08/31/10

* Iraq 'independent' as the US combat operation ends Iraq's prime minister has said the country is "independent" as the US formally ends combat operations.

* Netanyahu heads to Washington as settlement building casts shadow over peace talks Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boarded a plane for Washington on Tuesday morning to begin new negotiations with the Palestinians.

* PA Prime Minister's Diplomatic War Against Israel As negotiating teams from Israel and the Palestinian Authority prepare to head to Washington for the first direct talks in more than two years, PA officials are quietly working hard to sabotage the effort.

* Israel training troops for unconventional warfare Israel's military, preparing for regional war, has been enhancing its skills to fight during a nonconventional weapons attack.

* Putin hints will return to Kremlin in 2012 Russia's paramount leader, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, hinted on Monday he would return to the presidency in 2012 for six more years.

* Gaddafi wants EU cash to stop African migrants Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi says the EU should pay Libya at least 5bn euros (£4bn; $6.3bn) a year to stop illegal African immigration and avoid a "black Europe".

* Israeli academics boycott West Bank settlements In a letter, they said they supported the recent decision by a group of actors and others not to take part in cultural activity there.

* UK and France to share aircraft carriers Britain and France are preparing to reveal unprecedented plans to share the use of their aircraft carriers in a controversial step to maintain military power in an era of cost-cutting.

* Netanyahu's Office Joins World of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's Office (PMO) has joined the modern world of social media.

* Football hooligans to launch 'European Defence League' in Amsterdam The English Defence League (EDL), the anti-Muslim 'street army' composed largely of football hooligans that burst onto the front pages of British newspapers.

08/30/10

* Report: Hezbollah, Syria to join forces in future clash with Israel Kuwait's al-Rai daily says Lebanon-based group, Syrian army have created a joint military command, dividing potential war fronts.

* US: Rabbi's 'offensive' remarks harm peace efforts US State Department spokesman condemns Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's 'inflammatory' statement that all Palestinians should perish.

* Netanyahu: I never promised to extend West Bank settlement construction freeze Netanyahu tells Likud ministers that future of settlements will be discussed as a final-status issue in peace talks with the Palestinians.

* Ashton hits back at Kouchner over Middle East talks EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton has defended her plan to go to China instead of to Thursday's Middle East peace talks following criticism by French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner.

* Abbas wants talks according to Quartet PA launches campaign to sell peace talks to Palestinians and Israelis.

* Obama says not worried by Muslim 'rumors' Asked about persistent accusations that he wasn't born in US, president responds, 'I can't spend all my time with my birth certificate plastered on my forehead'

* Gaddafi gives lesson on Islam to young Italians Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who considers himself self-styled feminist, gives lesson on Islam and copies of the Quran to a few hundred young Italian women recruited by modeling agency in Rome.

* Chinese state TV confirms visit by NKorea's Kim China and North Korea confirmed Monday that their leaders met while Kim Jong Il was on a secretive trip to China.

* 2,000 year-old cameo found in Jerusalem Israel Antiquities Authority excavation yields semi-precious onyx.

08/28/10

* 'War talk is Zionist propaganda' Ahmadinejad's top adviser says no war currently on the horizon.

* France wants EU seat at Mideast peace talks France wants the European Union to have a seat at the table during next week's start of US-backed peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in Washington.

* 190 antiaircraft missiles found in Sinai Egypt has prevented a shipment of antiaircraft missiles and explosives from entering Gaza.

* Israeli intel confirms Iran backing Shi'ite rebels in northern Yemen Israel has determined that Iran is acting to destabilize Yemen.

* Russian subs stalk Trident in echo of Cold War Russian submarines are hunting down British Vanguard boats in a return to Cold War tactics not seen for 25 years.

* Barack Obama 'to visit Jerusalem and Ramallah to press for peace' President Barack Obama will visit Jerusalem in coming months to press for a Middle East peace deal to be signed this year.

* The battle for Wikipedia: Palestinians counter Israeli editing group After a rightist group opened the first-ever Zionist editing group aimed at defending Israel on Wikipedia, a Palestinian organization plans to create its own Wikipedia editing program.

* Lebanese ruling party: Disarm militias Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri convened a meeting of the ruling party Saturday.

* Obama marks formal end of Iraq combat US President Barack Obama said Saturday that the end of combat operations in Iraq doesn't just reaffirm that country's sovereignty, but also makes good on one of his principle campaign pledges.

* Erekat rejects fortnightly meetings plan Palestinian Authority Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat rejected Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's calls for fortnightly face-to-face meetings with PA President Mahmoud Abbas.

08/27/10

* 'Israel ready to destroy Lebanese Army in four hours' The US warned Lebanon that if it did not prevent any recurrence of the border-fire incident that occurred earlier this month, the IDF would destroy the Lebanese Armed Forces.

* Iran: Dimona is in Our Crosshairs An unnamed senior officer in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards warned Thursday that Iran would strike Israel if it is targeted.

* New book: Arab lobby rules America The Arab lobby and most particularly the Saudi lobby, one of the strongest in America-even stronger than Israel's.

* Israel working to thwart Russia arms deal with Syria Israel is trying to prevent an arms deal between Russia and Syria.

* EU popularity plunges right across the bloc People's confidence in the the European Union has dropped to record lows.

* PM wants regular talks with Abbas Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will propose next week, at the launching of direct talks with the Palestinian Authority in Washington, that he and PA President Mahmoud Abbas meet every two weeks.

* Radical groups demand Abbas resign PA president urges Israel to seize 'historic opportunity.'

* Afghanistan's Karzai criticises US troop pullout Mr Karzai said that announcing a date for the withdrawal had given the Taliban insurgency "a morale boost".

* US Sends Ross to Talk Freeze United States diplomat Dennis Ross was in Israel Thursday.

* Hamas: PA can't give up Jerusalem in direct Mideast peace talks Palestinian negotiators are not mandated to surrender Jerusalem or any part of Palestine.

08/26/10

* Iran to Russia: Let's establish a nuclear consortium Iran has asked Russia to join forces in establishing a nuclear consortium to supply fuel for the newly operational Bushehr plant.

* Sarkozy warns world powers will mobilize against Iran if nuclear talks fail French President Nicolas Sarkozy told Iran on Wednesday that failure to reach a credible agreement over its nuclear program would force world powers to mobilize.

* PA quells talks opposition with force Palestinian Authority security forces on Wednesday used force to prevent dozens of Palestinians in Ramallah from voicing their opposition.

* Fighting breaks out in Lebanon between Sunnis and Hizbullah The Sunni community has begun to resist the Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah in Lebanon during the most serious political crisis in years.

* Why Obama can't help but promote an Islamic agenda President Obama has revealed his true nature. After 20 months in the Oval Office, he still remained a largely unknown figure.

* Abbas calls peace talks 'historic opportunity' After being forced to resume direct talks, Palestinians President Mahmoud Abbas called negotiations with Israel "a historic opportunity" to achieve peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

* Government slams Ashton's 'meddling' EU Foreign Policy chief Catherine Ashton's statement on Wednesday expressing "concern" at the conviction in a military court of a high profile protester of the West Bank security barrier at Bil'in raised the Foreign Ministry's ire.

* Ex-nuclear official: Iran has material for 1 to 2 atom bombs Iran has stockpiled enough low-enriched uranium for one to two nuclear weapons.

* It's Official: Turkey and Iran are Friends Amid concerns by Western countries of the warming of ties between Turkey and Iran, both of them Moslem but non Arab countries, it appears as though relations between the two countries are becoming stabilized.

* IDF to Establish Anti-Chemical Unit As chemical weapons become a concern of more and more individuals around the world, Israel's army is working out how to deal with this threat.

08/25/10

* Iran prepared to arm Lebanon 'if it seeks military assistance' Iran is prepared to sell weapons to Lebanon if Beirut asks for help in equipping its military.

* Dozens killed in wave of bombings across Iraq The deadliest killed 19 people in the southern city of Kut.

* Nasrallah: Lebanon must build nuclear reactor While a senior member of his organization was being killed, Hassan Nasrallah has his sights set on a nuclear reactor.

* Yesha Challenges Netanyahu to Sign Pledge to Renew Building Leaders of Judea and Samaria have challenged Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to fulfill his promise publically and declare the renewal of building on September 26.

* U.S. Weighs Expanded Strikes in Yemen U.S. officials believe al Qaeda in Yemen is now collaborating more closely with allies in Pakistan and Somalia to plot attacks against the U.S.

* Obama: Muslim or Christian? Most Americans, if not the media, want to know When questions came up during the campaign about Barack Obama's religious affiliation, his aides flatly asserted that he was a "practicing Christian" and was "baptized" in the Trinity United Church of Christ.

* Taliban could be misleading its forces The commandant of the Marine Corps said Tuesday that Taliban leaders may be misleading their own forces into believing that they only have to keep fighting through the middle of next year.

* Jews of all Generations Return to the Jewish Quarter Hundreds of Jewish residents of the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem came together yesterday for a multi-generational meeting.

* Weak US data shakes markets once again World stock markets fell further Wednesday as worries over the global economic recovery depressed investor sentiment and another batch of U.S. economic reports disappointed expectations.

* Egypt: 1st nuclear plant site announced Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak has instructed the government to start building the country's first nuclear power plant at a site on the Mediterranean coast.

08/24/10

* 'Israel will react to Iran accordingly' Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon this week told the Iranian people by radio that a regional war initiated by Teheran was a distinct possibility.

* 'Direct Talks' Scheduled for a Total of One Day Reporters were scratching their heads Monday as they tried to break through non-answers and flowery talk.

* Blair: Serious ideas needed for Mideast success Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has called on Israelis and Palestinians to bring serious proposals to a new round of peace talks.

* Strengthening Netanyahu: 'Don't Surrender to PA Blackmail' Israel's Land of Israel loyalists refuse to leave the playing field only to Mahmoud Abbas, Saeb Erekat, and other PA spokesmen.

* Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood launches 'Islamic Facebook' A senior member of the banned Islamist group says the aim is to spread awareness of moderate Islamic values.

* Opinion: Is Time a Muslim Magazine? I did not think that the pro-Muslim/pro-Islamist and anti-Western propaganda could get any worse-and yet it just has.

* US nuclear expert: Iran's nuclear clock ticking The Iranian nuclear clock is not slowing down, claims Prof. Gary Milhollin, director of the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control.

* Ashton set to take new office in EU nerve centre The EU is in talks to lease the so-called Triangle building in Brussels for its new diplomatic service.

* U.S. Meets Aug. 31 Troop Target in Iraq The American military said Tuesday that the number of troops in Iraq had dropped below 50,000.

* Afghan Taliban say Petraeus's progress "baffling" General David Petraeus told the BBC at the weekend that momentum by the Islamists had been checked in their strongholds in Kandahar and Helmand provinces.

08/23/10

* Ahmadinejad: Israel lacks courage to attack Iran Iranian leader tells Al Jazeera he doesn’t think threat of attack by US or Israel is 'serious'; says Persian Gulf states 'too smart' to allow use of US bases in their territory for strike on Tehran.

* Iran builds ambassador of death Ahmadinejad inaugurates first locally made unmanned long-range bomber.

* Abbas warns Ashton of threat to peace talks Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has warned in a letter to EU high representative Catherine Ashton that an end to Israel's partial settlement freeze would bring an immediate halt to direct peace talks.

* Iran: If attacked our response will be wide-ranging and unpredictable Iran Revolutionary Guards unveil new high-speed missile-carrying vessels, latest in series of recent additions to country's military arsenal.

* Combat brigades in Iraq under different name 7 Advise and Assist Brigades, made up of troops from BCTs, still in Iraq

* Iran unveils missile-launching boats Assault vessel with "high destructive power" to be mass produced.

* Sudan plans nuclear program Reactor is for "peaceful purposes"; IAEA travels to Khartoum

* Alien hunters should look for artificial intelligence A senior astronomer has said that the hunt for alien life should take into account alien sentient machines.

* Petraeus says US has momentum over Afghan Taliban General David Petraeus, the top commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, said the Afghan Taliban's momentum has been reversed in the southern provinces of Helmand and Kandahar, as well as near Kabul.

* Activists rally over Ground Zero mosque Hundreds gather in New York at two separate demonstrations.

08/21/10

* Israel and the Palestinians to resume direct talks Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas have been invited to Washington on 2 September to start the talks.

* PA: No talks if building resumes In an earlier reaction to the announcement made by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Erekat said Friday that he hoped the Quartet and others would work diligently to ensure the one-year time frame for talks is reached.

* Iran begins loading Bushehr nuclear reactor Russia will operate the Bushehr plant in southern Iran, supplying its nuclear fuel and taking away the nuclear waste.

* Ahmadinejad: Our response to attack would be worldwide As fueling of Bushehr nuclear power plant begins, Iranian president warns that a strike on Iran would be answered with "harsh and painful" retaliation.

* Lebanese ship postpones trip to Gaza The Mariam, a Lebanese vessel carrying women and journalists with an intended destination of Gaza has postponed its planned journey.

* The forbidden city 'Ramadan tours to Al-Quds: Make your pilgrimage to the holy mosques." "We offer you a pilgrimage to the sites that were undertaken by Jesus, a trip to the Holy Land, which is open to all citizens of the Kingdom."

* This week in history: First public radio broadcast On August 20, 1920, the radio station WWJ, known then by its call sign 8MK, aired the first public broadcast ever at 8:15 p.m.

* Army of diplomats takes the lead in fractious Iraq As the White House eagerly highlights the departure of U.S. combat troops from Iraq, the small army of American diplomats left behind is embarking on a long and perilous path.

* Palestinians see danger for Abbas in resumed Israel peace talks There was little for Palestinians to be upbeat about Friday as they waited for an official invitation to join Israel.

* The Moon is Shrinking, Like a Wrinkled Apple Scientists consider the Earth's only natural satellite to be a pristine environment, an "open book" where the history of the solar system is written.

08/20/10

* 'Al-Qaida prepares for Israel-Iran war' Al-Qaida is ready to exploit a war "by the Jews against Iran," the Sunni group's second-in-command in Yemen, Saeed al-Shehri, said.

* Obama to attend Mideast talks in Washington World powers facing a fateful deadline in the Middle East peace process will invite Israelis and Palestinians to begin direct talks on September 2 in Washington.

* 'Hizbullah should join Lebanese Army' Hizbullah forces should accept Lebanese Army command, Lebanese Forces party chief Samir Geagea proposed yesterday.

* President Apostate? Barack Obama has emerged as a classic example of charismatic leadership — a figure upon whom others project their own hopes and desires.

* U.S. Assures Israel That Iran Threat Is Not Imminent The Obama administration, citing evidence of continued troubles inside Iran's nuclear program, has persuaded Israel that it would take roughly a year - and perhaps longer - for Iran to complete what one senior official called a "dash" for a nuclear weapon.

* Iranian Nuclear Plant Opens Saturday, Russia Optimistic Russia's top nuclear official, Sergei Kiriyenko, expressed optimism Thursday over the expected operation of the first Iranian nuclear power plant beginning on Saturday.

* White House: Obama is Christian, prays daily US President Barack Obama is a Christian who prays daily, a White House official said Thursday, trying to tamp down growing doubts about the president's religion.

* Cyprus bans Gaza-bound ship from its waters A Lebanese ship carrying aid and women activists who want to "break the blockade on Gaza" will set sail Sunday.

* Floods expose civilian-military divide in Pakistan Massive flooding in Pakistan appears to be draining support for the already-weak civilian government while boosting the powerful military, a blow to U.S.

* Iraqis watch pullout with bitterness and fear Iraqis danced in the streets when US troops withdrew from their cities a little more than a year ago.

08/19/10

* Last U.S. Combat Brigade Leaves Iraq As their convoy reached the barbed wire at the border crossing out of Iraq on Wednesday, the soldiers whooped and cheered.

* U.S. support for Israel is decreasing, new poll shows American support for Israel is waning, a poll presented to senior Israeli officials in Jerusalem last week revealed.

* Majority Opposes Mosque, Many Distrust Muslims Opponents of the planned Islamic community center and mosque near Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan have public opinion firmly in their corner.

* Tel Aviv would be target in 'any future conflict' Israel has assessed that its financial center would be the first target in any regional war.

* More Americans are Seeing Obama as Muslim A new poll has found that many Americans perceive their president as a Muslim, even though he's not.

* Arabs terrorists preparing for war with Israel Hezbollah built an elaborate network of tunnels that will allow its members to fight a future war against Israel without being exposed to Air Force bombardments and IDF surveillance.

* Russia: Iran entitled to peaceful nuclear energy Russia's nuclear chief said Thursday that the startup of Iran's first nuclear power plant, set for this weekend, will demonstrate that Iran is entitled to peaceful use of nuclear energy under international supervision.

* Pakistan leader says militants could exploit flood Islamist terrorists may exploit the chaos and misery caused by the floods in Pakistan to gain new recruits.

* US 'ready' to unveil Middle East talks plan Both the US government and other international Quartet members have been working towards a formula to persuade both sides to begin negotiations, after several months of indirect talks.

* Survey: 'The whole world is against us' Both the US government and other international Quartet members have been working towards a formula to persuade both sides to begin negotiations, after several months of indirect talks.

08/18/10

* Iran atomic chief: No alternative to resistance in nuclear dispute Iran's atomic chief said the country had no alternative than resisting world powers in the dispute over its nuclear programs.

* UN official: Israel should extend freeze In a briefing to the Security Council at its meeting Tuesday morning on the Middle East, a senior United Nations official called on Israel to continue the partial moratorium on settlement construction.

* Israel's 'Judgment Day' shelters The new railway station being built at the entrance to Jerusalem will turn in times of emergency into an underground bomb shelter.

* Iran's secret pipeline into the U.S. Iran Air 744 is a bimonthly flight that originates in Tehran and flies directly to Caracas with periodic stops in Beirut and Damascus.

* Jerusalem Mufti: Watch Out for Religious War Is a Moslem cleric making one war-provoking statement too many?

* What happens in 50 years when the oil runs out? For some time now, flames can be seen shooting up from one of the drilling sites of Givot Olam Oil Exploration.

* Quartet dispute delays statement on direct talks A statement by the Quartet that was expected to lead to long-awaited direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians has been delayed.

* Rabbis call for fast to mark 5 yrs since disengagement A fast day has been called for Wednesday in commemoration of the synagogues of the Gaza Strip that were destroyed following the disengagement.

* Russian President Hosts Regional Summit Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday offered Pakistan support in dealing with catastrophic floods.

* Afghanistan Oil Discovery May Mean New Funds for Al-Qaeda The announcement Sunday by the Afghan government that geologists have discovered a mammoth oil field in northern Afghanistan may also have made the country a richer target for the Al-Qaeda terrorist group.

08/17/10

* Iran: Any attack on nuke plant would be an 'int'l crime' An attack on Iranian nuclear facilities would be an "international crime," Iranian nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi was quoted as saying Tuesday.

* US says China's military has seen secret expansion China has been upgrading its land-based missiles, expanding its submarine force and nuclear arsenal, the Pentagon's annual report to Congress said.

* Iran says to unveil array of weapons next week Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi said on Tuesday that Iran will unveil next week an array of weapons, including missiles, speedboats and a long range drone.

* Israeli report ties Hamas-backed militia group to Turkey's Erdogan Defectors from the ruling Fatah movement have established a militia with the help of a Turkish Islamist group linked to Prime Minister Recep Erdogan.

* Central Israel Oil Discovery: 1.5 Billion Barrels Estimates of the amount of oil in the Rosh HaAyin discovery have rises to 1.5 billion barrels, and there is more oil off-shore.

* F-35s Might Not Reach Israel in Time to Stop Iran Israel's announced approval for the purchase of 20 U.S. F-35 fighter planes has raised questions this week among the country's defense analysts.

* EU and US to hold summit in Lisbon The White House has confirmed that US President Barack Obama will meet EU leaders Herman Van Rompuy and Jose Manuel Barroso in Lisbon on 20 November.

* Russian Scholar Warns Of 'Secret' U.S. Climate Change Weapon As Muscovites suffer record high temperatures this summer, a Russian political scientist has claimed the United States may be using climate-change weapons to alter the temperatures and crop yields of Russia and other Central Asian countries.

* PA Gov't Supports Violence Against Israel - in Arabic The Palestinian Authority is continuing to express its support for violence against Israeli citizens in Arabic-language media.

* Suicide attack kills Iraqi army recruits in Baghdad At least 59 people have been killed in a suicide attack on an army recruitment centre in Baghdad.

08/16/10

* Barak approves purchase of F-35s Israel to receive first 20 fighters in 2015, cost estimated at $2.75b.

* Israel to reject preconditions Abbas to hold PLO C'tee meeting before deciding on direct talks.

* Arab League Lobbies to End Israel's Nuclear Ambiguity Arab League nations are lobbying the United States and other Western powers to end Israel's nuclear ambiguity.

* China passes Japan as No. 2 economy Beijing's $5 trillion GDP still far behind US's $15 trillion.

* Petraeus hedges on US exit date from Afghanistan The new commander of foreign forces in Afghanistan, Gen David Petraeus, says he will not be bound by a 2011 target date to start withdrawing US troops.

* N.Korea warns of severest punishment over war games North Korea's military threatened Sunday to launch the "severest punishment" against South Korea for staging massive joint war games with the United States this week.

* Attacks in Iraq Rise During Ramadan Another violent day following insurgents' threats to escalate their attacks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

* Muslims Set Aside $30 Million for Keeping Jerusalem Muslim The Holy Al Quds Fund announced that it will invest $30 million in projects for “safeguarding the Arabic and Islamic nature” of the Old City of Jerusalem.

* US warns Turkey that strained Israel ties could hinder arms deal Obama tells Turkish prime minister that Ankara's position on Israel and Iran could lower its chances of obtaining US weapons, the Financial Times reports.

* Ground Zero mosque must be built Hamas official: Muslims have right to build just like Jews.

08/14/10

* 'Syrian PM dismisses ME peace' Syrian Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-Otari dismissed the chances of peace ever being achieved in the Middle East in an interview with Syrian media.

* Ankara denies plans to arm Hizbullah Turkish foreign ministry officials denied reports that Ankara had agreed to Iranian requests to transfer missiles.

* Palestinians to decide on direct talks in two days, PA official says The Palestinian Authority is to decide on whether or not it intended to agree to direct Middle East peace talks in the next few days.

* Obama backs controversial plan for mosque near Ground Zero U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday backed construction of a proposed mosque and Muslim cultural center near the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in New York.

* Lebanon sets up fund to equip army Lebanon said on Saturday it was setting up a fund for Lebanese to help arm its under-equipped military, days after lawmakers in Washington blocked US military aid.

* Iran: Bushehr reactor to be activated mid September Iran said on Saturday that the nuclear reactor in Bushehr will be activated on September 16 despite Russia's announcement that it will be launched next week.

* Lebanese TV stations scrap Jesus show Two Shiite Muslim television stations in Lebanon canceled a controversial program about Jesus on Friday.

* Margaret Atwood / Mideast peace needs prophets, not yes-men "After I visited Israel and wrote "The Shadow Over Israel" for Haaretz, many people asked me what "my position" was.

* U.S. Sees North Korea as Rattling Sabers for Heir In the 16 years since he assumed his father’s role as North Korea’s sole leader, Kim Jong-il has been denounced by the United States as a vicious dictator who starves his people, runs gulags, sets off nuclear tests and orders attacks on South Korean ships.

* Hizbullah to give data to UN tribunal Hizbullah will provide the UN tribunal investigating the 2005 assaassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri with evidence.

08/13/10

* Turkey Accused of Using Chemical Weapons against PKK It would be difficult to exceed the horror shown in the photos, which feature burned, maimed and scorched body parts.

* Al-Qaeda Plots Against Saudi Monarchs, Israel Al-Qaeda leaders in Yemen have called to topple Saudi rulers and murder Christians living in Saudi Arabia.

* Powers drawing up framework for Mideast talks Major powers are working on a statement to set the basis for direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

* Palestinian Authority ready for peace talks, Ashton says The Palestinian Authority is ready for direct talks with Israel, with Ramallah likely to give a definitive go-ahead perhaps as early as Sunday.

* Israel aims to be space superpower Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is set to approve an ambitious plan to turn Israel into a satellite superpower.

* China PLA warns U.S. over fresh military drill in region China's People Liberation Army demanded a tough response to U.S. plans to send an aircraft carrier to naval exercises near its coast.

* Russia to begin loading fuel into Iran's nuclear reactor in 8 days Russia will begin to load fuel into the reactor at Iran's Bushehr nuclear power station on August 21.

* Brussels warns EU states to stick to austerity, despite return to growth The European Commission has told EU member states to stick to their austerity programmes on Friday.

* Lebanon TV stations scrap controversial Jesus show Two Shiite Muslim television stations in Lebanon canceled a controversial program about Jesus on Friday.

* Repercussions of an Israeli attack on Iran If Israel is likely to decide to attack Iran next summer, as argued in an Atlantic Monthly story by Jeffrey Goldberg out this week, the big question is, what happens in the aftermath?

08/12/10

* 'Iran to give Hizbullah weapons' Turkey and Iran are rumored to be helping Hizbullah obtain new weapons, Italian daily Corriere Della Sera reported.

* Iraqi general says planned US troop pull-out 'too soon' Lt Gen Babaker Zebari warned that the Iraqi military might not be ready to take control for another decade.

* IDF ups training in Golan Heights More military units are training in the live-fire zones across the Golan Heights.

* Assad, Iranian FM discuss 'Zionist threats' Damascus and Tehran continue to tighten ties. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus on Wednesday.

* Abbas, Abdullah, Mubarak meet in Cairo Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo Thursday.

* 'Reform Jews have their claws in Zion' Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar on Thursday expressed concern that Reform Jews are taking over Israel.

* US to sell Kuwait Patriot anti-ballistic missile system The Defense Security Co-operation Agency told Congress in a notice that Kuwait was seeking as many as 209 of the MIM-104E Patriot Guidance Enhanced Missile-T (GEM-T) interceptors.

* This week in history In search of freedom to worship and equal opportunities, Jacob Barsimson set sail from Holland to American on July 8, 1654, to become the first Jew to set foot in New York.

* EU tax and the ultimate surrender of Britain's sovereignty For decades the EU has been dreaming of the ultimate power grab over all our lives - and a story in yesterday's Daily Mail gave a very strong hint that Brussels is now planning to pull it off.

* Russian missile diplomacy surprises EU Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov neglected to mention to his EU counterpart Catherine Ashton on the phone on Wednesday (11 August) that Moscow was about to make a major security announcement on Georgia.

08/11/10

* 'More than 50% chance of attack on Iran' The chance that Israel will launch a military strike against Iran before next July is over 50 percent.

* In Mideast, Ramadan fast begins in sweltering heat Over a billion Muslims around the world began observing the holy month of Ramadan on Wednesday.

* Fears of al–Qaida return in Iraq as US–backed fighters defect Al-Qaida is attempting to make a comeback in Iraq by enticing scores of former Sunni allies to rejoin the terrorist group by paying them.

* Observing Ramadan? There's an app for that The most ancient traditions of Islam are going high-tech, with a slew of modern offerings for those observing the holy month of Ramadan, which begins this week.

* Saudi Arabia to test 'world's largest clock' Saudi Arabia will test what it is being billed as the world's largest clock in the holy city of Mecca during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

* Jews Sound Off against Iran's New Holocaust Denial Website Jews have come out swinging against a new Iranian Holocaust denial website.

* Russia 'deploys missiles' in breakaway region of Abkhazia The Georgian government - which refuses to acknowledge Abkhazia's independence - says it is "concerned" by the move.

* EU envoy to US flaunts new powers The EU's new ambassador to the US, Joao Vale de Almeida, has underlined the new powers conferred on EU envoys by the Lisbon Treaty.

* Lebanon rejects US concerns over military help Lebanon's defense minister says he would reject any American military assistance to the Lebanese army.

* Israel Prisons to Try 'Dazer Lasers' to Zap Terrorists The Israel Prison Service is are buying a new "Dazer Laser" system aimed at controlling disturbances with non-violent weapons.

08/10/10

* Hizbullah Calls on Lebanon to Shun US Aid and Turn to Iran A senior Hizbullah terrorist organization member and member of the Lebanese parliament called on the Beirut government to forget about obtaining ”conditional” American military aid.

* 'Iran digs mass graves for US troops' In a morbid show of bravado, Iran has dug mass graves for US troops should the United States decide to implement Adm. Mike Mullen's contingency plan to strike Iran.

* 'Anti-Semitism is worse in 2010 than 1910' Times are dire, anti-Semitism is on the rise and the world is becoming a more perilous place for the Jews to live in by the day.

* Iran Turns the Tables on US, Calls it World's Leader in Terror Iran says the United States "is calling the kettle black" by saying it leads the world in terror.

* Mitchell arrives amid low hopes US Middle East envoy George Mitchell arrived on Monday evening for two days of talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

* Jordanians Burn Israel Flag, Protest Need for Visa for Jerusalem A group of Jordanian Islamists staged a sit-in Monday night and burned an Israeli flag in front of Jordan's Tourism Ministry in Amman.

* Russia battles to defend nuclear sites from fires Russia fought a deadly battle Tuesday to prevent wildfires from engulfing key nuclear sites.

* U.S. turns over remaining combat duties to Iraq; 16 die in violent attacks in several cities The U.S. military formally handed over all combat duties to the Baghdad government on Aug. 7.

* Black sea for warships to hold drills Aug. 11-30 Warships from the Black Sea Naval Group, the Blackseafor, will conduct three-week drills starting on Wednesday.

* Discovering the Underwater Missions Unit In honor of Israeli Navy Week, the Navy has released a collection of exciting photographs from the tiny, little-known, critical Underwater Missions Unit.

08/09/10

* Inside Look at Advanced Hamas Arsenal Gaza's ruling Hamas terrorist organization has managed to amass an advanced arsenal as it prepares to wage war against Israel, despite the best efforts of the Jewish State to prevent the entry of materials that would allow the group to manufacture the advanced weapons.

* Giant Brazilian Temple Replica Panned as 'Mockery' Temple Institute in Jerusalem says plan by a controversial Brazilian Pentecostal church to build a mammoth $200 million Holy Temple replica is "self-aggrandizement."

* Egyptian minister calls on Muslims to flood J’lem Arab pilgrims seen as more effective than the failed boycott.

* US to sell Saudis F-15 fighter jets Long-range weaponry reportedly not included in proposed $30b. deal.

* Russian textbook seen as anti-Semitic Russian Ministry of Education approved the book on country's history.

* Germany closes jihad-linked mosque Sept. 11 attackers once frequented Taiba prayer house.

* Turkey names new military chiefs after row Turkey's government has appointed generals to two top posts, ending a stand-off with the military.

* India Asks, Should Food Be a Right for the Poor? Inside the drab district hospital, where dogs patter down the corridors, sniffing for food, Ratan Bhuria’s children are curled together in the malnutrition ward, hovering at the edge of starvation. His daughter, Nani, is 4 and weighs 20 pounds.

* Gaza Arabs Get Second Chance on Greenhouses The U.S. will be giving Gaza Arabs a second chance, providing them with new greenhouses to replace the Gush Katif originals they demolished.

* Israeli PM: Turkey looked for a fight on ship Israel's prime minister defended the deadly commando raid on an international flotilla protesting the Gaza blockade before an internal inquiry commission Monday, suggesting that Turkey had sought the violent confrontation on the high seas.

08/07/10

* Suleiman vows better weapons The president of Lebanon toured Saturday the area where IDF soldiers and Lebanese army forces clashed on Tuesday resulting in the deaths of three Lebanese soldiers, a Lebanese journalist and an Israel soldier.

* Hamas official met in Israel A Hamas leader reportedly met with Israeli officials this week in a secret meeting in Netanya.

* State sponsors of terror: Iran, Sudan, Cuba, Syria The State Department has cited four state sponsors of groups designated as terrorist, although two of the governments were said to have cooperated with the United States in the area of counter-insurgency.

* IHH: Marmara may return to Gaza The group behind a convoy to Gaza that ended when the IDF stormed the ships and killed nine activists said on Saturday it may use the vessels for another run on the blockade.

* Iran's Ahmadinejad doubts Sept 11 attack toll Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Saturday the September 11, 2001 attacks were exaggerated in a fresh broadside at the United States.

* Foreign medical workers among 10 killed in Afghanistan The foreigners are believed to be six Americans, one Briton and a German, who worked for an international charity providing eye care and medical help.

* Turkish court annuls arrest warrants over 'coup plot' The officers - who include 25 generals and admirals - were indicted in July.

* Hamas accuses Israel of Eilat rockets Hamas accused Israel Saturday of launching the rockets that struck near Eilat and Jordan last week.

* Cameron, Obama push for ME talks British Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack Obama agreed during a telephone conversation on Friday that there is an urgent need for Middle East peace talks.

* US Report on Terror Says Israel's Cast Lead Was a Success The United States State Department has released its annual report on worldwide terrorism.

08/06/10

* New Al Qaida chief is former US resident A suspected Al Qaida operative who lived for more than 15 years in the United States has become chief of the terror network's global operations.

* Hamas leaders in Syria urge West Bank operatives to kidnap Israeli settlers The Israel Defense Forces West Bank division commander, Brig. Gen. Nitzan Alon, has warned Israeli settlers to be on alert for possible abduction attempts across the territory.

* UN Teaches Jihad in Jerusalem The Palestinian Authority continues to incite young schoolchildren to armed struggle against Israel in its textbooks.

* Shin Bet head in Egypt The Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) head Yuval Diskin met with Egyptian officials on Thursday to discuss the Grad rockets fired at Eilat.

* U.S. Links Suspects to Somalia Federal prosecutors filed terrorism-related charges against 14 U.S. residents and citizens, accusing them of providing money, recruits and other support to the Somali Islamist group al-Shabaab.

* Poland becoming an EU 'leader,' new president says Poland's new President Bronislaw Komorowski described Poland as a leading EU power.

* Iran brings forward plan for manned space flight Iran plans to launch a manned spacecraft in seven years' time.

* Russia fires pose nuclear threat The Russian government warned on Thursday (6 August) that raging wildfires could pose a nuclear threat to neighbouring countries.

* US releases 2009 terror report The US State Department on Friday released a report on terrorism in the Middle East and North Africa.

* Saudis coaxing PA to enter direct talks Saudi Arabia is urging Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to enter direct talks with Israel.

08/05/10

* Ex-CIAers to Obama: Israel Might Attack Iran This Month A group of former CIA officials warns U.S. President Obama that Israel might attack Iran "even within a month."

* Dayan: Israel Must Fight to Win Gen. (res.) Uzi Dayan, head of the National Security Council, says that the recent skirmish in Lebanon that exacted the price of one dead officer and another seriously wounded one must serve as a general warning bell: "Wars have to be fought in order to win."

* Preparing for future wars Israel Air Force deployments in various European states are always classified.

* Iran launches cartoon website aimed at questioning the Holocaust Iran has launched a website with cartoons on the Holocaust aimed at undermining the historic dimensions of the mass murder of Jews during World War II.

* Britain's new export: Islamist carnage In all, 28 countries have come under assault from British-based Islamist terrorists, giving some idea of their global menace.

* Terrorism Under the Guise of a University? A university in the United States has recently been the subject of Internet blogs due to the disturbing information it provides on its website.

* Lebanese army rep: Border skirmish calculated decision During a meeting with IDF and UNIFIL representatives at the Naqoura crossing Wednesday night, a senior Lebanese army officer said Tuesday's deadly border incident was initiated by Lebanese soldiers.

* Reaching for the stars Space, the final frontier. The day that astronauts clad in blue-and-white space suits are launched beyond planet Earth to conduct research.

* Abbas sets conditions for direct talks with Israel Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he was ready for direct negotiations with Israel.

* China Rejects US Concerns about Deals with Iran China has defended its business ties with Iran after a United States official urged Beijing to fully implement sanctions against Tehran.

08/04/10

* Ahmadinejad convoy attacked in suspected assassination attempt Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was unharmed by an attack with a homemade explosive device on his motorcade during a visit to the western city of Hamadan on Wednesday.

* Iran official: We have obtained the S-300 missile system A semiofficial Iranian news agency says Iran has obtained four S-300 surface-to-air missiles despite Russia's refusal to deliver them.

* Russia carriers seen docking in Syria by 2013 Russia is proceeding with plans to enable major warships to anchor in Syria.

* Egypt Says Gaza-Based Terrorists Fired on Eilat from Sinai Egyptian security sources admitted Wednesday that Monday’s rocket attack on Eilat was launched from within its territory in the Sinai.

* Lebanon: We fired first at IDF unit near Israel border The Lebanese Army was first to open fire in the recent fatal border clash with Israel Defense Forces soldiers.

* Neighbors / Who needs the Taliban? Can the tens of thousands of documents on the Afghan war revealed on the WikiLeaks website serve as evidence for putting the site's founder and director on trial?

* Facebook page decries 'Jewish invasion' A Facebook page noting the increased presence of Orthodox Jews in the Irish town of Midleton appeared online earlier this week.

* Exploding star 'viewed in 3D' Astronomers have for the first time obtained a 3D view of the aftermath of a star exploding (which is known as a supernova).

* Why is Lebanon So Tense? Lebanese leaders referred to Israeli "aggression" -- a "violation of Lebanese sovereignty" in which an Israeli patrol crossed into Lebanon to trim trees.

* IAEA may send inspectors to Syria The IAEA may consider a special inspection of Syria to answer nagging questions over its nuclear activities.

08/03/10

* IDF soldier, 4 Lebanese dead in clashes One IDF soldier was killed and another critcially wounded during an exchange of fire with Lebanese forces on the northern border on Tuesday.

* Assad: We'll support Lebanon in face of criminal Israeli aggression Tuesday's deadly exchange of fire between Israel and the Lebanese army along Israel's northern border sparked outrage among Arab leaders.

* U.S. Army homosexual tied to WikiLeaks scandal The American soldier at the center of the scandal involving the theft and release of classified military information that could cost the lives of U.S. military personnel was "openly homosexual" and apparently held a grudge against the U.S. military's anti-gay policy.

* Jihadi Animated Clip Shows Sword Decapitating Obama New jihadi anti-American incitement features an animated clip of a sword beheading U.S. President Barack Obama.

* Turkey Summons Israel Ambassador over Barak Remark Turkey has summoned Israel's ambassador in Ankara, Gabi Levy, to a diplomatic dressing-down following remarks by Defense Minister Ehud Barak Sunday.

* Partial US Withdrawal from Iraq as Al-Qaeda Strengthens The "pullout" from Iraq announced by U.S. President Barack Obama Monday in truth is only partial.

* Zionist Internet Struggle to Hit Wikipedia The Yisrael Sheli (My Israel) movement and the Yesha Council, which represents Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, have joined together for a new public relations initiative.

* Will the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq threaten Saudi Arabia and Israel? Punctuality is a requirement that annoys every soldier. Diplomats and politicians generally know how to avoid being on time.

* Is the Middle East on the Brink of a New Regional War? Tuesday's cross-border firefight between Israeli and Lebanese government forces might simply have been a misunderstanding.

* Mosque Near Ground Zero Clears Key Hurdle After a protracted battle that set off a national debate over freedom of religion, a Muslim center and mosque to be built two blocks from ground zero surmounted a final hurdle on Tuesday.

08/02/10

* Mullen: US has viable Iran attack plan Think tank: Fear keeps Israel, Hizbullah from new war.

* Israel fears Turks could pass its secrets to Iran Defence minister Barak makes rare intelligence complaint

* How the churches intend to increase their influence in the EU When the Treaty of Lisbon was signed, it brought into effect a clause that gives special consultation rights to religious organizations.

* Mayor's Vision for Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat has outlined his vision for Jerusalem's future.

* Ahmadinejad challenges Obama to TV debate on solving world's problems Proposal comes as Iran deals with a new wave of international sanctions - driven by Washington - aimed at pressuring the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program.

* Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood to boycott elections Main opposition group will not participate in November 9 vote.

* Obama confirms plan for US troop withdrawal from Iraq US President Barack Obama has confirmed the end of all combat operations in Iraq by August 31.

* Fayyad rejects bi-national state idea PA prime minister: Unilateral declaration of statehood a pipedream.

* US warns N. Korea, Iran: Abandon nukes Pyongyang believed to have plutonium for at least 6 nuclear bombs.