01/31/13

* Why Israel might have felt the imperative to strike in Syria Some 24 hours after the air strikes in Syria, the facts and claims do not yet piece together into a coherent puzzle.

* Russia concerned with Israeli 'attack' in Syria Russia said on Thursday it was very concerned about reports of an Israeli attack in Syria and that any such action, if confirmed, would amount to unacceptable military interference in the war-ravaged country.

* 'Assad transferred chemical weapons to Hezbollah' The Saudi-based newspaper Al-Watan on Thursday reported that the Syrian regime has transferred non-conventional weapons to Hezbollah.

* Ban 'gravely concerned' over alleged Israel strike in Syria UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed "grave concern" on Thursday over reports that Israeli jets bombed a convoy near the Lebanese border.

* IAF Chief: 'Huge Weapons Arsenal' in Syria Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel, Commander of the IAF, described the chaotic threat facing Israel from its neighbors.

* Party leaders meet with president to nominate PM Even though it was a given that Labor would not enter a coalition led by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, party leader Shelly Yacimovich made the position clear Thursday after meeting with President Shimon Peres.

* EA boss denies video games encourage violent attacks The boss of Electronic Arts (EA) has denied there is any link between video game content and "actual violence".

* UN: Israel Must Withdraw From Judea, Samaria The United Nations says Israel must withdraw all of its citizens from the regions of Judea and Samaria.

* Netanyahu hints Israel can't destroy Iran nuke program Israel could do "significant damage" to Iran's nuclear program in a military strike.

* Nato chief: EU must spend more on military ato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen has urged EU countries to spend more on defence despite the economic crisis or risk losing US solidarity.