07/31/10

* Assad on Hariri probe: We'll stand by Hezbollah Bashar Assad sent a firm message to the international tribunal investigating the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

* China invests $40b. in Iran oil and gas China has invested an estimated $40 billion in Iran's oil and gas sector Deputy Oil Minister Hossein Noqrehkar Shirazi said.

* U.S. denies threatening to cut PA ties unless direct talks resume The White House denied Saturday reports that the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama threatened to cut off ties with the Palestinians unless they entered direct talks with Israel.

* Long, hot summer in the Far East: War games and brinksmanship The drama over United States and South Korean war games in the seas off the coasts of South Korea is about to enter its second act.

* UN: Extend freeze to east J'lem United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Israel to extend the settlement freeze and further apply it to east Jerusalem.

* Debate Heating Up on Plans for Mosque Near Ground Zero An influential Jewish organization on Friday announced its opposition to a proposed Islamic center and mosque two blocks north of ground zero in Lower Manhattan.

* Purported audio message from Saddam regime official surfaces An audio message purportedly from the highest-ranking at-large member of Iraq's Saddam Hussein regime has been released.

* As Some Young Muslims Turn to Radicalism, Concern Grows Before Abi left her parents' house in northern Germany last year, she asked her father, "Daddy, what can I bring you from my journey?".

* Army Broadens Inquiry Into WikiLeaks Disclosure Army investigators are broadening their inquiry into the recent disclosure of classified military information.

* Our galaxy is rich in Earth-sized planets Since the time of Nicolaus Copernicus five centuries ago, people have wondered whether there are other planets like Earth in the universe.

07/30/10

* Arab League Tries to Score Points for Abbas, 'Endorses' Talks On Thursday, the Arab League published a letter backing direct talks with Israel.

* Arab League endorses direct talks Arab League foreign ministers on Thursday authorized the Palestinian Authority to enter into direct negotiations with Israel.

* Al-Qaeda Creating an Army in Yemen The heads of Al-Qaeda in Yemen claimed Thursday to be creating an army in the country's south.

* Egyptian Journalist Describes 'Absolute Prosperity' in Gaza With Hamas telling tales of deprivation and suffering in Gaza, Egyptian journalist Ashraf Abu al-Houl has added his report to others who were surprised to discover a “prosperous” Gaza.

* Syrian and Saudi leaders call for calm on Beirut visit The Syrian and Saudi leaders have called on Lebanon's rival factions to avoid turning to violence amid mounting political tensions in the country.

* China Becomes Second Biggest World Economy China has overtaken Japan to become the world's second-largest economy.

* Lebanon builds up troops near southern border after attacks on UN peacekeepers Officials said the Lebanese Army has been ordered to send a brigade, or about 1,500 troops, to the south.

* Majority of Pakistanis View US as Enemy A new opinion poll indicates that roughly six in 10 Pakistanis view the United States as an enemy, oppose the war in Afghanistan.

* Israel to lodge complaint with UN about Gaza rocket attack on Ashkelon The Foreign Ministry on Friday said that Israel would lodge a protest with the United Nations for a Grad rocket attack on Ashkelon earlier in the day.

* Israel believes Abbas will bide time on direct talks until settlement freeze nears end Officials in Jerusalem believe that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will attempt to delay at all cost the beginning of direct peace negotiations with Israel.

07/29/10

* Going on Offensive to Expose World Hypocrisy vs. Israel If you heard about an attack on a Palestinian refugee camp in which hundreds of civilians were killed, would you assume that the attack had been perpetrated by Israel?.

* Abbas seeks Arab backing to nix talks In a final thrust to persuade reluctant Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to enter direct talks with Israel, the EU coupled strong exhortations on Wednesday to Abbas to immediately begin them.

* Shiloh, Israel's Capital for 400 Years, Being Uncovered As Israel's enemies attempt to deny the nation's connection to its homeland, archaeologists keep digging at the facts.

* Iran sets major exercise; Ahmadinejad sees war by November Iran, warning of an imminent war, has been preparing for another major military exercise.

* House Republicans Giving Green Light for Israeli Strike on Iran Nearly one third of the Republican congressmen in the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced a resolution that would support Israel's right to use "all means necessary to confront and eliminate nuclear threats".

* Donkeys to protest Gay Pride Parade? Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Itzhak Pindrus (United Torah Judaism) has asked police to enable him to hold a donkey parade at the same time as the Gay Pride Parade scheduled for Thursday.

* Peres warns no direct talks will lead to 'storm' President Shimon Peres met with Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Miguel Angel Moratinos Wednesday.

* Netanyahu: Israel's government will collapse if we extend settlement freeze Continuing the construction freeze in West Bank settlements after it expires on September 26 would be impossible politically.

* Karzai urges action against militants in Pakistan Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Thursday urged his Western allies to destroy Islamist militant sanctuaries in neighbouring Pakistan after thousands of secret US files were leaked.

* Gruesome charges detailed against suspected Nazi The world's third most wanted Nazi suspect, who allegedly participated in the murder of more than 430,000 Jews at the Belzec death camp, was involved in the entire killing process.

07/28/10

* Al Qaeda No. 2 Threatens More U.S. Attacks Al Qaeda's second in command Ayman Al-Zawahiri has surfaced again, this time threatening more attacks against the U.S. and the West.

* US in 'full court press' to restart direct Mideast talks The United States said Tuesday it is making a "full-court press" to encourage the Israelis and Palestinians to resume direct peace talks that lapsed in late 2008.

* US Report: Israel Hampers Training of PA Forces A report published on Tuesday by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in Washington accuses Israel of causing delays in the transfer of weapons, radios, vehicles, helmets and other equipment to the the PA in Judea and Samaria.

* Geopolitical threat: China's and America's growing need for imported oil A tiny mid-July ballet among American, Chinese and UN statisticians camouflages a growing geopolitical threat: China's unquenchable thirst for and America's dependence on imported oil.

* Israel: Palestinians have set 'impossible' conditions for direct peace talks Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has laid down "impossible" conditions for moving to direct peace talks, Vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom said.

* More Troops for Somalia, but No Peace to Keep If there is one place on the African continent that could benefit from new thinking, it is Somalia, a country that has been mired in mutating forms of civil war for nearly 20 years.

* Iran to pay for new babies to boost population Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated a new policy on Tuesday to encourage population growth.

* EU population over half-a-billion The European Union's population reached the half-a-billion mark at the beginning of 2010.

* Snapshot of global internet speeds revealed The data, from network giant Akamai reveals the average global net speed is only 1.7Mbps (megabits per second) although some countries have made strides towards faster services.

* Waqf Bulldozers on Temple Mount May Be Destroying Jewish History Jewish residents report that Waqf works at the Dome of the Rock have restarted 'under cover', likely destroying Jewish archaeological artifacts.

07/27/10

* Hamas official says group considering military draft in Gaza The top security official in Hamas-ruled Gaza said Tuesday he was considering setting up a bigger military force.

* Iran: U.S. will likely attack 2 Mideast countries within 3 months In an interview aired on Iranian state television Tuesday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Iran expects the United States to launch a military strike.

* Cameron 'anger' at slow pace of Turkish EU negotiations On his first visit as prime minister, he said the country could become a "great European power", helping build links with the Middle East.

* 30 Turkish generals are among the 400 arrested, indicted for plotting against Islamist government The Turkish government has been orchestrating a campaign, culminating in new indictments of top generals, to erode the traditional authority of the country's military brass.

* Saudi King to Visit Israel's Neighbors this Week The King Abdullah bin Abdul- Aziz of Saudi Arabia will be making a trip to the region at the end of this week.

* EU foreign ministers approve diplomatic service EU foreign ministers on Monday (26 July) gave the nod to the overall structure of the Union's new diplomatic service.

* PM pays surprise visit to Jordan Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu paid an unannounced visit to Jordan Tuesday.

* 'Gaza cannot remain a prison camp' Israel's May 31 interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla was "completely unacceptable," British Prime Minister David Cameron said.

* Koreas mark truce, but drills underscore tensions On the 57th anniversary of the armistice that ended the Korean War, U.S. and South Korean ships intensified high-profile military exercises.

* Obama Warns Abbas: 'Start Talks or Else' A secret 36-page memo based on Obama administration statements indicates that the president warned Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to start direct talks with Israel.

07/26/10

* EU imposes new Iran sanction Restrictions follow last month's unilateral US sanctions.

* US says Wikileaks could threaten national security The United States has condemned as "irresponsible" the leak of 90,000 military records, saying publication could threaten national security.

* "If Hezbollah strikes, we hit Lebanon" Barak issues warning against resuming rocket attacks from North.

* "Settlements will return to normal" Lieberman, Netanyahu say settlement freeze will end in September.

* Raising the Dead Is the "Red-Dead Sea Conveyance Project" viable?

* "Jews dominate the media" Director Oliver Stone makes anti-Semitic comments, supports Iran.

* Ex-CIA chief: Strike on Iran seems more likely now A former CIA director says military action against Iran now seems more likely because no matter what the U.S. does diplomatically, Tehran keeps pushing ahead with its suspected nuclear program.

* Top U.S. officer warns Afghan war will get worse More NATO troops will die in Afghanistan as violence mounts over the summer, but Washington's goal of turning the tide against the insurgency by year's end is within reach, the top U.S. military officer said.

* NASA's Deep Space Camera Locates Host of "Earths" Scientists celebrated Sunday after finding more than 700 suspected new planets -- including up to 140 similar in size to Earth -- in just six weeks of using a powerful new space observatory.

* Abbas Under Pressure for Direct Talks Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is under intense international pressure to begin holding direct talks with Israel.

07/24/10

* Turkey exploits 'window of opportunity', moving rapidly to acquire nuclear weapons A quiet but intense debate is ongoing within senior circles of the governing Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi (Justice and Development Party: AKP) in Turkey.

* 'N.Korean missiles hurt ME stability' The Israeli UN mission sent a letter to the North Korea sanctions committee at the international body to warn of the growing number of ballistic missiles in the Middle East coming from North Korea.

* Blair: Aid flotillas not helpful Quartet Representative Tony Blair Friday urged the Lebanese flotilla intent on heading towards Gaza this weekend to reconsider its journey.

* U.S. military warns Iraq on political vacuum; Iran applies pressure, backed by Obama The U.S. has warned that Iraq must soon resolve its political stalemate.

* PLO Flag to Fly in Washington D.C. The United States State Department has announced to the Palestinian Authority/Palestinian Liberation Organization Mission representative in the United States that its status will be upgraded from a 'bureau'.

* NKorea threatens 'nuclear deterrence' over drills North Korea threatened Saturday to mount a powerful nuclear response to upcoming joint U.S.-South Korean military drills.

* Ahmadinejad lashes out at Russia Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused Russian President Dmitry Medvedev of turning against Teheran.

* Iran announces plan to build world's first nuclear fusion reactor Iran's nuclear agency began studies on Saturday to build an experimental nuclear fusion reactor.

* AU nations to boost Somalia force Guinea and Djibouti are planning to send troops to bolster an African Union (AU) peacekeeping force charged with protecting the transitional government in Somalia.

* Abbas: American Jews on My Side Now American Jewish lobbyists have been convinced to take a pro-Palestinian Authority position, and to ask US President Barack Obama to turn up the pressure on Israel.

07/23/10

* Israel urges Lebanon and world: Stop new Gaza flotilla or we will Israel is urging Lebanon and the international community to prevent two ships from sailing to the Gaza Strip from a Lebanese port.

* U.S. upgrades diplomatic ties with Palestinians in bid to woo Abbas The U.S. announced this week that it would upgrade its diplomatic relations with the PA by granting its mission in Washington.

* 'Very dangerous' pro-Al Qaida group said active in every West Bank city The Palestinian Authority has intensified surveillance over a pro-Al Qaida movement. .

* Hague confirms Kosovo's independence The UN's highest court declared Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia to be legal on Thursday.

* FBI Targets Online Terror, 70,000 Blogs Closed As many as 70,000 blogs have been shut down as the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation targets online terrorism.

* NKorea tensions spike at Asian security forum North Korea on Friday threatened the United States and South Korea with a "physical response" to planned weekend naval exercises.

* Gaza tunnel smugglers cutting through Egypt's wall A Palestinian tunnel smuggler with a blowtorch sliced through an underground steel wall early Thursday.

* Hezbollah members 'facing Rafik Hariri charges' Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the militant Shia movement, said some of the group would be indicted by the UN-backed court within the coming months.

* Iran Revolutionary Guards Begin to Feel the Bite of Sanctions The industrial wing of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, Khatam al-Anbiya, has pulled out of development projects in the South Pars gas field due to international sanctions.

* IDF expects Hizbullah to target roads Fearing massive missile fire on main roads and bases in a future war with Hizbullah and Syria, the IDF will in the near future test its ability to move assets and platforms.

07/22/10

* 'Israel is world's most isolated country' Outgoing Ambassador to the UN Gabriella Shalev told American journalists on Monday that Israel is "the most isolated, lonely country in the world."

* Abbas signals resistance to U.S. pressure for direct talks Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has indicated he will resist United States pressure for face-to-face peace talks with Israel for now.

* North Korea anger at US-South Korea war games Some 20 ships and submarines and 100 aircraft are to take part in four days of manoeuvres in the Sea of Japan from Sunday.

* EU countries want more Iran sanctions A new poll shows European countries strongly supportive of international intervention to stop a nuclear-armed Iran, including further sanctions.

* Commercially sized oil field found in central Israel, firm says An Israeli oil prospecting and production firm announced it has struck a commercial amount of the black substance in central Israel.

* Petraeus Sharpens Afghan Strategy Gen. David Petraeus plans to ramp up the U.S. military's troop-intensive strategy in Afghanistan.

* Russian Gift to PA: 50 Armored Personnel Carriers Russia has delivered 50 armored personnel carriers to Jordan for use by Palestinian Authority security forces.

* Viral Video: No Mosque at Ground Zero A powerful new ad campaign that has gone viral on the Internet is targeting plans to build a mosque next to Ground Zero.

* Egypt paper: Israel spreading lies about Mubarak's health' Cairo is upset over reports on Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's poor health, and is placing the blame with Israel.

* Environmentalists urge closure of Jordan River baptism site over poor water quality An environmental group Wednesday urged the Israeli government to close down a baptism site at the lower Jordan River until water quality standards.

07/21/10

* PA still inciting hatred When proximity talks started in May, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas declared that the PA would fulfill its commitments.

* No missile system to Iran Israel reacted positively on Tuesday to Moscow’s announcement that it will not deliver S-300 surface-to-air missile defense systems to Iran.

* Clinton and Gates visit Korean Demilitarized Zone Mr Gates said they wanted to show solidarity with their allies in Seoul.

* MK Danon on Temple Mount: Stop Anti-Jewish Discrimination MK Danny Danon (Likud) toured the Temple Mount Tuesday in a visit timed for Tisha B'Av, 1940.

* U.S. Navy Successfully Uses Laser to Shoot Down Drones The U.S. Navy has used a a laser weapon to shoot down four unmanned aerial vehicles in a test that rings up memories of Ronald Reagan's "Star Wars" missile defense shield in the 1980s.

* Peres Center Researchers for PA Control in Jordan Valley Several months ago INN reported a request submitted by the Palestinian Authority to receive an Israeli permit to build a tourist project on the shores of the Dead Sea.

* Air Canada Embarrassed Following Security Breach A recently posted YouTube video has left some Canadians feeling puzzled regarding airport security procedures.

* Netanyahu: I'm willing to take political risks for peace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the European Union's foreign policy chief that he is ready to take a political risk to reach an agreement with the Palestinians.

* Astronomers detect 'monster star' One of the objects, known simply as R136a1, is the most massive ever found.

* Iran and Saudi Arabia Closing in on Cooperation Shiite Iran and Wahhabi Saudi Arabia, historically not on the best of terms, are making overtures towards each other.

07/20/10

* IDF Chief in Rome: Israel Lives 2,000 Years After Temple Razed IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, speaking at the Arch of Titus 1940 years after the Roman Empire destroyed the Second Holy Temple, declared, "We are here, on the eve of Tisha B'Av.

* Al-Qaeda No. 2 Calls Arab Leaders 'Zionists' and Mocks Obama Arab leaders are Zionists in disguise, according to Al-Qaeda’s number two terrorist, Ayman al-Zawahiri.

* Iraqi cleric meets with PM candidate in Syria Anti-American Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr took a rare, public step into the political arena Monday.

* China now world's biggest energy user China overtook the US last year to become the world’s biggest energy user.

* EU to hold atheist and freemason summit Brussels is to hold an EU summit with atheists and freemasons in the autumn, inviting them to a political dialogue.

* Tens of Thousands Mark Tisha B'Av at Western Wall Tens of thousands of worshipers streamed on Monday evening and Tuesday to the Western Wall plaza.

* Rabbi Richman on the 9th of Av: Stop Mourning, Start Yearning Many tens of thousands spend Tisha B'Av, or parts of it, at the Western Wall – which, together with the Temple Mount, is the sole remnant of the Second Temple.

* US and South Korea to hold major military exercise The four-day exercise, in the Sea of Japan (East Sea), will involve 20 ships, 200 planes and 8,000 personnel.

* In sign of warming ties, Turkey FM reportedly meets Hamas chief Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu met with Hamas political bureau chief Khaled Meshal in Damascus on Monday.

* Iran to retaliate for UN sanctions Iran's parliament has adopted a bill authorizing tit-for-tat retaliation against countries that inspect Iranian ships and aircraft.

07/19/10

* Half the Public Wants to See Holy Temple Rebuilt Half the Israeli public wants the Holy Temple (Beit HaMikdash) to be rebuilt. This is the main finding of a poll commissioned by the Knesset Television Channel and carried out by the Panels Institute.

* Why I like Tisha Be’Av Without it, Jews could forget essential things.

* Israel convinces US with Credible military plan on Iran Recent media reports suggests Jerusalem has increased diplomatic efforts to persuade White House that credible military option needed.

* Ashton calls on Israel to open border crossings to Gaza On her second trip to the Middle East, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton called on Israel to open border crossings to Gaza and fully lift the "unacceptable" blockade imposed on the Palestinian territory.

* Chris Patten urges bolder EU approach over Middle East conflict Former EU commissioner Chris Patten calls Gaza blockade an immoral failure and says bloc must be more independent

* Gov't Told: 2.5 Million Africans Waiting to Enter Israel Two and a half million Africans are on Egyptian soil, waiting for a chance to cross the border illegally into Israel, Interior Security Minister Yitzchak Aharonovich told fellow cabinet ministers Sunday.

* Geert Wilders Forming International Anti-Islam Alliance Dutch anti-Jihadi lawmaker Geert Wilders is forming an international alliance, hoping to ban Muslim immigration into Western countries.

* West believes Mubarak dying Washington Post reports US, European sources closely following Egyptian president's health, believe he has terminal cancer, with 12 – 18 months to live

* Netanyahu, Mubarak discuss 'conditions for peace' Leaders meet in Cairo after delay on Egypt's part, discuss 'terms necessary for two-state solution'

* MESS Report / Political tensions growing in Lebanon over Hariri tribunal If Hezbollah is found to be responsible for 2005 assassination of former Lebanon PM Rafik Hariri, Lebanon will face a grave political crisis.

07/17/10

* Security by third party, equitable land swap - Abbas' conditions for direct talks In clearest statement yet of demands, Palestinian President says that if Israel agrees to conditions 'in principle' direct talks could begin.

* Human Rights Watch: No freedom, no rights in Syria Report on Assad's failures during 10-year reign maintains that Syria's secret police detain people without arrest warrants and torture 'with complete impunity.'

* Ashton: Israel, open Gaza crossings Catherine Ashton, the EU's foreign policy chief, starts her second Mideast tour in four months Saturday, trying to restart the stalled peace talks and push Israel into making good on a promise to open border crossings with Gaza.

* Assad reaffirms Turkey's role as mediator Syrian president says other countries 'can play supportive role, not alternative one' in mediation in Israel-Syria peace talks.

* Turkey unveils first drone plane Turkey on Friday unveiled its first drone airplane, a surveillance craft able to fly for 24-hour stretches over the rugged mountains where Kurdish rebels are waging a deadly insurgency. Engineers boast that it is as capable as the Israeli-made Heron.

* US: Iron Dome will work A US-backed rocket shield is on track to protect Israeli towns against rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip, a senior State Department official said Friday.

* Iran's President Renews Pressure on Conservatives Having successfully suppressed the opposition uprising that followed last summer's disputed presidential election, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his supporters are now renewing their efforts to marginalize another rival group - Iran's traditional conservatives.

* Gaza flotilla organizer: We'll send convoys to Gaza on land Head of IHH, Turkish activist group behind recent aid flotilla that tried to reach Gaza, promises 'surprises' to be revealed soon.

* Endgame It's an idea for solving the conflict that sounds like a vision of the end of days: Grant Israeli citizenship and equal rights to all the Palestinians in the West Bank. And who is proposing the one-state solution? Right-wingers and settlers.

* African Union summit starts in Uganda a week after bombings The African Union summit started in Uganda on Saturday, nearly a week after triple bombings in the nation's capital killed more than 70 people.

07/16/10

* Extensive ties between Erdogan government, Gaza flotilla organizers Turkish diplomats and government officials told the New York Times that the Turkish organization that led the Gaza-bound flotilla in late May has extensive connections with Turkey’s political elite.

* Most Americans would back Israel attack on Iran More than half of Americans would support Israel taking military action against Iran.

* Jihad cell suspected of targeting Jews, pope Eight residents of the northern city of Nazareth and the local council of Yafa an-Naseriyye were arrested last month on suspicion of dealing with weapons and discussing the possibility of murdering soldiers and Jews, and even target the pope.

* 46% say Obama is pro-Palestinian US President Barack Obama's efforts to reach out to the people of Israel last week – when he hosted Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for a positive meeting at the White House and gave his first interview as president to an Israeli television station – were not very successful.

* China's Wen Supports Euro, Maintains Economic Policy Europe remains a key market for China's investments of its foreign-exchange reserves.

* Plan calls for NATO troops to 'overcome Israel's security objections to a Palestinian state' The Palestinian Authority has requested that NATO send troops to secure any new Palestinian state in the West Bank.

* Abbas unlikely to agree to direct talks soon, say Ramallah sources Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is averse to resuming direct Middle East talks in the near future.

* Hopes for Peace Process Low, Support for Israel Up Support for Israel is close to a record high in America, according to a new Gallup poll.

* A Song for Israel a Big Hit on YouTube A young woman from Gush Etzion, south of Jerusalem, has succeeded the Latma website's "We Can Con the World" spoof on the IHH flotilla terror activists as Israel’s best PR representative.

* Netanyahu has Outmaneuvered Obama, TIME Hints In his first 18 months in office, United States President Barack Obama has succeeded in humiliating Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on occasion and forcing a temporary freeze of construction for Jews in Judea and Samaria.

07/15/10

* Israel attack wouldn't stop Iran nuclear program, says U.K. study An Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities would start a long war and probably not prevent Iran from eventually acquiring nuclear weapons.

* Gaddafi Jr.: Libya to funnel $50M to Gaza Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, chairman of the Gaddafi International Charity and Development Foundation which tried to send an aid vessel to Gaza, says he reached an Egyptian-mediated agreement with Israel.

* Israeli Firm Develops 'Stealth Paint' for Aircraft Shades of Star Trek's Romulan cloaking device: The Israel Air Force may soon be flying under the radar.

* Gush Katif: Past and Future Approximately 350 family farms and agricultural enterprises, producing $120 million in flowers and produce, were based in the Katif Bloc of Jewish towns in Gaza.

* US military to hand over last detention centre in Iraq The Iraqi authorities will take charge of 1,600 of the 1,800 detainees at Camp Cropper, near Baghdad's airport.

* Argentine Senate backs bill legalising gay marriage The vote in the Senate, which backed the bill by just six votes, came after 14 hours of at times heated debate.

* Europe Warns Obama: This Relationship Is Not Working Europe's disappointment with President Barack Obama's presidency was laid bare Thursday as the EU's most senior figure called for a dramatic effort to revive transatlantic relations.

* World at Risk of Folding in on Itself: Deputy Doom The global economy is at risk of folding in on itself unless policy makers face up to the threat of inflation and exchange rate inflexibility, according to Arun Motianey.

* The 44th U.S. president is a cultural Muslim President Obama is betraying the Jews. He is a cultural Muslim whose sympathies lie with the Islamic world in its life-death struggle against Israel.

* Hamas Panicked When Israel Eased Blockade Israel's decision to ease its blockade on Gaza has had an odd effect on the region.

* EU reaches out for new powers at United Nations European Council President Herman Van Rompuy will in future be able to address the UN chamber no differently from US President Barack Obama.

07/14/10

* Mubarak defers Netanyahu meeting over East Jerusalem demolitions Egypt President Hosni Mubarak postponed his planned meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel's recent demolition of unlawful Palestinian structures in East Jerusalem.

* 'Libyan ship continues to el-Arish' The IDF on Wednesday confirmed that a Libyan aid ship, the Amalthea, had solved its reported engine problem and was continuing towards Egypt's el-Arish port.

* Iran: Russia shouldn't follow US path A top Iranian official on Wednesday called on Russia not to repeat US comments regarding Iran's nuclear status.

* Iron Dome test in South successful Israel inched a step closer on Wednesday to deploying a missile defense system along the border with the Gaza Strip.

* Diplomat: Egyptian president 'is a walking corpse' Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was said to no longer be capable of functioning in his position.

* Beirut: The Second Lebanon War Never Ended A Beirut newspaper contends that the 2006 Second Lebanon War never ended.

* Cleric Urges Murdering US Cartoonist who Didn't Draw Mohammed Leading terrorist cleric Anwar al-Awlaki has called to murder American cartoonist Molly Norris over "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day."

* Somali militants ready to terrorize world? The deadly bombings in Uganda's capital may have heralded a chilling new chapter in the history of a Somali Islamist group with links to al Qaeda.

* Jordan's Queen Rania rejects offer to publish Hebrew edition of her children's book Queen Rania of Jordan has turned down several offers to publish a Hebrew version of a children's book she recently wrote.

* US official slams Israeli right wing An official US source told Ynet Tuesday that the construction of 32 new housing units in Pisgat Ze'ev, Jerusalem land conquered in 1967, was another attempt by the Israeli Right to complicate peace talks.

07/13/10

* IDF Probe Cites Flotilla ‘Mistakes;’ Libyan Ship Nears Gaza The IDF made mistakes in preparing for the flotilla clash May 31, but there were no wholesale failures.

* Crowd of 10,000 Declare: The Temple Mount Belongs to Jews A huge crowd of 10,000 Jews gathered at the old gates of the Temple Mount Monday night and declared their allegiance to the holy site.

* Turkish government embraces Hamas agenda, gives Israel cold shoulder The Islamist government of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has adopted the agenda of the Hamas regime in the Gaza Strip.

* US should better define, counter Islamic extremism The Obama administration's recent move to drop references to Islamic radicalism is drawing fire in a new report.

* Obama at odds with Petraeus doctrine on 'Islam' The White House's official policy of banning the word "Islam" in describing America's terrorist enemies is in direct conflict with the U.S. military's war-fighting doctrine.

* Jerusalem Thaws the Freeze, Approves New Housing Jerusalem's planning commission ended the de facto building freeze Monday night by approving building 32 new housing units in Pisgat Ze'ev.

* US threatens to cut Jordan's aid The United States has threatened to cut financial aid to Jordan, if the Hashemite Kingdom continues to develop its nuclear program without coordinating with Israel.

* PM dreams of 24-hour,multi-language news network Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu shared his dream to establish a state-sponsored international news network .

* First half of 2010: Record number of tourists in Israel Some 1.6 million people visited Israel between January and July, according to figures released by the Tourism Ministry on Monday.

* Hizbullah tunnels under border Concerns are mounting in the defense establishment that Hizbullah may be digging tunnels from Lebanon to Israel.

07/12/10

* Fatah official: Jerusalem is ticking time bomb Ahmed Qureia says Israel preventing talks by continuing construction in West Bank, e. Jerusalem

* Report: Libya blocking Gadhafi's son from joining Gaza aid ship Israeli sources have said the ship is expected to dock at the Egyptian port of El-Arish and not try to break the Israeli naval blockade on Gaza.

* Netanyahu: Jerusalem dispute should not delay direct talks Ynet learns PM told forum of seven senior ministers direct negotiations with Abbas set for early August.

* Fifth Anniversary of Ongoing Gush Katif Tragedy to be Marked The fifth anniversary of one of the worst tragedies in the history of the State of Israel will be marked this week at Kissufim and elsewhere in Israel and around the world.

* Crisis Awaits World’s Banks as Trillions Come Due The sovereign debt crisis would seem to create worry enough for European banks, but there is another gathering threat that has not garnered as much notice.

* Nine Days of Mourning Begin Today The “Nine Days” – the second stage of the “Three Weeks” of gradually-increasing mourning over the destruction of the Holy Temples and Israel's exile – begins today (Monday), the first day of the traditionally mournful month of Av.

* Jerusalem's Most Ancient Letter Revealed Archaeologists working in Jerusalem have uncovered the most ancient written document ever found in the city – a fragment of a letter thought to date back to the 14th century BCE.

* Iran Vows to Increase Enriched Uranium Stock Sixfold by 2011 Iran said it can produce enough 20 percent-enriched uranium to power its Tehran research reactor, which needs six times the country’s current stockpile, by September next year.

* US support is insurance policy Arad praises Obama's commitment to Israel's security.

* Navy preps for Libyan flotilla Ship is determined to break Gaza blockade, not sail to Egypt.

07/10/10

* Hezbollah on high alert over concern Israel 'preparing something for us' Hezbollah warned on Saturday that Israel was preparing "something" in Lebanon and that the organization has been on high alert.

* Israel steps up bid to block aid ship bound for Gaza Israel has stepped up its attempts to stop an aid ship breaking its blockade of Gaza, sending a letter to the UN and engaging Greece and Moldova in talks.

* Obama supports Abbas leadership US President Barack Obama on Friday expressed strong support for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's leadership.

* Lebanese army to protect UNIFIL The Lebanese army announced that it will send a brigade south to help UNIFIL peacekeepers in southern Lebanon.

* Likud praise effective settler campaign The campaign by the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip to force Likud ministers to abide by their commitments.

* Obama expects 'no surprises': Israel won't strike Iran without U.S. permission Obama said he was confident that Israel would not attack Iran without U.S. permission.

* U.S. Missiles Deployed Near China Send a Message If China's satellites and spies were working properly, there would have been a flood of unsettling intelligence flowing into the Beijing headquarters of the Chinese navy last week.

* Counter-Terrorism Bureau: 'Very High' Risk for Israelis Abroad The Counter Terrorism Bureau of the National Security Council issued a renewed travel warning for Israelis abroad throughout the world Thursday, citing "a very high concrete threat."

* Visiting Senators Impressed with PA Paramilitary After visiting Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. Senators John McCain (R), Lindsey Graham (R), and Joe Lieberman (independent), toured the PA-controlled areas in Judea and Samaria and met with PA officials before coming to Jerusalem.

* PA wants guarantees for direct talks On Friday, Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat accused Israel of pressuring the Palestinians into joining direct talks without meeting the basic condition for moving forward, freezing the expansion of the settlements.

07/09/10

* Netanyahu: Peace possible within year Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel would not extend a construction moratorium in the West Bank past September.

* U.S. Tomahawk Missiles Deployed Near China Send Message If China's satellites and spies were working properly, there would have been a flood of unsettling intelligence flowing into the Beijing headquarters of the Chinese navy last week.

* 'Cairo, Amman worried about Iran nukes' Egypt and Jordan are growingly concerned with Teheran’s nuclear program.

* Lybian ship to sail for Gaza The Lybian Embassy in Greece announced that a ship carrying humanitarian aid from Lybia to Gaza is scheduled to set sail from Greece on Friday.

* High threat-level for Israelis abroad The National Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Bureau issued a general advisory Thursday calling on all Israelis traveling abroad to increase alertness.

* US and Russia in Vienna spy swap The US and Russia have taken part in the biggest spy swap since the Cold War, in an exchange at Vienna airport.

* Fresh Iraq bombings hit Shia pilgrims in Baghdad At least five people have been killed by bombs targeting Shia pilgrims in Baghdad, Iraqi officials say.

* Yemen Steps Up War Against al-Qaeda Militants, Terrorism With its insurgencies and economic problems, the government of Yemen could only begrudge coexisting with elements of al-Qaeda in the country.

* Iran to U.S.: No talks until you clarify stance on Israel nukes Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday that the United States must make its position on Israel's nuclear strategy clear.

* Netanyahu: Israel a Stabilizing Force in Middle East - Video Contrary to what some believe, Israel is actually the greatest source of stability in today's Middle East.

07/08/10

* Netanyahu: Where's Abbas? Speaking on the ABC network's "Good Morning America" program, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu sidestepped questions about whether he would extend the construction freeze.

* Obama: Mideast peace possible, but Israel is right to be skeptical U.S. President Barack Obama has said there is hope for peace in the Middle East, but told Israeli media that is not "blindly optimistic".

* U.S. Plans Cyber Shield for Utilities, Companies The federal government is launching an expansive program dubbed "Perfect Citizen" to detect cyber assaults on private companies.

* Photo Essay: New Immigrants Fulfill Prophecy of Ingathering Though international politics and intrigue have turned up the heat on another Israeli summer, a breath of fresh air breezed into the country on the tail of an El Al plane on Wednesday, as 232 North American Jews made aliyah.

* Former NASA Director Says Muslim Outreach Push 'Deeply Flawed' The former head of NASA on Tuesday described as "deeply flawed" the idea that the space exploration agency's priority should be outreach to Muslim countries.

* Berlusconi and Ukip ally hunting UFOs, Bilderbergers Italian euro-deputy Mario Borghezio wants the EU to establish a European UFO Centre.

* Turkish-Iranian Ties Growing in Small Businesses Too The significant warming of relations between Iran and Turkey in the last several weeks has been reflected in a hot new trading market between small businesses in the two countries.

* Hezbollah readying for urban war in southern Lebanon, IDF warns Israel's military on Wednesday offered evidence of what it says is a growing threat from Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

* EU takes 'historic' step on new diplomatic service Foreign relations chief Catherine Ashton will turn her attention to choosing the top officials and the main building for the European External Action Service.

* 'EU pushed Turkey to look elsewhere' US President Barack Obama said that Europe's reluctance to allow Turkey into the European Unions may have pushed Ankara to "look elsewhere."

07/07/10

* Obama and Netanyahu urge direct Mid-East peace talks US President Barack Obama has urged the Israelis and Palestinians to resume direct peace talks before a settlement freeze expires in September.

* Secret document affirms U.S.-Israel nuclear partnership Israel's Army Radio reported on Wednesday that the United States has sent Israel a secret document committing to nuclear cooperation between the two countries.

* Iran to open nuke plant in Sept. The plant is situated in the southern Iranian city of Bushehr. Salehi said the plant passed one of its "most important and final tests, the hot water test, before its inauguration."

* Poll: 2/3 of Palestinians against rocket attacks Some 68% of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza do not want Hamas to resume its rocket attacks on Israel.

* Top U.A.E. diplomat endorses striking Iran nuclear sites The United Arab Emirates ambassador to the United States, Yousef Al-Otaiba, said Tuesday that the benefits of bombing Iran's nuclear sites eclipse the short-term costs such an attack would entail.

* EU-Chinese 'misunderstanding' on the rise, senior Beijing official warns China's deputy foreign minister has warned that the level of "misunderstanding" between Brussels and Beijing is on the rise.

* 'Peace process - not by imposition' Peres discusses Netanyahu and Obama's meeting with young leaders.

* 'Up, Up and Away' for North American Jews American and Canadian Jews resumed their annual one-way trek to Israel Wednesday morning.

* UN Contradicts Itself in Blaming Israel The IMRA news analysis agency reports that while Hizbullah brags about crippling the UNIFIL peacekeeping force in Lebanon.

* 'Direct talks before freeze ends' Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Wednesday called for direct negotiations with the Palestinian Authority.

07/06/10

* Netanyahu heads to Washington in effort to mend U.S. ties Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will fly to Washington on Monday evening to meet with President Barack Obama for the fifth time since the two leaders took office.

* Syria Warns Israel's Rift with Turkey 'Undermines Peace' Syrian President Bashar Assad came out four-square behind Turkey in its diplomatic crisis with Israel.

* Obama OKs arms sales to Arab League states on eve of Netanyahu visit The administration of President Barack Obama has approved military sales to three Arab League states in advance of his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

* Islamic terrorism propaganda, global Jew-hatred and the world press Last month, students at a Southern California high school were caught playing a late-night on-campus game of tag called "Beat the Jew."

* Turning East, Turkey Asserts Economic Power For decades, Turkey has been told it was not ready to join the European Union — that it was too backward economically to qualify for membership in the now 27-nation club.

* Muslim Zionist Speaks Out in Bangladesh Shoaib Choudhury, a Muslim Zionist in Bangladesh, told IsraelNationalRadio's Yishai Fleisher last week, "Political Islam and hate speech are our biggest enemies."

* Biden urges Iraqis to make progress in forming government Vice President Biden left Iraq on Monday evening after a three-day trip in which he urged Iraqi officials to speed up the formation of the nation's new government.

* East African leaders urge UN to provide Somalia force East African leaders have renewed their calls to the UN to replace the beleaguered African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission in Somalia.

* Five EU foreign ministers to visit Gaza after Israel eases blockade The foreign ministers of France, Germany, Britain, Italy and Spain will visit Gaza following Israel's ease of the blockade imposed on the Palestinian territory.

* NASA Chief: Next Frontier Better Relations With Muslim World NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said in a recent interview that his "foremost" mission as the head of America's space exploration agency is to improve relations with the Muslim world.

07-05-10

* Turkey threatens diplomatic break with Israel over raid Turkey has for the first time threatened to break diplomatic ties with Israel over its raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in May.

* US questions its unwavering support for Israel Consensus forming in Washington that Israeli government is abusing support with policies seen to be risking US lives.

* Egypt FM: Arab League will declare Palestinian state if peace talks fail Top Palestinian negotiator Erekat refutes reports claiming that Abbas had offered Israel a West Bank land swap as part of a final status peace agreement.

* Iran: World has not done enough to curb Zionist atrocities FM Mottaki says Israel would not have raided Gaza flotilla if the UN had taken a stronger stance against 'Zionist crimes.'

* Hamas summer camps underway Group's leaders in Gaza say camps convey non-violent messages of educational, moral nature.

* V-22: The future is here Ynet reporter gets glimpse into cutting edge aircraft that combines plane, helicopter capabilities.

* Assad: US administration is weak Syrian president disappointed with lack of progress on ME peace.

* PM may offer freeze extension Offer: Obama would accept Israeli control of large settlements.

* EU's dream candidate wins Polish election The candidate from the ruling Civic Platform party, Bronislaw Komorowski, won Poland's presidential election on Sunday (4 July) in a result set to bolster the country's pro-European credentials.

* A Special Place in Hell / As Bibi faces Obama, settlers try radical shifts in tactics With the settlement movement caught between an unsympathetic White House and an Israeli public that is much more apathetic than supportive, how long can they depend on the Palestinians to keep them where they are?

07/03/10

* Abbas says Israel can keep Kotel Are the Palestinians easing up on their demands on one of the places Israel has no plans of relinquishing?

* Israel sees massive unrest in West Bank following pressure from Obama Israeli security forces have been ordered to prepare for trouble from both Arabs and Jews in the West Bank.

* US Gen Petraeus urges unity to tackle Afghanistan war The new US commander in Afghanistan has called for civilian officials and the military to make a "united effort" to tackle the nation's nine-year conflict.

* Iran moves radar to Syria: US official Iran has moved radar to Syria that could provide early-warning against a possible surprise Israeli air attack against Tehran's nuclear sites.

* War in Iraq Defies U.S. Timetable for End of Combat President Obama has set an August deadline for the end of the combat mission in Iraq.

* 'Saudi king says Israel, Iran don't deserve to exist' Saudi Arabia on Friday denied a report in French daily Le Figaro.

* 'Obama warns Erdogan international Gaza flotilla probe bad for Turkey' United States President Barak Obama warned Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that an international probe into Israel's deadly raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla could have negative consequences for Turkey.

* Netanyahu: No apology, no compensation to Turkey over Gaza flotilla Israel won't apologize to Turkey over the Gaza aid flotilla clashes and the possibility of giving compensation to those injured in the incident is not up for discussion.

* Iranian Officials Scoff at Impact of New US Economic Sanctions Iranian officials are ridiculing the importance of new U.S. economic sanctions against Tehran.

* Russian 'spy ring' suspects denied bail by US courts Three suspected Russian spies held by the US have been denied bail by a Virginia court.

07/02/10

* Obama to press Netanyahu on peace process, settlement freeze Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will get a warm reception from U.S. President Barack Obama on his trip to Washington next week.

* PM-Obama talks to determine region's future Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's senior advisor's, Yitzhak Molcho and Uzi Arad, are expected to leave for Cairo on Sunday for meetings with senior Egyptian officials.

* Message to Bibi: 'A Promise is a Promise' As Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu prepares to meet with United States President Barack Obama, the Judea and Samaria (Yesha) Council is taking steps to “remind” the prime minister of his commitment.

* Google's Eric Schmidt: You can trust us with your data This week Google released an update to its Android mobile operating system.

* Barack Obama signs new sanctions against Iran into law US President Barack Obama has signed into law new sanctions against Iran intended to impede the development of its nuclear program.

* Ancient site near Nablus 'too problematic' to open Mount Gerizim is sacred to the Samaritans who regard it, rather than Jerusalem's Temple Mount, as the location chosen by God for a holy temple.

* UK sets out plan to regain influence in EU The UK must build up its presence in the EU institutions and nurture stronger ties with smaller member states.

* Explosions at shrine in Pakistan kill dozens The death toll climbed to 50 on Friday after a pair of suicide bombers detonated their explosives vests at one of Pakistan's holiest shrines.

* Dollar Plunges After UN Call To Ditch Greenback The dollar plunged today following a United Nations report which called for the greenback to be replaced as the global reserve currency.

* China Puts Best Face Forward With News Channel The Xinhua News Agency, China’s dominant news service and the propaganda arm of the Communist Party, introduced a 24-hour English-language news channel.