Saturday, May 22, 2010

05/22/10

* Hizbullah arms of 'grave concern' The US has "grave concerns" about Syria's arming of Hizbullah in Lebanon.

* Lebanon PM slams Israel defense drill Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Saturday lashed out at Israel's defense exercises and said they ran counter to current Middle East peace efforts.

* Israel military planners see West Bank takeover Officials said Israel's military has been preparing for the prospect that it would be required to recapture the West Bank as part of any regional war.

* Lebanon PM: International community must take responsibility for Middle East peace Ahead of a trip to Washington, Lebanese Prime Minister Said Hariri called on the international community to step up pressure on Israel and the Palestinians to strike a peace deal.

* Erdogan: Support nuclear deal Turkey's prime minister is seeking international support for a deal under which Iran would ship much of its low-enriched uranium to Turkey.

* US, Egypt seek Mideast nuclear arms ban deal The United States and Egypt are working to bridge differences on a proposed Middle East nuclear arms ban.

* Proximity talks off to rocky start US envoy George Mitchell left Israel on Thursday afternoon, ending the second round of proximity talks.

* Ya'alon: Building to resume in September Vice Premier Moshe Ya’alon vowed on Thursday evening that settlement construction will resume when the moratorium on housing starts expires on September 26.

* EU Diplomat Quits Delegation Over 'Anti-Israel Propaganda' Italian Member of European Parliament Gabriele Albertini, a senior foreign relations official, has stepped out of a delegation to Israel.

* US Congress Approves Iron Dome Spending The United States Congress voted Thursday to approve $205 million in aid to Israel for the Iron Dome missile defense system.

* Merkel and Cameron disagree on EU treaty change UK Prime Minister David Cameron on Friday (21 May) rejected the the idea of a new EU treaty change to accommodate German chancellor Angela Merkel's vision of stronger economic co-ordination in the EU.