Thursday, March 11, 2010

03/11/10

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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