Thursday, July 08, 2010

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."