05/31/13

* Assad: Arab world ready to join fight against Israel Syrian President Bashar Assad told Al-Manar TV on Thursday that "there is pressure by the people to open a new front on the Golan."

* Netanyahu Tells Putin: We'll Destroy S-300s Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu hinted in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that if Russia sends S-300 missiles to Syria, Israel will destroy them before they become operational.

* State Dept.: Iran Increased Support for Global Terrorism in 2012 Iran boosted in 2012 its support for global terrorism to levels not seen for two decades.

* Merkel and Hollande call for full-time euro President One day after he rejected EU "dictates" on economic policy, French leader Francois Hollande and Germany's Angela Merkel have called for the creation of a full-time euro "President."

* Russia to provide Syria with MiG-29 fighter planes The head of aircraft maker MiG said on Friday that Russia was counting on providing Syria with 10 MiG-29 fighter planes.

* Palestinians, US upset by east Jerusalem building Israeli officials on Thursday tried to douse a diplomatic fire Channel 10 ignited with its report about two building projects in Jewish neighborhoods of east Jerusalem.

* US calls for honest talks with China on cyber threats US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has called for honest dialogue with his Chinese counterparts about cyber threats and online spying.

* Eurozone unemployment reaches new record high in April Unemployment in the eurozone has reached another record high.

* In a hospital parking lot, Israel prepares for chemical war The IDF's Home Front Command on Wednesday simulated a chemical weapons missile strike in the capital with thousands of wounded and hundreds of dead.

* Netanyahu to spend another $350 million so every Israeli has gas mask Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking Thursday at a meeting concluding this week's Home Front drill, instructed government ministries to equip all of Israel's residents with gas mask kits.

05/30/13

* Israel could hit S-300 missiles in Syria Israel could overcome advanced S-300 anti-aircraft missiles if they were deployed in Syria but any strikes on the system would be difficult and risk alienating its supplier, Russia.

* Hamas denies Hezbollah booting it out of Lebanon Hamas on Thursday denied that its members had been told by Hezbollah they were no longer welcome in Lebanon.

* Israel 'the most threatened state in the world,' says PM Facing the threat of thousands of enemy rockets, Israel's home front is more vulnerable than ever.

* Iraq violence 'ready to explode' - UN envoy Martin Kobler urged Iraq's political leaders to "engage immediately to pull the country out of this mayhem".

* Syrian president says army 'has balance of power' The Syrian army has scored "major victories" against rebels and now holds "the balance of power" in the conflict.

* America's China mistake This spring, China's navy accepted the Pentagon's invitation to participate in the 2014 Rim of the Pacific.

* Russia weapons transfer could bring war, Likud MK says If Russia completes the sale of sophisticated S-300 missile defense systems to Syria.

* National parliaments eclipsed by EU powers The EU financial crisis has prompted centralisation of economic and budgetary powers in Brussels.

* US defends EU allies on arms-to-Syria US diplomats have defended Britain and France over their dismantling of the EU arms embargo on Syria..

* Russian, US, UN sets date for Syria peace talks Russian, US and UN officials will meet next week to discuss ways to bring the warring sides in Syria together for a peace conference.

05/29/13

* 'Israel home front defense world's most advanced' Israel has the world's most advanced - and most threatened - home front defense, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said.

* Norway paper's cartoon 'so anti-Semitic it would have made Hitler weep with joy' Jewish groups on Wednesday sharply condemned Norway's third-largest paper, Dagbladet, for publishing a cartoon.

* Netanyahu: We Anticipate a Deterioration Israel is gearing up for a deterioration in the regional situation.

* 'This Isn't Jerusalem, it's Palestine' Ten years ago Batya Kayman and her newlywed husband decided to move from New York to Jerusalem and to build their home in the Jewish state.

* Basic Law Amendment 'Inspired' By Declaration of Independence There is no contradiction between the proposed amendment to the Israeli Basic Law-which affirms the state of Israel's Jewish identity-and the country's democratic value system.

* Fighting in Syria, Hezbollah charts risky course The giant posters of Hezbollah fighters killed in Lebanon's wars with Israel still dot the picturesque landscape of southern Lebanon.

* Pride Month to bring over 20,000 tourists Israel's Pride Month events will kick off this Friday in Tel Aviv.

* Rebels to Hizbullah: Stop Attacking Us Or We'll Hunt You to Hell An official with the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) warned the Hizbullah terror group on Tuesday to end its involvement in the Syrian conflict and stop backing government troops.

* Bennett: Israel Belongs to the Jews, Period The only way to fight anti-Semitism and any racism is "to call a spade a spade" and speak the truth, said Minister Naftali Bennett.

* Netanyahu sets goal of 10 million tourists a year Israel should have 10 million tourists a year within the decade, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told participants at the Second Jerusalem International Tourism Summit.

05/28/13

* Russian arms 'to deter foreign intervention in Syria' Russia says it will go ahead with deliveries of S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Syria, and that the arms will help deter foreign intervention.

* Saudi Arabia warns against Iran's nuclear program Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal has warned against the danger of Iran's nuclear program to the region's security.

* US Senate demands support for Israeli strike on Iran Israelis were relieved to hear of last week's near-unanimous passing of a US Senate resolution demanding full American support.

* Yaalon: We'll Know what to Do If Syria Gets S-300 Israel "will know what to do" if Russia delivers highly advanced anti-aircraft missiles to Syria, Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said.

* Islam taking over, Europe soon to be unrecognizable The murder of a soldier in London, the stabbing of a soldier in Paris and the violent outbreak in Sweden.

* Western Wall project threatens history, archaeologists warn Archaeologists expressed deep concern over construction and renovation works at the Western Wall enclosure in Jerusalem's Old City.

* Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah clinically dead Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz is reported to be clinically dead as the monarch is not recently seen in the public.

* Keep Israel's gas at home, urge a growing body of experts Once victim to the vicissitudes of the oil marketplace, Israel is now - conventional wisdom has it - on the road to energy independence.

* Chinese hackers breach key US weapons designs Chinese hackers have compromised the designs of some of America's most sensitive and advanced weapons systems.

* Hizbullah-trained Syrian militias expanding reach with incentives, Iran funding The new paramilitary force of President Bashar Assad has been rapidly expanding amid Iranian funding and victories over Sunni rebels.

05/27/13

* Americans gather to honor fallen service members Americans planned to gather at cemeteries, memorials and monuments nationwide to honor fallen military service members on Memorial Day, at a time when combat in Afghanistan approaches 12 years and the ranks of World War II veterans dwindles.

* Syria fighting rages, more chemical attacks reported (Reuters) - Heavy fighting raged around the strategic Syrian border town of Qusair and the capital Damascus on Monday and further reports surfaced of chemical weapons attacks by President Bashar al-Assad's forces on rebel areas.

* Nasrallah: If Syria Falls, Israel will Win Syria is 'the rear guard' of Hizbullah, says Nasrallah. "We are idiots if we do not act" to save Assad.

* Expert: Assad May Choose 'Samson Option' Dr. Mordechai Kedar says Assad could attack Israel viciously if he has nothing to lose.

* Sky apps defaced by Syrian Electronic Army hackers Several of Sky's Android apps have been removed from the Google Play store after they were targeted by the Syrian Electronic Army hacking collective.

* Syria conflict: EU considers amending arms embargo EU foreign ministers are discussing UK and French calls to ease sanctions so Syria rebels can be supplied with arms.

* Feiglin: Netanyahu Takes Orders from Waqf Likud MK hopes Coalition Chairman Levin will come around and support him vis-a-vis PM in Temple Mount row.

* Kerry Announces Plan to Boost PA Economy U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry unveils plan to boost the PA's economy by attracting $4 billion in private investment.

* '5,000 Hezbollah troops in Syria, with 5,000 more set to join them' Israel should try to stay out, but is increasingly likely to be drawn into the conflict, expert tells the World Economic Forum.

* Tehran deploys 'massive' number of missile launchers Iranian defense minister says new weapons, capable of reaching Israel, can 'crush the enemy/ - but Iran won't start hostilities.

05/25/13

* How Iranian weapons go through Syria to Hezbollah In the last few months, electricity and telephone services have been occasionally disrupted without warning in various areas of the Bekaa Valley and other regions.

* 'Assad has enough sarin to wipe out Damascus' The regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad has enough of the nerve gas sarin to "eradicate the whole of Damascus, Homs, Hama and Aleppo".

* Abbas: Two states 'side by side' still possible Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Saturday that peace with Israel is still possible.

* Hezbollah No. 2: Assad serious about Golan front After the stray bullets from Syria turned into intentional fire, and while Israel is increasing its alert level, Hezbollah's deputy leader appears to be fanning the flames.

* Jordan: Extremism has 'grown fat' on Mideast conflict Jordan's King Abdullah II said Saturday extremism has "grown fat" off of the longstanding conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

* African Union leaders mark 50th anniversary in Ethiopia Africa's 54 leaders are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity.

* France army in key Mali withdrawal A convoy of dozens of lorries left a base outside the capital, Bamako, on its way south to Ivory Coast.

* Planetary alignment peaks with celestial show this weekend Venus and Jupiter, the two brightest planets in the sky this month, will be joined by tiny Mercury for a rare celestial show this weekend.

* Obama speech suggests possible expansion of drone killings President Barack Obama on Thursday defended his administration's use of drone strikes to kill terrorists as effective.

* 'Syrian hackers attempted to attack Haifa's water supply' Syrian web activists loyal to the regime of Basher Assad launched a failed cyber attack on Haifa's water supply system.

05/24/13

* Israel says Iran unaffected by world pressure Israel's prime minister says a new report by the U.N. atomic agency shows that international pressure is having no effect on halting Iran's suspect nuclear program.

* Column One: Thank you, Hafez Assad The threats emanating from Syria have become downright frightening.

* 'Anonymous' a little less so, thanks to Israeli hackers After April's largely unsuccessful campaign by Anonymous and Arab hackers, #OpIsrael, to “remove Israel from the Internet," a second round of hack attacks against Israeli sites, "OpIsrael Reloaded," is planned for Saturday.

* Kerry urges renewed talks, not a settlement freeze US Secretary of State John Kerry urged Israel's government on Friday to prevent further settlement construction.

* Israel low in global popularity ranking A poll released Tuesday by the BBC confirms Israel remains one of the world's least popular countries.

* Hague: Israel losing UK support due to settlements Israel has lost support in Britain and other European countries over time due to settlement activities.

* Russia says Syria agrees in principle to conference Russia said on Friday the Syrian government had agreed in principle to attend an international peace conference proposed by Russia and the United States.

* Sinai is becoming a major threat to Egypt There was a happy ending for the six policemen and the soldier kidnapped last week in the Sinai Peninsula.

* New book: Could Germany have a Jewish chancellor? A new novel about a neo-Nazi plot to assassinate Germany's first Jewish candidate for Chancellor has shed a timely light on the right-wing extremist violence.

* Britain braces for possible copycat attacks Britain is bracing for clashes with right-wing extremists and possible copycat terror attacks after the brutal slaying of a young soldier.

05/23/13

* Cameron condemns brutal hacking death, says Britain stands firm A gruesome cleaver attack on a British soldier left London reeling Thursday.

* Israeli general warns air force will strike Syrian weapons facilities if nation collapses Israel's air force commander, Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel, said yesterday that the sudden collapse of Syria would oblige Israel to undertake a massive attack "within hours.".

* Muslim clerics visit Nazi death camp Imams from the US and several Muslim countries are touring Poland this week to learn more about European Jewry.

* Golden Dawn: Kill Others, Not Yourselves Commenting on the recent rise in suicides in Greece due to the country’s dire economic situation, a leading lawmaker of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party urged nationals to "kill those who are responsible for their problems".

* Houses, fences and fruit trees: A decade of watching settlements grow It has been just over a decade since Dror Etkes began criss-crossing the West Bank.

* 'UN report stokes concern over Iran nuke program' Iran's expansion of sensitive nuclear activity breaks United Nations resolutions and increases concerns about whether its nuclear program is entirely peaceful, the European Union said.

* France backs call to put Hezbollah on EU terror list France is ready to support a British initiative to put the armed wing of Hezbollah on the European Union's list of terrorist organization.

* Senate: US must back Israel in case of Iran strike The Democratic-led Senate voted 99-0 - with one senator not present - on Wednesday night.

* US report warns on China IP theft The study, led by former top-ranking officials, said China was thought to be behind 50-80% of the theft.

* Livni: Coming days critical for Israel-Palestinian talks The coming days are critical for the efforts to rekindle the frozen Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

05/22/13

* Amid Syria tensions, IAF chief says 'surprise war' a threat A day after the IDF and the Syrian Army exchanged fire in the Golan Heights, Israel Air Force chief Maj.-Gen. Amir Eshel warned that Israel must be prepared for a "surprise war" developing.

* Israel to hold massive chemical warfare drill The Home Front Command on Wednesday was preparing for a massive military drill next week.

* Iraqi premier orders army shake-up after attacks Iraq's prime minister has ordered a shake-up of his military command after a weeklong spike of militant attacks.

* Syrians reported attacking the Israelis on daily basis along Golan Heights Israel and Syria have been engaged in an increasingly bitter border war.

* Did ancient beams discarded in Old City come from first and second temples? Under a tarp in one little-visited corner of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem lies a pile of rotting timber that would hardly catch a visitor's eye.

* EU tax: Barroso urges full automatic exchange of data Jose Manuel Barroso said he would urge Wednesday's summit of EU leaders to support automatic exchange of people's earnings data between tax authorities.

* UK: Iran, Hezbollah increasing support for Assad British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Wednesday Iran and its militant Shi'ite Lebanese ally Hezbollah were "propping up" Syrian President Bashar Assad.

* 'Gas discoveries give Israel new regional clout' Israel's newfound natural gas reserves will boost its regional clout.

* 'US VP Biden lauds Jewish drive for gay rights' US Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday night lauded the influence of Judaism on the United States, specifically mentioning the efforts of Jews on gay rights issues.

* Britain files request for EU sanctions on Hezbollah The UK has asked EU countries to designate the military wing of Lebanese group Hezbollah as a terrorist entity.

05/21/13

* Massing on the Heights Iran and its terror proxy Hezbollah are building a military force on Israel's northern border in the Golan Heights.

* Oklahoma tornado: Search for survivors continues Emergency workers in the US are continuing to search for survivors of the gigantic tornado that tore through a suburb of Oklahoma City on Monday.

* Israel world's largest exporter of drones, report says Israel is the world's largest exporter of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) in terms of volume, variety of systems and countries exported to.

* Bombshell in the Benghazi e-mails: The CIA warned of impending jihadist attack The White House recently released more than 100 pages of e-mails between the CIA, State Department and the White House regarding the now infamous talking points.

* Gaza Students: Clean the World of Jews The Hamas-affiliated student union in Gaza published a cartoon Tuesday.

* Defense Minister: We Destroyed Syrian Target Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon and the IDF said Tuesday that Israel has destroyed an unspecified Syrian target.

* IDF chief issues stern warning to Assad over rapidly heating border Israel's military chief issued a severe warning to Bashar Assad on Tuesday.

* Anti-Israel NGOs receive US funding A report presented to members of Congress on Tuesday by Jerusalem-based research institute NGO Monitor shows that US Government funding of several political NGOs in the Palestinian Authority and Israel contradicts US policy.

* Pope Francis 'performs first exorcism' According to TV2000, a Catholic television channel, the act was carried out in St Peter's Square after Mass on Sunday.

* Top politicians banned from Iranian election Iranian authorities have barred two prominent politicians from running for president.

05/20/13

* New video explores Jewish right to the Temple Mount Featuring historian Sir Martin Gilbert, the short film is a reaction to modern Muslim attempts to minimize the Jewish connection to Jerusalem.

* 'J'lem shouldn't be capital of Palestinian state' Lapid to NYT: I won't obstruct settlements' "natural expansion"; J'lem should stay in Israeli hands, according to 1967 lines.

* Syria training advanced missiles on Tel Aviv - report Damascus has put Tishreen rockets on standby to retaliate if Israeli planes hit again, Sunday Times claims.

* Despite secrecy, interest builds around mysterious First Temple find outside Bethlehem A 2,800-year-old pillar discovered by a tour guide under a Palestinian orchard points to major construction dating from Biblical times. So why isn't it being excavated?

* Anonymous 'gold bugs' to hack oil, national sites The international group wants to replace dollars with precious metals, and will be attacking a dozen countries, including Israel, to make its point.

* Intertwined fates: The Lebanon-Syria-Iran axis Jerusalem has drawn red lines over the proliferation of strategic arms to Hezbollah; Syria, Iran or Hezbollah could, at any time, decide to test these, even though it would endanger Assad's gains against the rebels.

* Iran dispatches warship to shadow Gulf exercises Iran has dispatched one of its newest warships to shadow the world's biggest mine-hunting exercise that has been taking place over the last few days in the Gulf.

* Big Bang: Biggest meteorite explosion rocks the moon NASA scientists have recorded the biggest observed meteorite impact on the moon, with an explosion equal to 5 tons of TNT. The event is part of 'lunar meteor showers' observed by astronauts of the moon exploration program.

* Al-Qaeda's Syrian wing takes over the oilfields once belonging to Assad Al-Qaeda's Syrian wing is helping to finance its activities by selling the product of oilfields that once helped to prop up the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

* Army denies it prefers 'devil' Assad to 'demon' rebels London Times report that Israel wants Syria dictator to remain in power is 'unfounded,' IDF spokesman says.

05/18/13

* 'Israel prefers Bashar Assad to Islamist rebels' A weakened Bashar Assad is preferable for Syria and the whole region to a takeover by rebel forces increasingly ruled by Islamic extremists.

* Hamas training 37,000 teens, 15-17, in urban warfare Hamas has expanded military training of youngsters.

* Khamenei pressed Hizbullah in emergency meeting to do 'whatever it takes' in Syria Iran has pressed its main proxy for full combat troop deployment in Syria.

* France gay marriage: Hollande signs bill into law France's president has signed into law a controversial bill making the country the ninth in Europe, and 14th globally, to legalise gay marriage.

* S. Korea says N. Korea fires 3 short-range missiles North Korea fired three short-range guided missiles into its eastern waters on Saturday.

* 'Church of Scotland amends disputed Israel paper' The Church of Scotland revised a paper it had published rejecting Jewish scriptural-based rights to the land of Israel after it caused waves of controversy among the Jewish community in the UK.

* Syria's Nusra Front eclipsed by Iraq-based al-Qaida The most feared and effective rebel group battling President Bashar Assad, the Islamist Nusra Front, is being eclipsed by a more radical jihadi force.

* US: Russian missiles to Syria could embolden Assad The top US military officer on Friday condemned Russia's shipment of advanced anti-ship missiles to Syria.

* Will Israel destroy Russian missiles? The main reason for the heightened tensions on the northern front is Iran and Syria's interest to intensify and hasten the arming of Hezbollah.

* Erdogan: Peace Impossible Without Hamas-Fatah Unity Middle East peace will prove impossible without unity among Palestinian Authority Arab factions.

05/17/13

* PM: I will go anywhere, meet anyone to protect Israelis Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to do whatever it takes to protect Israelis in the unstable Middle East.

* Jalili: Iran doesn't recognize Israel's 'red line' Iran does not recognize Israel as a state or the "red line" determined by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

* Syria: Time for Israel to reassess Prime Minister Netanyahu's brief trip to Russia on May 14 highlights the change that has recently taken place in Israel's view of and policy toward the Syrian civil war.

* 'Yasser Arafat Street' - Soon in Israel? The Israeli-Arab city of Sakhnin is planning to name streets for two of Israel's most famous enemies.

* Turkey's Erdogan confirms plans to visit Gaza Strip Despite US pleas to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he not visit Gaza in June, the Turkish leader stood next to American President Barack Obama in the Rose Garden of the White House on Thursday and pledged to go ahead with the trip.

* Syria crisis: Russia 'sends sophisticated weapons' Russia has sent sophisticated anti-ship missiles to Syria, US media report.

* Israeli official: We underestimated Assad The debate over the situation in Syria and President Bashar Assad's chances for survival has sharpened recently.

* Behind the Lines: Erdogan's Kurdish gambit On May 8, fighters of the Kurdish PKK militia began to withdraw from their positions in Turkey.

* Invasive ladybirds wage 'biological war' on natives German researchers have discovered the biological keys to the success of an invasive species, wreaking havoc across Europe and the US.

* Russian Official: Missile Systems Sale 'A Message to America' Russia's decision to send S-300 missile systems to Syria is, in part, a message to the United States.

05/16/13

* Russian warships enter Mediterranean Sea Five Russian warships entered the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday and are scheduled to dock in Limassol, Cyprus.

* Israel 'will bring down Assad' if he retaliates for future airstrikes Israel has warned Damascus that if President Assad chooses to hit back at Israel for any further Israeli military strikes, Israel will bring down his regime.

* Police Bar Jews from Temple Mount As Muslims Threaten More Riots Police barred Jews from entering the Temple Mount on Thursday, after Muslim groups threatened violence in the wake of a plan to bring Jewish children to visit the site.

* Nasa buys into 'quantum' computer A $15m computer that uses "quantum physics" effects to boost its speed is to be installed at a Nasa facility.

* Syria conflict: BBC shown 'signs of chemical attack' The BBC has been shown evidence apparently corroborating reports of a chemical attack in Syria last month.

* Terror Group: Rocket Fire on the Golan Not an Accident A Syrian group took responsibility for the firing of two mortar shells at Israel Thursday morning.

* KFC chicken smuggled through Gaza tunnels A local Egyptian delivery company has been smuggling KFC meals through the underground tunnels across the Egypt-Gaza border.

* Video shows Islamist rebels executing 11 Syrian soldiers A video published on Thursday showed fighters of the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front in Syria executing 11 men they accused of taking part in massacres by President Bashar al-Assad's forces.

* Islamist group says Hermon mortars fired to avenge 'Nakba' A previously unknown Islamist group took responsibility Thursday for the firing of two mortar shells at Mount Hermon a day earlier.

* Obama and Erdogan meet as Syrian war rages President Barack Obama met Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday.

05/15/13

* Clashes in W. Bank and J'lem as Palestinians mark Nakba Day Palestinians on Wednesday marked the 65th anniversary of Nakba Day, the day after the Gregorian calendar for Israeli independence, with demonstrations and rallies.

* 'Assad said Hezbollah may fight Israel from Golan' Iran persuaded Syrian President Bashar Assad to allow Hezbollah to open a new front from which to attack Israel in the Golan Heights.

* Syrian rebel hacks dead soldier's body, eats heart on video In one of the more shocking videos released in the Syrian civil war, Syrian Rebel commander Abu Sakkar was shown on Sunday cutting organs out of a dead soldier and biting into his heart.

* EU peacekeepers alarmed by redeployment of Lebanese troops toward Syria The European Union has been mulling a withdrawal from the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon.

* Attacks against Lebanese Alawites deepen fears Lebanese members of the Syrian leader's Alawite sect fear their tiny community will be a casualty of the civil war raging in the neighboring country.

* UN Rep Poses With Map of 'Palestine' - But Something's Missing The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) launched a German-funded project in southern Lebanon where the area's Director of UNRWA Affairs, Ann Dismorr, posed with a map devoid of any trace of the State of Israel.

* Nigeria declares 'massive' military campaign on borders Nigeria has announced a "massive deployment of men and resources" to combat Islamist militants in the country's border territories.

* Celebrating Shavuot in the rain Across the country, thousands of Israelis celebrated the holiday of Shavuot.

* German growth too weak to lift eurozone from recession The eurozone economy continues to shrink as Germany's economy grew by a meagre 0.1 percent in the past three months.

* Hamas, Fatah to form unity gov't within 3 months Fatah and Hamas announced on Tuesday that they have agreed on a timeline of three months to achieve reconciliation between the two rival parties.

05/14/13

* In talks with Netanyahu, Putin urges restraint on Syria Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday that focused on the situation in Syria.

* Outrage at Syrian rebel shown 'eating soldier's heart' US-based Human Rights Watch identified the rebel as Abu Sakkar, a well-known insurgent from the city of Homs, and said his actions were a war crime.

* Egypt: Cell plotting to bomb U.S. embassy had explosives, Al Qaida manual Egypt has reported an Al Qaida plot against a foreign embassy, said by officials to be that of the United States.

* Shavuot Organizer: "We Don't Have to Agree to Love Each Other" The Olam Habah Events Collective in conjunction with the Jewish Unity Project is holding a special Shavuot lecture series on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.

* Palestinians rail against Temple Mount 'Judaization' Palestinians from across the political spectrum attacked reported Israeli government plans to allow Jewish prayer on Jerusalem's Temple Mount.

* 'Obama Ignoring Link Between Radical Islam and Terrorism' The Obama administration is ignoring the link between radical Islam and terrorism, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee said.

* France most pessimistic about Europe, survey shows France has seen the steepest confidence drop in the EU and in national politicians alike.

* Moscow weighs expanding naval presence in the Mediterranean Russia has been examining the expansion of its new task force in the Mediterranean Sea.

* Syria already has Russian S-300 missile system A Syrian military source told the London-based Arab daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi that Syria has received 200 launchers of the advanced S-300 anti-aircraft missile system from Russia.

* 'Death toll in Syria likely as high as 120,000' At least 94,000 people have been killed during Syria's two-year conflict.

05/13/13

* Netanyahu, Putin to meet Tuesday for Syria talks PM to travel to Russia with aim of convincing Putin to back out of S-300 arms deal with Syria

* World's biggest anti-mine naval exercise after Iranian threats to close Gulf A fleet of 34 ships will on Monday begin the world's biggest anti-mine exercise in an international naval show of force after Iranian threats to close the Gulf.

* UN urges people to eat insects to fight world hunger Eating more insects could help fight world hunger, according to a new UN report.

* Did the EU just back Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount? Israel might have just scored European Union support for finally allowing Jews the right to pray atop Jerusalem's Temple Mount, the holiest site in the world for Jews and many Christians.

* Abbas Warns Israel Over Al-Aqsa Mosque "We cannot remain silent" over Israel's alleged "assaults" on the Al-Aqsa Mosque, warns PA Chairman.

* The Church of Scotland's Freudian Slip The Church of Scotland recently published a report on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from a Christian perspective entitled "The Inheritance of Abraham - A Report on the Promised Land." 

* Independent candidates threaten Khamenei in Iranian polls Supreme leader sees surprise candidacy of rivals - Ahmadinejad protege, former president - as threat to his authority; big-name alternative candidates could cause election drama, attract more public interest.

* Observatory: Syrian war death toll rises to 82,000 Up to 12,500 people missing after two years of raging Syrian civil war; "vast majority of civilian victims killed by the regime."

* Syria says it reserves right to invade Golan Heights Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi accuses Israel of violating ceasefire, Turkey of turning its border zone into terrorist hotbed.

* Russian warship docks in Israel for first time For the first time since the establishment of the State of Israel, a Russian warship docked at the port city of Haifa earlier this month. 

05/11/13

* Netanyahu to meet Putin amid Syria missile worries Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin.

* Sanctions have not stopped Iran's advance to nuclear weapons The U.S. Congress has determined that international sanctions failed to stop Iran from its drive toward nuclear weapons.

* Palestinian official longs to nuke Israel There is a very good reason for Israel taking the Iran nuclear threat so seriously.

* Turkey blast death toll rises to 40; 100 injured Two car bombs exploded in a Turkish town near the border with Syria on Saturday, killing at least 40 people and injuring some 100 others.

* Military Affairs: The IDF's silent attack force These days, the idea of Israel engaging its enemies in a war, whether in near or distant arenas, without its "silent attack force" is unthinkable.

* Palestinian-Syrian group forming units to fight for Golan A militant Palestinian group in Damascus said it is forming combat units to try to recapture Israeli-occupied territory.

* Ashton Criticizes Israel Over Beit El and Temple Mount EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton joined the U.S. on Friday in criticizing Israel.

* Egyptian Islamists Protest Against Israel Dozens of Islamist protesters gathered at the Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo after noon prayers on Friday, to denounce the alleged Israeli airstrikes on Syria.

* Kerry: 'Strong evidence' Syria used chemical weapons US Secretary of State John Kerry said Friday that there is "strong evidence" that the Syrian regime used chemical weapons against its people.

* Bamboozled: Getting to the foggy bottom of Benghazi Speaking before delegates at last Autumn's General Assembly, President Barack Obama eloquently stated "I would like to begin today by telling you about an American named Chris Stevens."

05/10/13

* Exclusive: Benghazi Talking Points Underwent 12 Revisions, Scrubbed of Terror Reference When it became clear last fall that the CIA's now discredited Benghazi talking points were flawed, the White House said repeatedly the documents were put together almost entirely by the intelligence community.

* Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood rallies against Israel Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood staged an anti-Israel rally in Cairo on Friday.

* 'Obama policy will lead region to war,' warns ex-Iraqi MP who's paid heavy price for dissent Mithal Al-Alusi is angry. He is angry with Iran for supporting global terrorism.

* Israeli hackers ready to defend US sites, as #OpUSA flops It was supposed to be Anonymous's glorious followup to #OpIsrael, but a scheduled May 7 "attack day" for Operation USA turned out to be a flop.

* Radical Muslim Cleric in Gaza: 'Palestine' Was Never Jewish Israel has no right to exist, a radical Muslim cleric visiting Gaza declared on Thursday, encouraging rocket attacks on the Jewish State.

* Russia: No plans to sell S-300 missile to Syria Russia has no plans to sell Syria an advanced air defense system, its foreign minister said on Friday.

* Netanyahu: Nuclear Iran could disrupt oil supply Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's discussions in China shifted from the purely economic to the Middle East.

* Danon vows: Israel won't freeze settlement building Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon drew rousing applause by pronouncing that Israel will not institute a construction freeze.

* Mobiles 'to outnumber people next year', says UN agency There will be more mobile subscriptions than people in the world by the end of next year.

* Iran president still a force even as his era ends When many struggling families in this eastern Iranian city take stock of outgoing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's legacy, it's not about the oratory full of bluster and menace or his tussles with Iran's ruling clerics.

05/09/13

* Hezbollah head says Syria will supply 'game-changing' arms Hezbollah chief Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah said on Thursday that Syria will supply his Lebanese militia with "game-changing weapons".

* Islamic cleric in Gaza, rejects Israel's existence A prominent Islamic scholar who is making a landmark visit to the Gaza Strip has declared that Israel has no right to exist.

* Palestinian official longs to nuke Israel There is a very good reason for Israel taking the Iran nuclear threat so seriously.

* Assad: Syria Will 'Give Hizbullah Everything' Syria will "give Hizbullah everything" in recognition of its support.

* Liberal media spin Benghazi scandal to protect Team Obama In the real world, when you cover up four murders after the fact, you likely go to jail.

* Russia showcases military pomp for Victory Day The first decision to hold Victory Day parades was taken by Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin himself after the country lost an estimated 27 million people defending its territory and the Eastern Front.

* Syria buying advanced Russian missile system, Israel says US officials say they have been warned by Israel over the impending sale of an advanced Russian missile system to Syria.

* Israel to Russia: Don't give Syria S-300 missiles Israel has asked Russia to cancel an imminent sale of an advanced air defense system to Syria that could complicate further military intervention.

* Netanyahu Concludes 'Very Successful' China Visit Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who is in Beijing, attended a festive dinner Thursday evening with senior Chinese economic leaders.

* Iran threatens response to alleged Israeli strike in Syria Iran has vowed to respond to Israel's alleged airstrikes in Syria earlier this week with "blows under the belt in several locations".

05/08/13

* City to Celebrate Reunification with Yom Yerushalayim Concerts The Municipality of Jerusalem has arranged concerts and activities to celebrate Jerusalem Day.

* On Jerusalem Day, clashes and arrests in Old City Police clashed with Palestinians holding an unregistered demonstration outside Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City on Wednesday afternoon.

* One Jerusalem. Undivided. Open to all. Controlled by Israel Nir Barkat says he doesn't know who'll be running against him for the Jerusalem mayoralty in October.

* Bennett: We cannot compromise on a united Jerusalem Jerusalem is a city of three religions, and all must be able to pray in the way and place they want.

* Muslim Official: We'll Give Up Temple Mount When Messiah Comes An at-times angry discussion in the Knesset Wednesday on the rights of Jews to pray on the Temple Mount saw a top official of an Islamic organization that funds and manages prayer services on the Mount say that the Muslims would give up their control of the Mount - when the Messiah comes.

* A First: Flag Dance at Hevron, Too For the first time, educational institutions in Hevron and Kiryat Arba took part in the Flag Dance for Jerusalem Day.

* Ministry to arrange Jewish prayer on Temple Mount The Religious Services Ministry is working on ways to allow Jews to pray on the Temple Mount.

* Israel and China ink $400 million trade agreement Israel and China signed a $400 million trade agreement on Wednesday.

* Assad says Syria can stand up to Israel In his first response to Israel’s weekend airstrikes, President Bashar Assad said Tuesday that Syria is capable of facing Israel.

* 'Israel, Turkey to exchange ambassadors after talks' Israel and Turkey will exchange ambassadors shortly after an agreement on compensation over the Mavi Marmara is completely hashed out.

05/07/13

* 'Syria to permit Palestinians to attack from Golan' According to Syrian media, Assad reportedly give green light to Palestinian factions to carry out attacks against Israel.

* Ya'alon on Syria: Israel is clear on its red lines Defense Minister speaks after 3 shells, likely errant firing from fighting in Syria, fall in Golan Heights in last day.

* BBC reporter: Blasts heard near Tehran arms plant BBC Persian reporter: Residents heard blasts in Iranian capital in an area where Iran carries out missile research, storage.

* Survey: Jerusalem enjoys economic boost, happiest residents Israel's capital, increasingly defined by its religious majority, is apparently in rude health, with new jobs, positive migration; city nevertheless still failing to entice young, secular students to remain.

* Barkat: Let the Palestinians rename Ramallah as 'Jerusalem' Jerusalem's mayor rules out any notion of Palestinian rule in the capital, slams Olmert's peace offer as a 'terrible mistake,' and says it's 'ridiculous' that Jews can't pray on the Temple Mount.

* Federal Europe will be 'a reality in a few years', says Jose Manuel Barroso A fully fledged federal Europe may seem like "political science fiction" today but will soon become reality for all European Union countries whether inside or outside the euro, Jose Manuel Barroso has said.

* The mass exodus of Christians from the Muslim world A mass exodus of Christians is currently underway. Millions of Christians are being displaced from one end of the Islamic world to the other.

* 'Shock and shush' strategy, meant to mollify Assad, may have run its course After three strikes in three months, can Israel continue to keep quiet about air raids over Syria in the hope Damascus won't respond?

* Spraying fails: Billions of locusts descend on Negev Southern region infested with Israeli-hatched locusts. Agriculture Ministry continues taking preventive measures against event of most severe magnitude since 1915

* Nato chief: EU soft power is 'no power at all' Nato head Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said there cannot be a credible EU foreign policy without the military means to back it up.

05/06/13

* West lends tacit support as Israel stays mum on Syria strikes China protests breach of Syrian sovereignty, Russia fears regional destabilization, and Turkey reserves judgement.

* Beijing urges restraint in Syria as PM visits China As Netanyahu begins visit, Chinese foreign minister issues veiled criticism of Israel following alleged strikes in Syria.

* UN's Del Ponte says evidence Syria rebels 'used sarin' Testimony from victims of the conflict in Syria suggests rebels have used the nerve agent, sarin, a leading member of a UN commission of inquiry has said.

* Hamas says no peace with Israel under any terms While the American administration gets all excited over the Arab League making passing mention of its previous regional peace proposal, Western power-brokers are completely ignoring the fact that Palestinian powerhouse Hamas rejects the idea of peace with Israel under any circumstances.

* Syrian Minister: All Possibilites Open After Israeli Attacks Syria's Information Minister says that alleged Israeli attack "opens the door to all possibilities."

* Anti-Semitism 'on the rise' across Europe Hungary's prime minister has told an international assembly of Jews that anti-Semitism was on the rise both in Europe and Hungary, attributing it partly to the economic crisis affecting the region.

* Israel strikes a blow to conventional Arab thinking 'Israel is still my enemy, but when my enemy does a neat job - I admit it,' writes one Syrian commentator.

* Jews Happy to be Living in Jerusalem, Arabs Not So Much The Central Bureau of Statistics released a slew of Jerusalem-related statistics, in honor of Jerusalem Day

* Minister's Israel Cap was 'a Victory' over Waqf Housing Minister Uri Ariel entered the Mount with an Israel flag printed on his cap. Temple groups are proud.

* Two Syrian Rockets Hit Israeli Side of the Golan Two rockets fired from Syrian territory exploded on the Golan Heights on Monday, without causing casualties or damage.

05/04/13

* US believes Israel conducts Syria air strike The United States believes Israel has conducted an airstrike into Syria, CNN reported on Friday, citing two unnamed US officials.

* Gilad: We didn't confirm hit on Syrian arms for Hezbollah Israel has carried out an air strike into Syria, targeting a shipment of missiles bound for Hezbollah guerrillas in neighboring Lebanon.

* Syrians flee 'massacres' in Baniyas and al-Bayda Footage of mutilated and burnt bodies, allegedly from the town of Baniyas, have been posted online.

* US bulks up 'bunker buster' to combat Iran threat US officials told Israel that the United States has new weapons capable of destroying Iran's underground nuclear site in Fordo.

* Knesset committee cancels Temple Mount tour Likud MK Miri Regev on Wednesday canceled the Knesset Interior Committee’s planned tour of the Temple Mount.

* Arab World: Egypt's conspiracy theory New revelations throw a startling light on how the Muslim Brotherhood worked hand-in-hand with Hamas during the mass demonstrations that brought about the fall of Hosni Mubarak's regime.

* Pentagon Can Destroy Iran's Underground Nuclear Facility The Pentagon has redesigned its biggest "bunker buster" bomb with more advanced features intended to enable it to destroy Iran's most heavily fortified and defended nuclear site.

* Israeli forces on high alert in Golan Heights Israeli forces were on high alert in the Golan Heights Saturday, as clashes between Assad forces and rebel fighters reached areas near the Golan village of Majdal Shams.

* The UN is only effective when all is quiet Tensions along Israel's northern border are growing as Hezbollah forces tighten their grip on southern Lebanon.

* Talking about monetary union and Cyprus this WEEK Senior EU politicians will gather for a conference in Brussels Tuesday on how to reach economic and monetary union.

05/03/13

* Disabled Gaza baby lives in Israel hospital In his short life, Palestinian toddler Mohammed al-Farra has known just one home: the yellow-painted children's ward in Israel's Tel Hashomer hospital.

* Hamas rebuffs Arabs for softening Israeli-Palestinian peace-plan Islamist Hamas's leader in the Gaza Strip on Friday rejected a revised Middle East peace initiative.

* Syria conflict: 'Dozens executed' in village More than 40 people have been killed by government forces in a village in north-western Syria, activists say.

* Arab March to Jerusalem Planned in Cairo Arab organizations in Israel and neighboring countries are planning a "Global March to Jerusalem" for early June.

* Global cyber defense experts take on hackers Defense firms and armies around the world are in a race against time to identify vulnerabilities that allow hostile hackers to gain access to a variety of military platforms.

* Abbas' Party to Seek Ties with Iran? Senior Fatah member Jabril Rajoub has suggested that Fatah seek closer ties with Iran.

* Turks fear airline lipstick ban sign of Islamization Turkey's national airline has barred female flight attendants from wearing red lipstick and nail polish.

* Pakistanis remember bin Laden as 'Islamic hero' Pakistan's southwestern city of Quetta was filled with Hundreds of Islamist al-Qaida supporters.

* Google edition adopts 'Palestine' Internet giant Google has changed the tagline on the homepage of its Palestinian edition from "Palestinian Territories" to "Palestine".

* Rabbi's Wartime Diary Sheds Light on Battle for Jerusalem Sixty-five years after the fall of Jerusalem in the War of Independence, the publication of a diary written by now-renowned Rabbi Shar Yishuv Hacohen sheds new light on life in the city in the midst of battle.

05/02/13

* Global cyber defense experts take on hackers Defense firms and armies around the world are in a race against time to identify vulnerabilities that allow hostile hackers to gain access to a variety of military platforms.

* Hamas arrests Islamists in Gaza over rocket theft The Hamas government in the Gaza Strip on Thursday said it had arrested six militant extremists suspected of stealing weapons and plotting terrorist attacks.

* Inside the Ring: Russia builds up, U.S. down As the Obama administration prepares to launch a new round of strategic nuclear missile cuts, Russia's strategic nuclear forces are undergoing a major modernization, according to U.S. officials.

* Erdogan: Assad using chemical weapons in Syria Turkish Prime Minster Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday that the regime of Syrian President Basher Assad has used chemical weapons in his fight against opposition forces.

* Knesset committee cancels Temple Mount tour Likud MK Miri Regev on Wednesday canceled the Knesset Interior Committee's planned tour of the Temple Mount.

* Don't arm rebels before vetting them, Israel urges US Israel opposes arming Syrian rebels unless they are carefully vetted beforehand, Jerusalem's ambassador to the US said Wednesday.

* Khamenei: West's fall due to 'devilish sexual rules' Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei alleged the impending demise of the West was rooted in "the devilish sexual rules" that reign in its society.

* Somalia famine 'killed 260,000 people' Nearly 260,000 people died during the famine that hit Somalia from 2010 to 2012.

* 40 percent of Palestinians hold suicide attacks are justified Four out of ten Muslims in the Palestinian-controlled territories are of the opinion that suicide attacks against civilians in defense of Islam are justified.

* Israeli PM says he'd want referendum on peace deal Israel's prime minister said Thursday that any peace deal reached with the Palestinians on his watch would be subject to a national referendum, backing a contentious step that could hinder peace efforts.