Wednesday, December 19, 2012

12/19/12

* 'All Israeli governments have built in Jerusalem. We're not going to change that,' PM tells envoys Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday reiterated Israel's right to build in the eastern neighborhoods of Jerusalem.

* Abbas offers to take in Palestinian refugees from Syrian civil war The Palestinian president said Wednesday he is ready to take in Palestinian refugees fleeing Syria's civil war.

* State Dept security chief resigns after Benghazi Three State Department officials resigned under pressure Wednesday, less than a day after a damning report blamed management failures for a lack of security at the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya.

* Chinese dig in for 'approaching doomsday' Apocalypse now? For many Chinese and other doomsayers, the end of the world is indeed nigh.

* Analysis: IAF preparing surprises for enemies During Operation Pillar of Defense last month, the air force struck 1,500 targets throughout Gaza over the course of eight days.

* Jerusalem Official Complains of Temple Mount Discrimination Jerusalem city council member Yair Gabai told Arutz Sheva of his first-hand humiliation and of discrimination against Jews.

* European Union Observers Rebuffed Again by Hamas EU monitors have once again been told by Hamas their services are "not required" at the border crossing between Gaza and Egypt.

* UN Chief Warns Israel: Housing Plans 'Dangerous Path' The United Nations on Wednesday called on Israel to cancel plans to build thousands of new Jewish homes in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem.

* Rebels Concerned Over Syria's Chemical Weapons Rebels now control more and more of Syria's territory, but a new problem has arisen, observers say.

* Tau Ceti's planets nearest around single, Sun-like star The nearest single Sun-like star to the Earth hosts five planets - one of which is in the "habitable zone" where liquid water can exist, astronomers say.