06/30/10

* Mitchell, Armed with US Media, Trying to Extend Building Freeze U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell begins three days of talks with Israel and the Palestinian Authority Wednesday.

* Iran declares boycott on Coca Cola, Intel and 'Zionists' Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad signed Wednesday a new amendment to a law in the Islamic Republic that forbids the airing of advertisements for "Zionist companies."

* Europe: Worst for Jews Since End of WW2 European Jewry is in its worst condition since the end of World War II.

* Sale of F-15s, PA State and Taliban Divide Obama and Saudi King U.S. President Barack Obama and Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah warmly spoke of friendship in their public statements fter their White House meeting Tuesday.

* Latvia parade set to celebrate Nazi invasion A parade to commemorate the day Nazi troops marched into Latvia during World War II is set to proceed on Thursday.

* 'Israel's plan to raze E. Jerusalem homes is an obstacle to peace' Israel's planned demolition of Palestinian homes in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan is "an obstacle to peace," European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton said.

* Hezbollah vows to 'defend Lebanese gas' Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem addressed the new dispute between Israel and Lebanon over the gas field discovered in the Mediterranean Sea.

* EU accused of meddling in Israeli democracy An archly conservative group with strong links to the Israeli government has attacked the human rights community in the Jewish state.

* Settlers launch 'aggressive' campaign against Netanyahu Settlement leaders on Tuesday launched an "aggressive and direct" campaign on the eve of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington.

* Israel 'to expand' powers of Gaza flotilla inquiry Israel is ready to expand the powers of an investigation panel into its deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

06/29/10

* US Military Chief: Doesn’t Trust Iran but Israel, US “in Synch” Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of U.S. Joint Chief of Staffs, returned home from Israel.

* Peres: N. Korea has become nuclear duty-free shop President Shimon Peres told Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday afternoon that "North Korea has become a duty-free shop for nuclear material."

* CIA breaks with 2007 assessment in new estimate on Iran nukes The CIA, in what appears to significantly revise recent assessments, has determined that Iran has accumulated a sufficient amount of uranium for two nuclear weapons.

* Gen Petraeus faces confirmation to lead Afghan war Gen David Petraeus has indicated to a Senate committee that the security situation in Afghanistan is "tenuous".

* Russia rejects US allegations of spying as baseless Allegations that Moscow ran a spy ring in the US are baseless and a throwback to the Cold War, a Russian foreign ministry official has said.

* Islam in kindergarten? At least 500 unregistered nursery schools operate in northern Israel, of which more than 100 are managed by the Islamic Movement.

* Lieberman: Absolutely no chance for a Palestinian state within next two years An independent Palestinian State is not a possibility in the next two years, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said.

* Destruction of First Temple Commemorated with Day of Fasting The "Three Weeks" of gradually-increasing mourning over the destruction of the Holy Temples and Israel's exile begins today.

* Erdogan: Turkey still friend to Israel Turkey remains “a friend to Israel,” but the government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “the biggest barrier to peace” in the Middle East.

* Shares slump on European bank fears Global stock markets have fallen sharply on renewed concerns over the European banking sector.

06/28/10

* Iran is Surrounded by US Troops in 10 Countries Iran literally is surrounded by American troops, notes an oil market analyst, Energy and Capital editor Christian A. DeHaemer.

* Jerusalem master plan: Expansion of Jewish enclaves across the city The Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee is set to approve a master plan that calls for the expansion of Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem.

* G20 summit agrees on deficit cuts by 2013 Leaders at the G20 summit in Canada have agreed to cut national budget deficits while endeavouring to promote economic growth.

* Turkey bars Israel military flight after Gaza raid Turkey has barred an Israeli military flight from Turkish airspace, in apparent retaliation for Israel's raid on an aid convoy bound for Gaza.

* Wins and losses for EU at G20 A range of compromise agreements enabled leaders to save face as the Group of 20 meeting in Canada drew to a close.

* Iran postpones nuclear talks as 'punishment' for UN sanctions President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad puts negotiations on hold until late August, saying move is 'to teach west a lesson'

* Ashton to take command of US-type situation room You see it in the movies: fighting has broken out somewhere in the former Soviet Union, the US president walks into his situation room, monitors are showing satellite images, security advisors are shouting at each other, the president is given a briefing note and sends an agent to gather intelligence.

* Hezbollah: We don't want dialogue with US Shiite group won't talk to Washington until it changes pro-Israel policy, Nasrallah's deputy says

* Saudi king seeks Obama action on Mideast peace Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah will press U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington this week to take a stronger stance with Israel over stalled peace talks with the Palestinians.

* Peres: Russia is taking Iran seriously President warns of Iranian threat at meeting with Estonian president.

06/26/10

* G8 summit turns focus to nuclear row with Iran, N. Korea After failing to resolve their differences on economic strategy, world leaders are turning their attention to grappling with some of the globe's toughest foreign policy problems.

* U.S.: Turkey must prove its commitment to the West The United States on Saturday warned Turkey that it was alienating U.S. supporters and needed to demonstrate its commitment to partnership with the West.

* Congresswoman: Hezbollah joining Mexican drug cartels North Carolina Congresswoman Sue Myrick warned Friday that Hezbollah may be colluding with drug cartels on the US-Mexican border.

* Pakistan to monitor Google and Yahoo for 'blasphemy' Pakistan will start monitoring seven major websites, including Google and Yahoo, for content it deems offensive to Muslims.

* Iran: Gaza delegation to go on Lebanon ship Iranian lawmakers protesting Israel's blockade of Gaza plan to travel on an aid ship that plans to leave from Lebanon.

* 'Magnified' lunar eclipse in North America finishes A partial lunar eclipse which was unusually magnified to viewers in North America has now ended.

* Lebanon: Israel can only threaten Conflict over natural gas reserves on the northern border heated up Friday as Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri responded to threats.

* Top U.S. military officer visits Afghanistan after McChrystal's ouster America's top military officer was in Afghanistan on Saturday in a scheduled visit that took on new significance after Gen. Stanley McChrystal was removed from his position this week as commander of the Afghan war.

* 'Without state, PA is irrelevant' Palestinian Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat warned on Friday that the Palestinian Authority was founded to establish the institutions for a Palestinian state.

* US denies secret talks with Hamas The US denied on Saturday reports by an Arab newspaper saying officials were holding secret talks with Hamas.

06/25/10

* Leaders differ on how to nurture a global recovery As world leaders gathered to deal with the aftermath of the global financial crisis, President Barack Obama boasted about a congressional compromise on overhauling the U.S. banking system.

* Iranian Gaza aid ship won't sail due to 'Israeli threats' An Iranian organization announced Thursday evening that the vessel carrying aid to the Gaza Strip, which was to have started its journey on Sunday from Iran, will not set sail.

* Likud approves resumption of construction upon freeze's end The Likud Central Committee approved Thursday a proposal put forward by Knesset Member Danny Danon calling for the resumption of construction in the settlements.

* Landau: Israel willing to use force to protect gas finds National Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau said Thursday that Israel is willing to use force in order to protect the natural gas reserves.

* US Approves New Iran Sanctions The United States Senate has voted 99-0 to approve new, tougher sanctions on Iran.

* Chinese Currency Hits New High Ahead of Meeting With global leaders assembling for a summit meeting in Canada over the weekend, China allowed the renminbi to close Friday at the strongest level against the dollar since currency policies were overhauled in 2005.

* Geithner tells Europe to focus on growth Europe must focus on growth as well as cutting spending to reduce national deficits, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has told the BBC.

* Legal conundrum hangs over Kosovo's EU future Kosovo is optimistic about its prospects of starting talks on visa free travel and a basic trade pact with the EU.

* Assad to start Latin American tour To improve Syria's image on the international stage and strengthen economic ties, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has set out on a landmark tour to Latin America .

* US Takes Sides with Turkey on Kurdish Struggle The United States is taking sides with Turkey on the issue of the Kurdish struggle for freedom.

06/24/10

* Iran Steps Up Production of Enriched Uranium Iran's atomic energy chief says his country can now produce 20-percent enriched uranium on a regular basis.

* Netanyahu Lashes Out at Iran and Hamas Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu took the opportunity, while greeting Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann, to mock and castigate Iran.

* US Warns Israel on Jerusalem Housing Demolition The United States warned Israel on Monday that a plan by officials in Jerusalem to demolish Palestinian housing to make way for a tourist center risks violence and could upset peace efforts.

* Russia's Medvedev raps EU, US sanctions against Iran Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has criticised the unilateral US and EU sanctions on Iran that go beyond those approved by the UN Security Council.

* Israel Rejects UN Proposal for Gaza Probe Israel has rejected a proposal from United Nations Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon to establish a multinational commission to investigate a deadly Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid ship.

* 87 Senators Tell Obama: Stand Behind Israel! An overwhelming majority of the United States Senate has signed a letter to President Obama encouraging him to stand strongly behind Israel in the face of "challenges" to its international standing.

* Turkey Detains 27 After Bombing by Rebels Turkey's state-run Anatolia news agency says police have detained 27 people for questioning about Tuesday's bomb attack that killed four soldiers and a teenage daughter of an officer in Istanbul.

* 'Put pressure on Hamas, not Israel' Austria should pressure Hamas to change its policy, rather than Israel, President Shimon Peres told his counterpart from Vienna on Thursday at Beit Hanassi.

* UN chief says East Jerusalem demolition plan 'illegal' UN chief Ban Ki-moon has said the plan to demolish Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem to make way for a tourist park is illegal and unhelpful.

* US Mideast Envoy to Pursue Direct Peace Talks U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is sending Middle East envoy George Mitchell back to the region next week.

06/23/10

* IDF draws up new Gaza war doctrine Ahead of a potential new conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the IDF has drawn up plans to evacuate entire Palestinian villages and refugee camps from areas of conflict in the event of an Israeli incursion.

* Ofek 9 satellite begins transmitting Newly launched spy satellite makes first contact with ground crews.

* Iran Changes Course on Ship; Israel Trains for the Worst Iran has changed course again and announced Tuesday afternoon it will send a ship to try to challenge Israeli sovereignty over the waters off of Hamas-controlled Gaza.

* IAF Landed at Saudi Base, US Troops near Iran Border The Israeli Air Force recently unloaded military equipment at a Saudi Arabia base.

* Many Americans expect Jesus' return by 2050 A new survey finds that Americans are divided over whether they believe Jesus Christ will return by the year 2050.

* Internet whizzes recruited to IDF intelligence unit In each round of recruitments, the IDF aims to single out the most talented future fighters for its elite commando units.

* Details emerge on final set-up of EU diplomatic corps Both EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and MEPs have claimed victory in the final outcome of the battle of wills to establish the thousands-strong European diplomatic service.

* Settlers threaten to forcibly evict East Jerusalem Palestinians Israeli settlers in East Jerusalem on Wednesday threatened to forcibly evict four Palestinian families.

* Beirut warns IDF not to attack flotilla Lebanon said Wednesday that it will hold Israel responsible for any attack against blockade-busting aid ships planning to sail to Gaza in coming days.

* U.S. carrier group clears Suez Canal A U.S. naval carrier group, reportedly containing at least one Israeli vessel, passed through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea and toward the Gulf on June 18.

06/22/10

* Barak: Gaza is an Iranian military base At UN meetings, defense minister defends Israel's Gaza policy.

* General Stanley McChrystal summoned over article claims The top US commander in Afghanistan has been summoned to Washington in the wake of a magazine article that quotes him and aides criticising senior Obama administration.

* No need for aid flotillas, says Blair Quartet envoy hails Israel’s eased policy on Gaza.

* Former Israeli top spy calls for strike on Iran Israel should launch a pre-emptive strike to prevent arch-foe Iran from going nuclear.

* Iran Backs Down again, ‘Indefinite’ Postponement of Ship to Gaza Iran has backed down for the second time in two weeks on the attempt to launch two ships to Gaza.

* Al-Qaida warns of new attacks deadlier than before Al-Qaida's U.S.-born spokesman warned President Barack Obama Sunday that the militant group may launch new attacks that would kill more Americans than previous ones.

* Saudi King to Visit Obama Before Netanyahu Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah will visit U.S. President Barack Obama on June 29.

* Moral lapses in the church Churches issue slanted reports on the ME conflict.

* IDF strengthening ties with Chinese military Home Front Command to meet Chinese officials.

* Arab song for kids: Allah loves martyrs The song, sung by young children on the Birds of Paradise television channel, includes the lyrics, "When we die as shaheeds we'll go to paradise.

06/21/10

* “Mariam” gets green light to set sail All-female Lebanese aid ship to head to Cyprus first, says minister.

* Brazil dropping role in Iran nuclear dispute South American country scales back active support of Islamic Republic in nuclear dispute with West following Security Council's decision to impose new sanctions

* Saudi King to Visit Obama Before Netanyahu Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah will visit U.S. President Barack Obama on June 29, setting the stage for the July 6th visit of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to the White House.

* Iran bars two UN nuclear inspectors over report Iran has told the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) it will not allow two of its inspectors to enter the country, state media report.

* Geert Wilders: Change Jordan's name to Palestine Rightist Dutch leader wants to end Mideast conflict by finding Palestinians 'alternate homeland'

* The Muslim embrace Erdogan suddenly finds himself having to defend Turkey from being labeled as a pan-Islamic country and a supporter of terror

* Three Rwandan peacekeepers “killed in Darfur” Three peacekeepers have been killed in Sudan's Darfur region, officials say.

* Arabs Want to Keep Building Jewish Towns in Judea and Samaria A new poll revealed that the vast majority of Arab oppose attempts by the PA to prevent them from working construction jobs in local Jewish communities.

* Middle East negotiators welcome Gaza blockade easing Quartet issues statement welcoming Israel's change of policy towards Gaza, but says situation in territory 'unsustainable and unacceptable'; urges immediate release of Gilad Shalit.

* EU needs persuasion skills at G20 summit EU officials have conceded that Europe still has considerable work to do before persuading other G20 members on the need for a global bank levy and fiscal consolidation.

06/19/10

* US battleships cross Suez Canal Eleven American battleships and an Israeli one crossed the Suez Canal Friday en route to the Red Sea.

* 'Next flotilla will be stopped' A letter declaring Israel's intent to stop a new flotilla of ships being organized in Lebanon to break the naval blockade of Gaza was sent to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

* Medvedev sees chance for new world order Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian president, said Moscow was bidding to help lead efforts to build a new world economic order after the old system collapsed in the global financial crisis.

* Medvedev Pushes Ruble Reserve Currency to Cut Dollar Dominance Russia wants the ruble to be one of the world’s reserve currencies as President Dmitry Medvedev renews his push to reduce the dollar’s dominance.

* UN launches $71m appeal for Kyrgyzstan refugee crisis The UN has announced a $71m (£48m) flash appeal for Kyrgyzstan, where it says some 400,000 people have been displaced by inter-ethnic fighting.

* Israeli intel: Hamas will use cement shipments for military purposes Israel will expand the import of cement and building materials to the Gaza Strip.

* Violence Up Sharply in Afghanistan, Report Finds With an average of an assassination a day and a suicide bombing every second or third day, insurgents have greatly increased the level of violence in Afghanistan.

* Erdogan: We won't remain silent Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that Ankara does not intend on sitting idly by following the Navy's raid on the Gaza-bound flotilla.

* Poll: Globe backs Iran strike The residents of several Arab countries, headed by Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon, support tough sanctions against Iran as well as a military effort to curb Iranian nukes.

* Israeli minister hits back: Erdogan is the enemy, not Turkey Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov slammed Turkish Prime Minister Recap Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday, saying that while Turkey isn't Israel's enemy, Erdogan is.

06/18/10

* New footage from Marmara ship: 'Millions of martyrs to Gaza' Foreign Ministry publishes video found among belongings of Turkish flotilla passenger.

* Egypt refuses to stop flotillas Cairo newspaper "A-Dar" reported Friday that Israel issued a request to Egypt to prevent aid ships from Iran reaching Gaza via the Suez Canal.

* Iran says UN sanctions show double standard Iran's top security body on Friday railed against the latest U.N. sanctions imposed over Tehran's controversial nuclear program.

* Iran could fire 'hundreds' of missiles at Europe: Gates US intelligence has shown Iran could launch an attack against Europe with "scores or hundreds" of missiles.

* Medvedev Sees Risk to Euro Russian President Dmitry Medvedev expressed doubts about the future of Europe's common currency and said the Gulf of Mexico oil spill could threaten the survival of BP PLC.

* UN warns of gangs' global muscle International crime networks now enjoy such an extensive reach that the gangs behind them must be regarded as a significant economic power.

* Death toll in Kyrgyzstan clashes could be 'much higher' Kyrgyzstan's interim leader Roza Otunbayeva has said the death toll in the country's worst ethnic violence in decades could be as high as 2,000.

* Russia's Medvedev raps EU, US sanctions against Iran Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has criticised the unilateral US and EU sanctions on Iran that go beyond those approved by the UN Security Council.

* Putin boasts new jet fighter better than U.S. plane Putin watched a test flight of a "fifth-generation" stealth fighter, dubbed the T-50 and billed as Russia's first all-new warplane since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

* Alert Issued for 17 Afghan Military Members AWOL From U.S. Air Force Base A nationwide alert has been issued for 17 members of the Afghan military who have gone AWOL from an Air Force base in Texas.

06/17/10

* Syria's Bashar al-Assad warns of Middle East conflict Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said Israel's raid on the Gaza aid flotilla has increased the chances of war in the Middle East.

* No Reconciliation Between Fatah, Hamas Fatah and Hamas are apparently still far from a reconciliation deal.

* Next Hizbullah War May Be Over Israel’s Gas and Oil Fields Hizbullah has laid claim to a huge oil and gas field that Israel discovered off its northeastern Mediterranean Coast.

* For First Time: Merkava Tanks are For Sale After a 30 year total ban on exports of Israel's famous Merkava tank, the Ministry of Defense will offer its latest model – the Merkava Mark IV – for sale.

* Spain: the new crisis in Euroland European leaders meet in Brussels today amid growing fears that Spain, Europe's fifth-largest economy, is preparing to ask for a bailout.

* Gaza flotilla raid: Will it change Turkey's regional role? This spring, Turkey emerged as a more independent player – one embarking on an ambitious "neo-Ottoman" course.

* UN Official Warns of Extremism in Central Asia The United Nations envoy to Kyrgyzstan is warning that extremist groups in Central Asia can use social and economic problems to spread their influence throughout the region.

* MEPs call for EU role in ending Gaza blockade MEPs on Thursday (17 June) called for a stronger EU role in lifting the Gaza blockade.

* 'Killer space rock' hunt to begin A new telescope facility in Hawaii designed to search for asteroids and comets which could threaten Earth has been made operational.

* New Bill Gives Obama ‘Kill Switch’ To Shut Down The Internet Government would have “absolute power” to seize control of the world wide web under Lieberman legislation.

06/16/10

* Ahmadinejad: Iran will punish West for new nuclear sanctions Iran's president said Wednesday he will soon announce new conditions for talks with the West.

* IHH plans new flotilla for Gaza The IDF tried to assisinate leader of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement.

* Gaza Flotilla Reflects Turkish Rejection of the West The recent Turkish-sponsored terrorist flotilla to Gaza is being seen by pundits as a trend towards a larger rejection of the West by Ankara.

* Afghan minerals could turn war's tide The news that Afghanistan's mineral wealth could exceed $1 trillion is an important opportunity for both Kabul and Washington.

* Israelis: U.S. Jews Should Fight Obama on Israel Sixty five percent of the Jewish public in Israel – almost two thirds – believe that Jews in the United States should be critical of President Barack Obama's policy toward Israel.

* Second Iranian ship to set sail this weekend Tehran's preparations for sending an aid convoy to Gaza are at their peak.

* US, S.Korea to keep closer eye on N.Korean subs US and South Korean navies have agreed to forge closer cooperation against North Korean submarines.

* Poles Mark 70th Anniversary of First-Ever Auschwitz Transport Auschwitz survivors and their relatives, and even two survivors of the first-ever German convoy to the dreaded concentration camp, re-enacted the route of that first transport of prisoners.

* Tough times push three more outside EU budget rules The EU's economic malaise has forced a further three states to breach the bloc's budgetary limitations.

* Israeli cabinet considers easing Gaza blockade Israel's security cabinet is meeting to discuss a possible easing of the blockade of the Gaza Strip.

06/15/10

* Shin Bet Chief: Hamas buying land within Jerusalem Shin Bet security service director Yuval Diskin said on Tuesday that the Islamist group Hamas was busy buying up land within the municipal territory of Jerusalem.

* EU ministers: 'End Gaza blockade' The European Union's council of foreign ministers issued a statement on Gaza on Monday, demanding an impartial inquiry into the flotilla with international representation.

* Navy braces for next flotillas The navy will operate under the assumption that groups of provocateurs are aboard any future ships that try to break the Israel-imposed sea blockade on the Gaza Strip.

* 'Jordan seeks to be nuclear power' Jordan is set on becoming the Middle East's newest nuclear power, Jordanian King Abdullah told the Wall Street Journal in an interview over the weekend.

* Nightmare vision for Europe as EU chief warns 'democracy could disappear' in Greece, Spain and Portugal Democracy could 'collapse' in Greece, Spain and Portugal unless urgent action is taken to tackle the debt crisis, the head of the European Commission has warned.

* EU stays quiet on Gaza flotilla enquiry Diplomatic sources have said the EU plans to wait and see how Israel's enquiry into the Gaza flotilla killings is conducted before taking a firm stand on its legitimacy.

* Abbas calls for Hamas reconciliation Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has urged Hamas to endorse a reconciliation pact drawn up with Egyptian mediation.

* Red Cross: 'several hundred' dead in Kyrgyz unrest Several hundred people have been killed in the riots in Kyrgyzstan, the Red Cross said.

* 'EU's carrot-stick policy is wrong' Iran warns sanctions make it more determined to continue nuke program.

* UN insists on int'l flotilla probe The UN called on Israel to accede to demands for an international inquiry of the event surrounding the IDF raid of the Gaza flotilla Monday night.

06/14/2010

* Iranian flotilla leaving for Gaza Half will be sent through Istanbul; Iranian MPs will fly to Gaza.

* Israel Gaza probe criticised by Turkey and Palestinians Israel's plans to hold an inquiry into its deadly raid on a convoy of Gaza-bound aid ships have been dismissed by Turkey and the Palestinians.

* U.S. Identifies Vast Riches of Minerals in Afghanistan The United States has discovered nearly $1 trillion in untapped mineral deposits in Afghanistan, far beyond any previously known reserves.

* Turkish Flag Flew over Temple Mount The Turkish flag was raised over the Temple Mount last week, following the flotilla clash while Jerusalem police banned Jews from holding the monthly march around the ancient gates of the holy site because of “security concerns.”

* Children Carry Guns for a U.S. Ally, Somalia Awil Salah Osman prowls the streets of this shattered city, looking like so many other boys, with ripped-up clothes, thin limbs and eyes eager for attention and affection.

* Middle Ages Haunt Middle East, Says Netanyahu The dark days of the Middle Ages "are raging” against Israel, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told Likud party Knesset Members.

* EU expected to back Israel's flotilla probe plan EU foreign ministers are likely to endorse Israel's model for an enquiry into the Gaza flotilla killings and to propose a new "mechanism" for letting aid into the Hamas-controlled strip.

* Iraqi parliament convenes, but no sign of a government A new parliament has convened in Iraq, more than three months after inconclusive elections.

* Iran cleric makes veiled call for nuclear arms The hardline spiritual mentor of Iran's president has made a rare public call for producing "special weapons" that are currently the monopoly of a few nations, in a reference to nuclear arms.

* The end of the world as we know it Forget man-made threats – the catalyst for the apocalypse will come from outer space, warns astronomer Chris Impey

06/12/10

* Saudi Arabia gives Israel clear skies to attack Iranian nuclear sites Saudi Arabia has conducted tests to stand down its air defences to enable Israeli jets to make a bombing raid on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

* Spain wants 'strong EU front' on Gaza Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Saturday his country wants a "strong, joint EU position on the siege on Gaza and the humanitarian situation there".

* Abbas not truthful to Obama; denies PA incitement Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas was not being honest when he said to President Obama this week that the PA was not continuing its incitement against Israel.

* EU logo prominent in PA TV quiz in which "Palestine" replaces Israel Palestinian Authority TV displayed the EU logo on the TV screen as background to a quiz question that denied Israel's existence.

* Van Rompuy planning 'foreign policy' summit EU leaders are to gather for a special meeting in September to discuss the foreign policy objectives of the Union.

* Russia: Sanctions ban S-300 missiles The new UN sanctions prevent Russia from delivering S-300 air-defense missiles to Iran.

* Ahmadinejad: Obama made a big mistake US President Barack Obama made a "big mistake" in seeking to punish Iran over its nuclear program.

* Euro to hit dollar parity in 2011, if still exists: analyst The euro is set to sink to parity with the dollar in 2011 because of the slow pace of economic recovery in Europe.

* Kyrgyz leader asks Russia to restore order in Osh Kyrgyzstan's interim government has asked Russia to help end ethnic clashes in the southern city of Osh, in which more than 60 people have been killed.

* Hezbollah: Lebanon ungrateful to Tehran Hezbollah criticized the Lebanese government Saturday for abstaining from a UN vote on an additional round of sanctions on Iran.

06/11/10

* Hizbullah building terror infrastructure in U.S., infiltrating from Mexico The threat to the United States posed by Iranian-backed Hizbullah terrorists is growing and U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies have failed to adequately address the problem.

* EU seeks to open sea route to Gaza The European Union wants to help open a sea route to Gaza.

* 'Nobody denies Jewish history here' Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas laid out new requirements for moving to direct talks with Israel Thursday.

* 'No sign of war with Hizbullah soon' UNIFIL has not found any evidence of Hizbullah military activity and smuggling or the presence of guerilla fighters in its area of operations in Southern Lebanon.

* Iraqi merger forms new Shia bloc, the National Alliance Iraq's two main Shia groups, which performed strongly in recent elections, have merged to form the biggest alliance in the new parliament.

* Turkish opposition charges Erdogan exploiting, ramping up Israel conflict Opposition parliamentarians have accused Erdogan of engineering a crisis with Israel in an effort to mobilize Islamist support ahead of elections.

* Israelis Support Flotilla Raid, Gaza Blockade, PM and IDF Despite international criticism over the IDF's response to last week's Gaza-bound flotilla, Israeli Jews strongly support the operation.

* Turkey Invites Nasrallah, Who Fears IDF will Kill Him En Route Turkey's Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has reportedly invited senior Hizbullah terrorist Hassan Nasrallah to Ankara.

* Thousands take part in Tel Aviv gay pride parade Thousands of people took part in Tel Aviv's central gay pride parade Friday, including several politicians, including opposition leader and Kadima chairperson Tzipi Livni.

* Pope begs forgiveness, promises action on abuse Pope Benedict XVI begged forgiveness Friday from abuse victims for the sins of priests and promised to "do everything possible" to ensure that Roman Catholic clerics don't rape or molest children ever again.

06/10/10

* 'Iran sanctions won't stop arms deal' Russia said Thursday that the new UN sanctions do not forbid the delivery of S-300 air-defense missiles to Iran.

* Arab states: Israel nuclear danger reinforced by its aggression Arab nations backed by Iran urged Israel to join a global anti-nuclear arms pact at a rare and divisive United Nations atomic watchdog debate a day after new sanctions were passed against Tehran.

* Lebanese Threaten Mass March on Israeli Border The anti-Israel flotilla has turned the tide of world opinion against Israel, Fatah leaders in Lebanon say.

* Israel: Sanctions on Iran Important, But Not Enough Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) expressed its approval Wednesday of the latest round of sanctions passed by the United Nations Security Council against Iran.

* Abbas tells Obama Israel not serious about talks Palestinian officials told Ynet Wednesday night they were satisfied with US President Barack Obama's statements following his meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

* White House rejected Israeli intel, blocked use of anti-riot gear against flotilla President Barack Obama stopped Israel from using anti-riot gear to prevent a Turkish-sponsored flotilla from breaking the siege on the Gaza Strip.

* Massive swing to the right in Dutch elections Conservative liberal Mark Rutte narrowly won the Dutch general elections on Wednesday (9 June).

* Brussels urges Berlin to unblock EU gay rights law A senior EU official has criticised Germany's opposition to a new pro-diversity law.

* Abbas not truthful to Obama; denies PA incitement Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas was not being honest when he said to President Obama this week that the PA was not continuing its incitement against Israel.

* Peres outraged by Ahmadinejad's hero's welcome in Istanbul President Shimon Peres, currently on a working visit in South Korea, expressed shame and outrage at the heroes’ welcome accorded to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

06/09/10

* 'Turkish gov't backed extremists' A report released this week by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC) said new details have emerged which show how approximately 40 operatives from the Turkish Islamist IHH organization carefully prepared a violent ambush.

* Yahoo! and Apple Divide Jerusalem on iPhone Internet giant Yahoo! and the Apple computer firm have apparently decided to pre-empt those pesky Israel-Palestinian Authority negotiations.

* All Aboard: Muslim Clerics Organize Flotilla to Gaza The idea of flotillas to Gaza is catching on.

* Blair: 'I am 100% on Israel's side' Israel has the right to protect itself, former British prime minister Tony Blair said in an interview with Channel 10 on Tuesday.

* US Defense Secretary Gates blames EU for Turkey 'drift' Turkey's growing hostility to Israel may have been partly caused by its effective rejection by the European Union, the US defence secretary says.

* UN votes for new sanctions on Iran over nuclear issue The UN Security Council has voted in favour of fresh sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.

* Lion's Den: Islamist Turkey overreaches As typical Islamist-leftist theater to delegitimize Israel, late May's Turkishsponsored "Free Gaza" flotilla was tediously repetitious.

* American Jihadists Use New Weapon: Response Fatigue Jihadists in the United States are encouraging the use of a new weapon, the FBI warns: "Response fatigue."

* Barack Obama says situation in Gaza is 'unsustainable' US President Barack Obama has said the situation in Gaza is "unsustainable" and promised millions of dollars in new aid for the territory.

* Civilian toll of Iranian raids in northern Iraq enrages Kurds Outrage is growing in Iraq's northern Kurdish territories over renewed Iranian air and artillery strikes against Kurdish rebels in the remote Qandil Mountains.

06/08/10

* Ahmadinejad: Flotilla raid step towards Israel's annihilation Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke before worshippers at the end of a prayer service at an Istanbul mosque on Monday.

* Russia, Turkey and Iran Meet, Posing Test for U.S. Diplomacy Leaders of Russia, Turkey and Iran convened at a security summit meeting in Istanbul on Tuesday.

* Ahmadinejad Stresses Need for New World Order Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday called for cooperation among world states to forge a new world order.

* Turkey's support of Hamas worries PA The Palestinian Authority is concerned about Turkey's increased support for Hamas.

* Israeli military: Turks sent to break Gaza siege were paid, armed Israel's military has determined that scores of Turkish Islamists were paid and trained by elements close to their government to battle Israeli soldiers in Ankara's effort to break the siege on the Gaza Strip.

* Muslim Murders Vatican Cleric in Turkey Contrary to earlier reports, it has now been confirmed that the Muslim who murdered a Vatican official in Turkey last week did so for religious reasons.

* EU agrees controversial peer review of national budgets EU finance ministers have reached broad agreement on a controversial plan to review each others' national budgets.

* 'We must break Gaza blockade' The Iranian parliament is interested in sending a humanitarian mission with aid to Gaza.

* Iran troops establish base inside northern Iraq Iran has sent troops into neighboring Iraq in search for Kurdish insurgents.

* Hamas prevents flotilla aid from entering Gaza More than a week after the Israeli navy forcibly intercepted a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, the 10,000-ton cargo of the seven ships has yet to reach Palestinians.

06/07/10

* Erdogan: Israel must pay the price Turkish PM meets Assad, demands UN investigation of flotilla raid.

* IDF foils attack close to Gaza Five terrorists killed by Navy commando; "large scale attack averted."

* As the Sun Awakens, NASA Keeps a Wary Eye on Space Weather Earth and space are about to come into contact in a way that's new to human history.

* Bilderberg 2010: Final List of Participants Sitges, Spain 3-6 June 2010

* Ahmadinejad Cozies Up to Turkey Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is scheduled to attend a three-day regional summit in Istanbul, to be chaired by Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

* Vatican: ME Christians threatened Pope concerned that persecution and conflict driving out Christians.

* Russia says euro must be stabilized Russia's president says Europe needs to stabilize the euro or face the possibility of a financial crisis worse than the 2008 recession.

* EU states competing over Israel policy France and the UK have proposed that the EU should monitor cargo entering the Gaza strip from Israel, with Spain, Portugal and Ireland also coming forward with fresh initiatives in the wake of the flotilla attack.

* Biden meets Mubarak to discuss Gaza Leaders discuss nuclear Iran and Palestinian issue in Sharm e-Sheikh.

* Video: Free Gaza – from Hamas A “Free Gaza from Hamas” video intersperses its terror with evidence of plenty of food and merchandise as the government reported on Monday that Hamas still is blocking humanitarian aid from reaching Gaza residents.

06/05/10

* Navy boards, takes control of 'Rachel Corrie' off Gaza coast IDF forces piloted the Rachel Corrie to the port of Ashdod early Saturday evening after boarding the ship earlier in the day.

* Netanyahu: Israel will not allow Iranian port in Gaza Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel would "not allow the establishment of an Iranian port in Gaza."

* US to aid boats: 'Go to Ashdod' The White House on Friday urged aid boats making their way toward Gaza to accede to Israeli demands that they dock in Ashdod to avoid another violent incident.

* 'Turkey has embraced Iran, Hamas' A top Israel envoy criticized Turkey's outreach to terror groups Friday, hours after Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying Hamas is not a terrorist organization.

* IDF: Mercenaries to blame for violence The IDF has identified one of the passengers aboard the Mavi Marmara , which navy commandos commandeered earlier this week, as the ringleader of a group of mercenaries.

* Netanyahu, Obama to meet soon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be heading to Washington in the coming days for a meeting with US President Barack Obama in the White House.

* EU ponders creation of new diplomatic breed The phrase "EU diplomat says" regularly pops up in articles on EU foreign policy.

* Pope urges support for Mideast Christians Pope Benedict XVI appealed Saturday for support for embattled Christian communities in the Middle East.

* G20 nations stress economic recovery challenges G20 finance ministers have said the recovery from the global economic crisis has been faster than expected, but significant challenges remain.

* Gates prods China on NKorea, military ties to US U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates challenged China to deal realistically with the short-term question of how to respond to an antagonistic North Korea.

* Rabbis: Flotilla Clash Similar to Gog and Magog Prophecy The Rabbinical Council of Judea and Samaria issued a statement Thursday in which it said that the results of the incident in which Israel intercepted a flotilla trying to break the naval blockade of Gaza seem like the Biblical description of "the beginning of the Gog and Magog".

05/04/10

* Rabbis: Flotilla Clash Similar to Gog and Magog Prophecy The Rabbinical Council of Judea and Samaria issued a statement Thursday in which it said that the results of the incident in which Israel intercepted a flotilla trying to break the naval blockade of Gaza seem like the Biblical description of "the beginning of the Gog and Magog".

* Netanyahu: No ships to reach Gaza Prime minister tells forum of top seven government ministers he has no intention of allowing any vessels to breach Gaza naval blockade, 'now or later'.

* Ahmadinejad: Further aggression will end Zionist regime At memorial marking 21st anniversary of Ayatollah Khomeini's death, Iranian president says 'With God's help thousands of flotillas from all over the world will sail to Gaza'.

* North Korean envoy warns war could erupt soon A North Korean envoy said on Thursday that war could erupt at any time on the divided Korean peninsula because of tension with Seoul over the sinking of a South Korean warship in March.

* International protests against flotilla Hundreds of Muslims held a protest march in Jerusalem's Old City Friday, against the IDF raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla Monday.

* Israel: We don't want a confrontation with Gaza-bound ship 'Rachel Corrie' Israel does not want a confrontation with the Gaza-bound ship the MV Rachel Corrie, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.

* 'Guns may have been thrown overboard' Firearms may have been thrown overboard by passengers of the Mavi Marmara.

* Muslim praise for Obama dries up a year after Cairo speech A year ago Friday, President Barack Obama stood in Cairo and vowed "a new beginning" in a speech about how he'd change U.S. relations with the Muslim world.

* Afghan conference calls for talks with militants An Afghan national peace conference on Friday urged the government to take formal steps toward negotiating with insurgents.

* Bibi says will seek 'creative' Gaza solution Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Quarter Envoy Tony Blair Thursday and told him he's willing to examine "creative ways" to bring aid into Gaza.

06/03/10

* 'We face international hypocrisy' "Israel won't apologize for defending itself," Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Wednesday night, as he urged the international community to stop condemning the IDF for its Monday raid on the Gaza-bound flotilla.

* Helsinki Principles: Israel Was in the Right A perusal of The Helsinki Principles on the Law of Maritime Neutrality, a basis for international law on the subject, shows that Israel was well within its prescriptions in forcibly stopping the Gaza-bound flotilla.

* Emotion high as Turkey buries its Gaza flotilla dead Emotions are running high in Turkey at funerals for nine activists, all Turkish or of Turkish orgin, killed in Israel's raid on the Gaza aid flotilla.

* Biden: Israel right to search ships The Obama administration said Wednesday that it had warned Israel's government repeatedly to use "caution and restraint" with half a dozen aid boats bound for the Gaza Strip before Israeli commandos raided the flotilla.

* Erdogan to Obama: Israel risks losing its best friend in Middle East Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told U.S. President Barack Obama that Israel is on the verge of losing its best friend in the Middle East due to its deadly raid on a humanitarian aid headed to the Gaza Strip earlier this week.

* French bid for euro zone "government" gains ground The move raised pressure on Germany, Europe's biggest economy and chief crusader for tougher budget discipline, to accept a new political forum to coordinate economic policy.

* 75% of Israelis: No Large-Scale Destruction of Jewish Towns Poll results to be presented today at the 20th Annual Judea/Samaria Research Convention at the Ariel University Center in Samaria show strong ongoing support for the settlement enterprise.

* Secretive Bilderberg Club ready for protests Splash! Could that be the sound of Lord Mandelson hitting one of the Dolce hotel’s four pools?

* Mitchell: Flotilla affair must not derail talks US Special Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell said Thursday a lethal Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid ship must not undermine indirect negotiations he is mediating between Israel and the Palestinians.

* U.S. to Join South Korean Military Exercise Off North Korea Coast The U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington will participate in a joint naval exercise with South Korea next week in the Yellow Sea, the same waters west of the Korean peninsula where North Korea is accused of sinking a South Korean warship last March.

06/02/10

* Gaza flotilla: Israel frees foreign flotilla activists Nearly all the foreign activists held by Israel after its deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla are due to be deported by the end of the day.

* Iran, Hamas seek global anti-Israel bloc An international front to break the blockade on the Gaza Strip should be formed, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said.

* Hamas Stopping Transfer of Aid to Gaza The Hamas government in Gaza is apparently not interested in receiving the goods that were carried by the 'humanitarian' Turkey-sponsored flotilla Israel intercepted.

* Violence mars Afghanistan peace meeting in Kabul Militants have tried to attack a national peace meeting being opened by President Hamid Karzai in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

* Turkish Funds Helped Group Test Blockade Since 2007, a small group of hard-core activists has repeatedly tried to sail cargo-laden ships into Gaza in an effort to thwart Israel’s blockade.

* Balkan hopefuls meet EU leaders in Sarajevo The prospect of Western Balkan countries one day becoming EU members is the focus of talks opening in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo.

* Israel rejects independent probe calls Israel on Tuesday night rejected international calls to end its naval blockade of Gaza and to launch an “independent” investigation into the death of at least nine activists.

* China rebuffs plans for Gates to visit Beijing US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has called off plans to visit China next week after Beijing told the Pentagon the timing was "inconvenient."

* Russia-EU summit: Is Russia part of Europe? The Russia-EU summit in Rostov-on-Don was the twenty-fifth of its kind.

* Russian warship to join NATO naval drills An amphibious assault landing ship, the Kaliningrad, will take part in the BALTOPS-2010 naval exercises in the Baltic Sea on June 7-18.

06/01/10

* Lieberman to UN chief: International community is two-faced for condemning Israel After emergency session and marathon negotiations, UN Security Council calls for impartial probe of Israel's raid on Gaza flotilla, requests immediate release of ships and civilians held by Israel.

* 'Next time we'll use more force' Israel will use more aggressive force in the future to prevent ships from breaking the sea blockade on the Gaza Strip.

* Radical Islam Behind the Flotilla Organizers The Turkish organization IHH (a Turkish acronym for “humanitarian relief fund”), the force behind the boats attempting to reach Gaza, has a radical Islamic anti-Western orientation.

* Mossad chief: Israel less important to US Mossad chief Meir Dagan is concerned by the change in US positions and influence on Israel.

* Israel Transfers Flotilla Cargo – Sans Weapons – to Gaza The Israeli defense establishment processed on Monday and Tuesday the aid cargo that the terror-sympathizers' flotilla was carrying and transferred it to Gaza.

* Iraq headed for wide coalition government In theory, the Iraqi Supreme Court's decision to ratify the results from elections held nearly three months ago should speed up the extremely sluggish pace at which the country's political process is moving.

* Van Rompuy takes centre stage at EU-Russia summit EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy on Tuesday (1 June) reprimanded Russia over human rights abuses, a reminder of his powerful mandate on EU foreign policy.

* EU parliament discourse on Israel boils over after flotilla attack The EU parliament has escalated its rhetoric in the wake of the killings of civilians in a humanitarian mission to Gaza.

* Senior al-Qaeda leader 'killed' in Afghanistan Al-Qaeda's number three leader and Afghan operations chief, Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, has been killed.

* Activists send new boat to challenge Gaza blockade Pro-Palestinian activists sent another boat to challenge Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip on Tuesday.