Israel: Syria won't detach from Iran Ya'alon holds "useful" talks with China, discusses sanctions on Teheran.

* Israel simulation prepares for two-front war with Hamas and Hizbullah Israel's military has been exercising for the prospect of a multi-front war.

* Israel shows China evidence of Iran bomb program Delegation to Beijing offers Chinese 'the full intelligence picture available to Israel'.

* Iraqi PM calls pre-vote candidate ban legitimate Iraq's prime minister Sunday defended a ban of candidates with alleged ties to Saddam Hussein's former regime, calling it a legitimate decision that would not affect Sunni turnout at the polls.

* Palestinian Cabinet meeting in Hebron Move aimed at protesting Israel's addition of shrine to list of heritage sites.

* Attempted Army Coup Throws Turkey into Crisis Turkey faces a deep crisis following the arrests by the Erdogan administration of top army commanders who allegedly plotted to bomb mosques and overthrow the increasingly Islamic-oriented government.