08/31/13

* Russia's Vladimir Putin challenges US on Syria claims Russian President Vladimir Putin has challenged the US to present to the UN evidence that Syria attacked rebels with chemical weapons near Damascus.

* Not too hard, not too soft Obama has no choice but to punish Assad for using chemical weapons.

* Syria says ready for attack 'at any moment' The Syrian government says it's expecting a military attack and is "ready to retaliate at any moment."

* IDF bolsters troops; IAF circles Lebanon sky The IDF is bolstering forces in the north, in preparation for a possible attack by the US.

* Holy work or troublemaking? Laying the groundwork for a Third Temple in Jerusalem No praying. No kneeling. No bowing. No prostrating. No dancing. No singing. No ripping clothes.

* Pope Francis names Pietro Parolin as secretary of state Pope Francis has named a new secretary of state.

* US Supreme Court's Ruth Bader Ginsburg to perform gay wedding US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is poised to become the first judge on the country's highest court to perform a same-sex marriage.

* This time, for Assad, something went terribly wrong The US strike against Syria has yet to begin, and doubts abound regarding the scope and effectiveness of any such attack.

* Saudis Go On Full Alert As Putin War Threat Stuns Muslim World The Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) is reporting today that President Putin's orders this week to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation for a "massive military strike" against Saudi Arabia in the event that the West attacks Syria has "stunned" the Sunni Muslim world.

08/30/13

* Holy work or troublemaking? Laying the groundwork for a Third Temple in Jerusalem No praying. No kneeling. No bowing. No prostrating. No dancing. No singing. No ripping clothes.

* Kerry: Syria intervention will not be like Iraq, Afghanistan or Libya US Secretary of State John Kerry assured the war-weary American people on Friday that any decision the US would make on a military action in Syria would be a "limited and tailored response".

* Syria crisis: Cameron loses Commons vote on Syria action David Cameron said he would respect the defeat of a government motion by 285-272, ruling out joining US-led strikes.

* Pope and Jordanian king: dialogue 'only option' to end Syria crisis Pope Francis and King Abdullah of Jordan agreed during a meeting this morning that dialogue among Syria's warring factions was the "only option".

* Six dead as thousands of Morsi supporters march in Egypt Thousands of supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi marched through Cairo and cities across Egypt on Friday.

* Hezbollah reportedly mobilizes forces in south Lebanon Hezbollah was reported to be mobilizing its forces in southern Lebanon.

* France Backs US Intervention in Syria French President Francois Hollande gave a boost Friday to US hopes of forging an international coalition for possible strikes against Syria.

* Israel a target of US counter-intelligence operations US intelligence agencies have carried out counter-intelligence operations against Israel.

* CBS: Settler housing starts up by 141.5% this year The number of settler housing starts in the West Bank skyrocketed by 141.5 percent in the first half of 2013.

08/29/13

* Syrian Army Seals Damascus, Prepares 'Martyrs' The Syrian army is blocking off entrances to Damascus in advance of anticipated airstrikes by Western armies.

* Selective 'obscenity': US checkered record on chemical weapons The US charge against Syria is being driven by Damascus' alleged use of chemical weapons against civilians.

* UK and US ready to strike Syria without UN say-so Russia and China on Wednesday (28 August) in New York said No to a military strike on Syria, but the US and the UK are saying they do not need UN permission.

* Iran General: 'Syria Will Leave Israel in Flames' Iran's army chief of staff, General Hassan Firouzabadi, echoed the remarks of Iranian officials.

* Amid Syria tensions, Russia sends more warships to Mediterranean Russia will send two ships to the east Mediterranean to strengthen its naval presence.

* Muslim Brotherhood out, old order returns to shape Egypt's future Workers in blue overalls scramble over scaffolding around Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque, whitewashing its charred walls.

* Thousands Gather for Biblical Prayer at Tabernacle Site Three thousand women and girls made the journey Wednesday to the town of Shilo.

* Golan Druze prefer Israel to Syria In the shadow of the raging Syrian civil war, the 20,000 Druze who live in the Golan Heights are finally admitting publicly that they prefer life under Israeli sovereignty.

* Rival Palestinian factions Hamas, Fatah unite against Western attack on Syria The Palestinians are opposed to any military intervention in the Syrian conflict.

* Intelligence on weapons no 'slam dunk' The intelligence linking Syrian President Bashar Assad or his inner circle to an alleged chemical weapons attack is no "slam dunk."

08/28/13

* Putin Orders Massive Strike Against Saudi Arabia If West Attacks Syria A grim "urgent action memorandum" issued today from the office of President Putin to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

* Syrian Official: If Damascus is Attacked, Tel Aviv Will Burn A senior official in the Syrian army warned the United States and its partners on Tuesday that waging a full-scale war on Syria would be reciprocated.

* Thin veneer of normalcy in Syria's wartime capital Even in the capital of a country torn apart by civil war, Syrians have to find some way to enjoy themselves on a hot summer weekend.

* Jerusalem approves limited call-up of reserve soldiers The Security Cabinet approved a limited call-up of reserve soldiers as preparations for a possible US strike on Syria.

* Iran's Khamenei: US intervention in Syria would be 'disaster' for Mideast Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday US intervention in Syria would be "a disaster for the region".

* Syrian hackers take down New York Times website, attack others Readers who tried to click on the New York Times' website got nothing but error messages Tuesday in its second major disruption this month.

* Senator warns Hizbullah may have chemical weapons; Jordan's king could be toppled The administration of President Barack Obama has been warned that Syria's chemical weapons could be dispersed and that Jordan could collapse.

* Baghdad bomb attacks leave scores dead A co-ordinated wave of bombings has torn through Shia Muslim areas in and around the Iraqi capital.

* Assad is in Iran Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and members of his family are in Tehran.

* End of Ethiopian aliya as final flight set to land in Israel The Jewish Agency is to bring the last of Ethiopia's Jews to Israel on Wednesday afternoon.

08/27/13

* US ready to launch Syria strike, says Chuck Hagel American forces are "ready" to launch strikes on Syria if President Barack Obama chooses to order an attack.

* Netanyahu: Israel will hit hard if Syrian threat detected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday warned Syrian President Bashar Assad that Israel would respond forcefully if any attempt to harm the country is detected.

* Syrian FM decries US lies on chemical weapons, says military intervention would serve Israel Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moualem on Tuesday "categorically denied" that the country's military used chemical weapons against its own people last week.

* Iran warns against strike on Syria after gas attack Iran warned on Tuesday against foreign military intervention in Syria, saying the resulting conflict would engulf the region.

* US-led attack on Syria may lead to increased Russian cooperation with Iran Russia warned Western powers on Monday against any military intervention in Syria.

* Syria: If US Attacks Us, We'll Attack Israel As talk and rumors of an impending Western attack against Syria mount, a top Syrian official said Monday that if attacked, his country would react - against Israel.

* Palestinian State in Jordan 'Inevitable' Jordanian-Palestinian activist Mudar Zahran is not a man who minces his words.

* Collapse reported on Temple Mount Eyewitnesses told Turkish media this week that a portion of the Temple Mount platform near the Al Aqsa Mosque has collapsed.

* Germany not keen to join France and UK in Syria strike Germany has indicated it will not take part in any military strike on Syria.

* Livni 'Undermining Israel's Interests' in Talks Daily newspaper Maariv reported Tuesday that there are differences of opinion and approach between the two heads of Israel's negotiating team in talks with the Palestinian Authority.

08/26/13

* Syria, Iran issue first explicit warning to Israel if US attacks  "We have strategic weapons and we're capable of responding," says official in Damscus; Russia: West has no proof of chemical attack.

* Skirting the ground: How the West will attack Syria US, British top brass prepare for possible attack in Syria, British Daily Mail outs target bank, including Assad's air force, key regime facilities.

* UN inspectors reach Syria gas victims despite sniper fire Syrian state TV says "terrorists" responsible for shooting; inspectors take samples from victims of alleged chemical attack.

* US denies reports of canceled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks after West Bank clashes State Department: Parties are engaged in serious, sustained talks.

* Report: Syrian Intervention Could Begin 'Within a Week' British, American navies poised for attack - but how realistic is western intervention in Syria?

* New Oil Field Could Yield Rich Returns for Israel A newly discovered field off Israel's coast may contain significant deposits of light crude oil - the kind used for gasoline.

* Turkey would join coalition against Syria, says FM Davutoglu says Ankara will join any international coalition even if wider consensus isn't reached at UN's Security Council; Hague reiterates sentiment.

* Israel's interest: That Assad not be victorious On the eve of what seems to be imminent US action in Syria, two local experts have similar conclusions about Jerusalem's preferred scenario.

* Jerusalem Arabs Continue to Riot Arabs continued to riot Monday afternoon after three rioters were shot and killed Monday in the Kalandiya refugee camp.

* Families of Syrian brass 'fleeing' ahead of feared US strike Exit of regime chiefs' relatives under way via Latakia Airport, Israeli TV reports; US said likely to warn Israel before attack on Assad.

08/24/13

* Syrian government claims to find chemical agents in rebel tunnel Syrian state television said troops found chemical agents in rebel tunnels in a Damascus suburb.

* US forces move closer to Syria as options weighed U.S. naval forces are moving closer to Syria as President Barack Obama considers military options.

* UN's Angela Kane in Syria urges chemical weapons probe UN disarmament chief Angela Kane has arrived in Damascus to push the Syrian government for access to the alleged site of a chemical weapons attack.

* Obama summons top defense aides to discuss Syria options President Barack Obama was to meet with his national security advisers early on Saturday to discuss reports that the Syrian government used chemical weapons.

* Gaza protestors march against peace talks Hundreds of Palestinians on Friday protested in the Gaza Strip against the recently renewed Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

* Al-Qaeda Vowed to 'Change the Face of History' A vow by Al-Qaeda to carry out an attack that would "change the face of history" was behind this month's closures of Western embassies.

* Reeling from crackdown, Egypt's Brotherhood fails to show street power Mass protests called by Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood mostly failed to materialize on Friday.

* Anti-Hamas Tamarod group denies being trained by Egyptian intelligence The new anti-Hamas Tamarod ("Rebellion") group denied Saturday that its members were being trained by Egyptian intelligence personnel.

* Israeli 'web prophet' maps the past to predict the future Prophecy may still be restricted to those qualified to appear in the Bible, but modern technology has given us the next best thing.

* Abbas willing to meet with Netanyahu to boost peace talks Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Saturday that he was prepared to meet with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

08/23/13

* UK: Assad regime is responsible for recent chemical attack in Damascus Britain said on Friday it believed forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad were responsible for a chemical weapons attacks.

* PM: Iran watching carefully how world responds to Syrian chemical weapons atrocities Iran is using Syria as a testing ground and carefully watching how the world responds to Damascus's use of chemical weapons against its own people.

* No summer break in the violent Middle East Here's a short, random list of some of the major events that occurred in the Middle East just this past week.

* When all else fails, target Israel The rocket fire on the western Galilee on Thursday was the work of a Salafist Sunni terror organization.

* Israel strikes Lebanon after rocket attacks Israel's air force bombed a militant target in Lebanon on Friday in retaliation for a cross-border rocket salvo. .

* New Video Evidence of Iraqi Jihad Terrorists With the launch of missiles fired from Lebanon into Israel on Thursday, the organization behind the attack identified as part of the "Global Jihad" movement presented a recent video.

* 'Friday of Martyrs' protests proceed in Egypt Egyptian troops and police had taken relatively low-key security measures before the "Friday of Martyrs".

* Merkel's Dachau Visit Sparks Controversy Angela Merkel will become the first German chancellor to visit the former Nazi concentration camp Dachau on Tuesday.

* They hate Israel, but they hate Hezbollah more In an ironic turn of events, over the last months Sunni world jihad elements in Lebanon have become a common enemy for Israel and its nemesis, the Shiite Hezbollah.

* EU diplomat: Both sides guilty in Egypt The EU's envoy to north Africa, Bernardino Leon, has said events in Egypt are "more complex".

08/22/13

* 'Iran would barely retaliate if its nuclear program were attacked' Iran is unlikely to unleash a war in response to a military strike on its nuclear facilities.

* At least 3 Katyusha rockets fired from Lebanon at western Galilee Three to four rockets were fired at Israel from south Lebanon.

* Anti-Hamas movement emerges in Gaza An anonymous group of Palestinians calling itself "The rebellion against tyranny in Gaza" has been established in the Strip driving inspiration from Egypt's Tamarod movement.

* "They Don't Care About Syria, They Won't Care About Us" Rabbi Avihai Ronsky, former IDF Chief Rabbi and current head of the Itamar Yeshiva (religious academy), said Thursday that Israelis needed to be especially concerned about the events in Syria.

* France: If chemical weapons allegations true, force needed in Syria France said on Thursday that the international community would need to respond with force.

* Area Near Al-Aqsa Mosque Collapses An area collapsed near the western wall of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem late Tuesday.

* Iran: Christian Man Jailed for Distributing Gospel An Iranian convert from Islam to Christianity has been sentenced to a decade in prison for proselytizing.

* German Neo-Nazis Protest 'Political Refugee Center' German neo-Nazis have protested against a new political refugee centre in Berlin.

* Zuckerberg unveils plan for Internet access for all Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg late Tuesday announced on his Facebook profile page the formation of a partnership with Samsung Electronics, Nokia, Qualcomm and others to make Internet access available to everyone on Earth.

* Egypt's Mubarak flown from prison to hospital Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was flown from prison to a nearby hospital on Thursday.

08/21/13

* Syria conflict: 'Chemical attacks kill hundreds' Rockets with toxic agents were launched at the suburbs of the Ghouta region early on Wednesday.

* Assad Denies Attacking Civilians While Syrian rebels accuse the regime of Bashar al-Assad of killing hundreds of men, women and children with chemical weapons last night, the Assad regime's official broadcast network has a different account of the night's events.

* Palestinian and Israeli negotiators hold clandestine talks in Jerusalem Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, Israel's chief envoy to peace talks, met clandestinely Tuesday morning with Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat at Jerusalem’s King David Hotel.

* EU ministers look to send 'strong signal' to Egypt European Union foreign ministers are seeking to forge a joint response to the crisis in Egypt.

* Rights groups: Gaza justice system broken Hani Abu Aliyan, 28, has been convicted of two separate murders in the Gaza Strip.

* Jordan set to plunge into billion-dollar Red-Dead Canal Jordan announced Monday it is planning to move forward with the first phase of a large-scale water project linking the Dead Sea to the Red Sea.

* Egypt court orders Hosni Mubarak freed Reports from Cairo suggest he may be freed from prison on Thursday.

* Japan nuclear agency upgrades Fukushima alert level Highly radioactive water was found to be leaking from a storage tank into the ground at the plant on Monday.

* Tamar field partners find new gas reservoir nearby Even more gas that previously thought is likely lurking in the Levant basin.

* Ex-pope Benedict says God told him to resign during 'mystical experience' The former pope Benedict has claimed that his resignation in February was prompted by God.

08/20/13

* Egypt's crackdown weakens, but does not crush resilient Muslim Brotherhood Until Monday night, Farid Ismail was one of the few Muslim Brotherhood leaders who still answered his phone.

* Terrorists 'aim to hit Israeli, Jewish targets worldwide' in coming weeks Israeli and Jewish targets all over the world are likely to be sought out by terrorist organizations in the coming weeks.

* Hamas Facing Trouble from Without and Within The Hamas movement leading Gaza is facing growing pressure this week with a counter-terror campaign along its border.

* Erdogan: Israel orchestrated Morsi overthrow, Egypt unrest Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel of orchestrating the Egyptian military's overthrow of deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

* Peace: A matter of needs vs. wants While peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians have resumed for the first time in three years, the atmosphere is edgy.

* UN: Efforts to bridge gaps between Israel, Arabs on nuclear issue have failed UN atomic agency chief Yukiya Amano has not been able to narrow Israeli-Arab differences on how to move towards a Middle East free of nuclear weapons.

* Jordanian King: Violence will Destroy Muslim World The ethnic and sectarian violence that is currently affecting several Arab countries could ultimately destroy the Muslim world.

* Muslim Brotherhood taking out rage on Christian churches, businesses The Muslim Brotherhood has targeted Christian communities in its insurgency campaign against Egypt's military-backed regime.

* EU reconsiders arms sales, financial aid to Egypt As EU diplomats meet on how to stop bloodshed in Egypt, figures show that France, Germany and Spain led arms sales.

* Iraq vows no disruption in oil flow after Al Qaida attack in Basra Iraq has assured clients that crude oil exports would not be harmed over the next few months.

08/19/13

* Islamists Plan to Attack Israeli, Jewish Targets Worldwide Terrorists are planning attacks against Jews and Israelis abroad, security officials said, issuing a long list of countries to avoid.

* UN: Over 20,000 Syrian refugees cross into Iraq Syrians pour into the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq, taking advantage of a new bridge along largely closed border.

* Israel's message on Egypt: Keep Cairo from falling, then worry about democracy Official says army is only actor that can assert authority, if it is dismissed, Egypt to go "way of Syria, Tunisia, Libya."

* PLO charges Israel with 'war crimes, anti-human, racist acts' Palestinian leaders say talks are "cover for settlement project," accuse Israel of undermining "all prospects for peace.

* Tamarod movement calls on Egyptian government to cancel Camp David peace treaty Movement joins campaign to "revive Egypt's national sovereignty"; calls to stop US aid after Obama cancels joint military drill.

* Saudi prince fires celebrity preacher over Brotherhood links Billionaire prince fires renowned Kuwaiti motivational speaker Tareq al-Suwaidan for "extremist inclinations."

* Strange 'Methuselah' Star Looks Older Than the Universe This Digitized Sky Survey image shows the oldest star with a well-determined age in our galaxy. 

* Analysis: Despite ban threat, Muslim Brotherhood is here to stay Despite its anti-Western and anti-Semitic ideology, the Islamist organization has succeeded in organizing its activities while at the same time gaining much of the world's sympathy.

* This Week in History: The 125th birthday of 'Lawrence of Arabia' The British explorer, spy and soldier spent years in the Middle East, encouraging Arab independence.

* PA Radio: One Day Israel 'Will be Palestine Again' Is there any hope for peace when the Palestinian Authority continues to strive towards the destruction of the Jewish state?

08/17/13

* Egyptian prime minister proposes ban of Muslim Brotherhood Egyptian Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi has proposed the legal dissolution of the Muslim Brotherhood and the government is studying the idea.

* Egypt: Scores Dead in Bloody 'Day of Rage' Scores are dead in Egypt as a Muslim Brotherhood-led "day of rage" turned to bloodshed on Friday.

* Egypt troops 'clear Islamists' from Cairo mosque Troops rounded up protesters inside al-Fath mosque.

* Yaalon to Ban: Hezbollah is Iran's Weapon Against Israel A day after a car bombing in a stronghold of Hezbollah in Beirut killed at least 20 people, Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Friday afternoon.

* Though silent, Israel remains worried by Egypt upheaval Israel has looked on at upheaval in Egypt largely in silence.

* El-Sissi will not be deterred It is still too early to judge whether Egyptian Defense Minister Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's decision to forcefully remove the Muslim Brotherhood protesters from Cairo's squares was the right one.

* Hezbollah chief says he's ready to fight in Syria himself The leader of the Lebanese-based terrorist organization Hezbollah on Friday blamed Sunni extremists for a string of attacks.

* Endangered in their ancestral land Egypt's Christians are being targeted and scapegoated for the ousting of the Muslim Brotherhood.

* US, Iraq work together to combat Syria spillover effects The United States and Iraq agreed on Thursday to boost cooperation to keep Iran from flying weapons over Iraq to Syria.

* PA officials accuse US of 'deception and misinformation' in peace talks Palestinian officials in Ramallah have accused the US Administration of deceiving and misinforming the Palestinian Authority.

08/16/13

* Egypt crisis: Dozens dead in Egypt 'day of anger' At least 38 people have been killed in Egypt, officials say.

* The Pentagon Has Lost Its Leverage with Egypt. Now What? Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has been on the phone with his Egyptian counterpart, Gen. Abdul Fattah al-Sissi, almost every day.

* Defiant Hezbollah leader says ready to fight in Syria himself Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah accused radical Sunni Islamists on Friday of being behind a car bomb that killed 24 people in Beirut.

* US, Iraq work together to combat Syria spillover effects The United States and Iraq agreed on Thursday to boost cooperation to keep Iran from flying weapons over Iraq to Syria.

* Palestinians protest Egypt's bloody crackdown Hundreds of Palestinian Islamists rallied on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City Friday against the interim government in Egypt.

* Merkel backs plans to retake EU powers German Chancellor Angela Merkel has become the latest EU leader to raise the prospect of shifting powers.

* Netanyahu: Recognition of Jewish state is key issue in peace talks Palestinian refusal to recognize that Israel is a Jewish state is the core issue keeping the sides from reaching a peace agreement.

* Egypt's military leader is riding the wave of world condemnation The Egyptian military, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, routed the Muslim Brotherhood, killing many of its members in a show of force.

* EU convenes emergency meeting on Egypt EU foreign ministers may be called to Brussels for snap talks on Egypt in the coming days.

* Mideast Christians: an Endangered Species in their Ancestral Land Egypt's Christians are being targeted and scapegoated for the ousting of the Muslim Brotherhood.

08/15/13

* Muslim Brotherhood calls Cairo protest march as Egypt death toll reaches 525 Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood called on followers to march in protest in Cairo on Thursday.

* Obama tells Egypt 'traditional cooperation cannot continue' US President Barack Obama notified the Egyptian military that "traditional cooperation cannot continue" so long as civilians are being killed in the streets of Cairo.

* Egypt's Brotherhood vows to bring down 'military coup' The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt Thursday vowed to bring down the "military coup" that toppled former President Mohammed Mursi.

* US says military options against Iran have improved America's military options for stopping Iran’s nuclear program have improved in the past year.

* Deadly Lebanon blast in Beirut stronghold of Hezbollah At least 14 people have been killed by a large blast in a southern suburb of the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

* 20,000 Palestinians working in settlements, survey finds The unemployment rate in the West Bank and Gaza Strip remains relatively high.

* Shaked: Kerry is hypocritical, gambling with Israeli lives US Secretary of State John Kerry is putting lives at risk by gambling on the peace process.

* Israel, Palestinian negotiators meet in Jerusalem in total secrecy Just hours after Israel released 26 Palestinian terrorists in the middle of the night to crimp "victory" celebrations, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators met in total secrecy.

* Russia not Supplying 'Replacement' Missile System to Iran Russia will not be supplying Iran with a replacement for the S-300 missile defense system delivery which it cancelled.

* EU diplomat: Egyptian army rejected peace plan The EU's special envoy to the Middle East, Bernardino Leon, has said the Egyptian army rejected a peace deal with the Muslim Brotherhood.

08/14/13

* Egypt declares national emergency Egypt's presidency has declared a state of emergency after scores of people were killed when security forces stormed protest camps in Cairo.

* Scores confirmed killed as Egypt declares month-long state of emergency, curfew in major cities Authorities declare state of emergency as Health Ministry says death toll hits 149.

* Peace talks resuming following prisoner release After the release of 26 Palestinian prisoners by Israel went ahead as planned overnight Tuesday, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators were scheduled to meet again for a second round of peace negotiations.

* Celebrations in Gaza, West Bank for freed Palestinian prisoners Twenty six convicted Palestinian terrorists were freed by Israel overnight Tuesday.

* Hamas, Iran Putting Aside their Differences to Fight Israel Despite falling out over the Syrian civil war, Iran and Hamas are still apparently cooperating in order to facilitate attacks against Israel.

* On Jerusalem's streets, little excitement about peace talks In the oppressive heat of a Jerusalem afternoon, neither Israelis nor Palestinians could summon much enthusiasm for the peace talks.

* UN rights chief urges Hamas not to carry out planned prisoner executions in Gaza United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Wednesday urged Hamas in the Gaza Strip not to carry out planned executions.

* IAF launches early morning attack in response to Gaza rockets The IDF launched an airstrike over the northern area of the Gaza Strip on Wednesday morning.

* Netanyahu to Dempsey: Iranian Threat Dwarfs All the Others Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu met on Tuesday evening in the Prime Minister’s Residence with the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey.

* Palestinian kids taught to hate Israel in UN-funded camps, clip shows New video footage appears to show Palestinian children in summer camps run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) being taught that "Jews are the wolf," and that they will one day conquer Israeli cities by force.

08/13/13

* Egyptian Police Break up Violent Clashes Violent clashes broke out on Tuesday afternoon in central Cairo as supporters of deposed President Mohammed Morsi marched on a number of government ministry buildings.

* Israel helping Egypt regain control over Sinai Egypt and Israel have launched a secret campaign to eliminate the insurgency presence in the divided city of Rafah.

* 'Eilat will never enjoy security,' warns Salafi terror group Hours after a Grad rocket was intercepted by an Israeli Iron Dome battery in the southern city of Eilat for the first time, a Salafi Palestinian terror organization claimed responsibility for the attack.

* EU 'hopes' new settler homes will not stop peace talks The EU has refrained from criticism of Israel's announcement of new settler homes on the eve of peace talks.

* Saudi feud too bitter for new Iranian president to fix Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah's disdain for Iran leaps from US embassy cables.

* Palestinian official warns settlement building could kill talks A senior Palestinian official warned that Israel's recent move to approve thousands of new housing units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem could imperil the future of newly restarted peace talks.

* Will Olympics in Russia be a second 'Nazi Games'? For Yelena Goltsman, nothing short of an Olympic boycott is the proper response to Russia's new anti-gay "propaganda" law.

* Israel Faces Deepening Isolation, Kerry Warns U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's peace mission to the Middle East is semi-quixotic.

* Iron Dome intercepts rocket bound for Eilat The Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted a Grad rocket bound for the southern Israeli city of Eilat overnight.

* Is a free Kurdistan, and a new Israeli ally, upon us? In late July, the Kurdish Democratic Union Party in Syria, also known as the PYD, revealed its intention to declare some form of self-rule in majority Kurdish areas in northeastern Syria.

08/12/13

* Cult launches campaign to restore swastika image Raeliens movement says Nazi-affiliated symbol is 'ancient symbol of good luck, harmony'. Activists send swastika flag to skies, big screen in Times Square in order to 'educate' public

* Egypt postpones dispersing pro-Morsi protest camps Egyptian authorities on Monday postponed a move to disperse two Cairo sit-ins by supporters of the country's ousted president to "avoid bloodshed," an official said, as Islamist supporters stepped up rallies to demand his return to power.

* US military chief arrives in Israel to discuss regional security issues Dempsey visit follows trip to the region by air force head; Pentagon says Iran threat, Syrian civil war and Sinai to top agenda.

* Jewish history rewritten PA TV doc: Arab homes will be built at Western Wall, Jews' praying there is "sin and filth"

* Police urged to prepare for Jewish visitors at Temple Mount ahead of High Holidays Knesset Interior Committee chairwoman says police must make effort to ensure unlimited Jewish access to the site.

* Netanyahu: EU settlement directives 'undermining peace' In meeting with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, PM says Israel is committed to peace, but new European directives banning cooperation with Israeli entities beyond Green Line "stand in way of reaching a solution."

* U.S. Expats Balk at Tax Law The U.S.'s crackdown on global tax evaders is leading to a record number of people renouncing their citizenship, and its effects are being felt keenly in Asia - now the world's wealthiest region by household assets.

* Palestinian Authority Denies Jewish Right to Western Wall Claim is the latest example in a string of anti-Israel propaganda, as "peace talks" set to begin.

* Russia set to build a new nuclear plant for Iran Iranian foreign minister says Tehran and Moscow close to finalizing agreement; two countries' leaders to meet next month.

* Egyptian Christian tells Europe, US to back off The following is an open letter from Egyptian Christian Dr. Ashraf Ramelah, director of Voice of the Copts, to European Union foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton, who, together with leading American officials, has been working to reinstall Muslim Brotherhood rule in Egypt.

08/10/13

* US embassies to reopen after al-Qaeda terror alert The US says 18 of the 19 diplomatic missions recently closed due to security threats will reopen on Sunday.

* Israel's Sinai dilemma The growing presence of terrorist groups in Sinai threaten Israeli national security, but unlike the Gaza Strip, Israel can't openly carry out counter-terrorism strikes in sovereign Egyptian territory.

* US, Russia agree to prepare for elusive Syria peace talks Moscow and Washington have been trying since May to organize an int'l peace conference to bring an end to the violence in Syria.

* Muslim Brotherhood switches its focus from Egypt to Syria Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, ousted from power by the military, has intensified its participation in the Sunni revolt in Syria.

* Muslims celebrate Ramadan end, strife casts shadow Millions of Muslims paid respects at ancestral graves, shared festive family meals and visited beaches and amusement parks Thursday to mark the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, but violence and political tension overshadowed holiday joy in hotspots like Egypt, Yemen and Afghanistan.

* Al Qaeda drives Iraq toward chaos; U.S. withdrawal left door open to sectarian battle for power Security inside Iraq is unraveling at an alarming pace, and al Qaeda terrorists there aren't just pulling the thread; they're setting it on fire.

* Putin, Rouhani to meet in Kyrgyzstan next month Russian aide says Iranian president requested the sit-down; leaders expected to discuss policy, cooperation

* Obama says time to 'recalibrate' relations with Russia President cites Moscow's stance on Syria, its human rights record, and its harboring of Snowden as reasons that reassessment of ties is necessary.

* Snowden Revelation Of 'Solar-Virus' Armageddon Shocks World A grim Ministry of Health (MoH) report on information obtained from former CIA/NSA whistleblower, and "global hero to the masses," Edward Snowden reveals the Obama regimes fears of a raging pandemic due to upcoming solar storms that, according to the Americans, "may very well alter life on this planet as we know it."

* New Evidence: Jihadists Holding Training Camps in Libya New evidence reveals that Ansar al-Sharia, which is believed to be behind the Benghazi attack, is holding training camps in Libya.

08/09/13

* Minister: Iran Nuclear Program Could be Destroyed in 'Hours' Minister for Strategy says 'a few hours of airstrikes' would end Iran's nuclear ambitions if pressure fails.

* Turkish president calls for Morsi's release, slams Egyptian 'coup' Gul: Morsi ouster "a clear derailment of country's progress."

* Iran's Khamenei: Peace talks will force Palestinians to relinquish their rights Supreme leader slams "Zionist wolves and their int'l supporters."

* Russia won't supply outstanding S-300s to Syria until mid-2014 - report Fulfillment of Russia's contract with Syria to supply S-300 air defense systems have been postponed until at least June 2014, a corporate report indicates. 

* EU refreshes diplomatic contacts with Iran The EU has reacted to Iran's appeal for better ties with a series of informal meetings and friendly statements.

* U.S.: 'Settlements' Are Illegitimate United States says it disapproves of construction in Judea and Samaria, after Israel approves construction of more than 800 units.

* Moscow rejects offer to drop Assad for arms deal Putin tells Saudi intelligence chief Russia won't abandon Syrian president in exchange for $15 billion weapons deal.

* Jews From Muslim Lands: The Forgotten Refugees of 1948 June 20 was World Refugee Day, dedicated to nearly 60 million people worldwide who were forcibly displaced by conflict or persecution. 

* Israel won't join EU research program, top diplomat says Deputy Foreign Minister Ze'ev Elkin says Jerusalem will forgo lucrative Horizon 2020 partnership unless Europe changes new settlement rules.

08/08/13

* Jews protest visitation restrictions at Temple Mount during Ramadan Dozens of demonstrators peacefully gathered at the locked Mugrabi Gate leading to the Temple Mount early Wednesday to protest.

* Feiglin: I Won't Let Up on Temple Mount Dozens were in attendance on Tuesday evening for American for a Safe Israel's (AFSI) annual memorial tribute to Ze'ev Jabotinsky, which was held in New York.

* Saudi offers Russia deal to scale back Assad support Saudi Arabia has offered Russia economic incentives including a major arms deal.

* PA Film Shows Arabs Beating Jewish 'Settlers' The Palestinian Authority's official television is continuing its campaign of incitement against Israelis, even as American efforts to achieve peace are ongoing.

* Major German daily publishes anti-Israeli cartoon A major German newspaper on Wednesday published an anti-Israeli caricature likening Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to an evil character from an anti-Nazi song.

* EU Parliamentarian Calls for 'Intifada' An Irish politician has caused outrage by urging Arabs to "rise up" against Israel in another "Intifada."

* Activists Demonstrate Against Temple Mount Discrimination In wake of Tuesday's decision by police officials in charge of the Temple Mount to ban non-Muslims entrance to the holy site, some two hundred protesters stood Wednesday morning at the foot of the Mugrabi entrance.

* Egypt crisis: US-EU call to end 'dangerous stalemate' The US and the European Union have called on all sides in Egypt's political crisis to end "a dangerous stalemate".

* Egypt a Battleground for Hamas, Fatah Feuding Egypt has emerged as a battlefield between the Hamas and Fatah terror groups in their ongoing struggle for control of the Palestinian Authority.

* Iran launch site 'likely for testing ballistic missiles' Iran has built a new rocket launch site which is likely to be used for testing ballistic missiles.

08/07/13

* Heightened instability, bloodshed feared in Egypt after diplomatic efforts fail Egypt's presidency said on Wednesday that diplomatic efforts to end the country's political turmoil had failed.

* Rebels hit Assad close to home Syrian rebels fighting along the coast near Latakia have announced they are only 20 kilometers outside Syrian President Bashar Assad's birthplace.

* Sun Will Flip Its Magnetic Field Soon The sun is gearing up for a major solar flip, NASA says.

* US awaits 'credible steps' on Iran as Netanyahu calls for increased pressure World pressure kept Iran from gaining nuclear weapons in the past, and is preventing it from crossing the nuclear threshold now.

* Arab voice of Donald Duck tweets for Israel to be 'demolished' An Egyptian radio host who identifies himself as the official voice of Donald Duck on Disney Middle East called on Twitter for Israel to be "demolished.".

* Samaria Leader: One Million 'Settlers' in 3 Years The Head of the Samaria Regional Council, Gershon Mesika, said Tuesday that the latest statistics prove that the Jewish settlement enterprise in Judea and Samaria cannot be undone.

* Who's really calling the shots in al-Qaida? A number of questions surround the shadowy events unfolding in Yemen over the last couple of days.

* EU, Israel headed for showdown over settlement rules Despite heavy criticism from Israel, the European Union will not cancel, modify or delay the implementation of recently published guidelines that block EU funding from Israeli institutions.

* The snaky path of how terrorists raise money Last week it was announced that January 13 would be the starting date for Courtney Linde et al v. Arab Bank.

* Settler leaders look to influence US policy Israeli settler leader Dani Dayan has made it his mission over the years to warn members of Congress, particularly Republicans, of the perils of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

08/06/13

* US warns citizens to leave Yemen amid terror alert The US state department has told citizens and non-emergency government staff to leave Yemen "immediately" due to security threats.

* Egypt: Plot to assassinate al-Sisi, ElBaradei uncovered Egyptian intelligence agencies exposed this past week three armed terror cells in the Sinai peninsula that were working together to carry out a plan to assassinate senior military and police figures.

* Abbas's Fatah Celebrates Murders of Jews on Facebook Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) reported Tuesday on an official Fatah Facebook page that is celebrating murderous terror attacks on Jews.

* Official: Israel capable of unilateral strike on Iran, if US not committed Israel is capable of carrying out a unilateral military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities.

* Turkish court convicts dozens of attempted overthrow A court on Monday convicted Turkey's former military chief of trying to overthrow the government and sentenced him to life in prison.

* Palestinian leader in Canada: Shoot Israeli Jews if they don't leave Jerusalem A Palestinian community leader in Toronto said Israelis should be given a two-minute warning before being shot.

* Egypt crisis: Talks gather pace as US senators arrive US senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham have joined top diplomats in Cairo to help find a peaceful solution to Egypt's political stalemate.

* Judea and Samaria Jewish Population Up 2% in 6 Months The Jewish population of Judea and Samaria grew by 2.12% in the last six months.

* 63% of Israeli Jews oppose major West Bank pullout, poll finds Most Israeli Jews would oppose a peace agreement with the Palestinians if it included a full West Bank pullout.

* Soldiers: New Battlefield Simulator Better Than the Real Thing The "Nevo Firing Range," a new simulator that has been adopted by the Israel Navy, will allow soldiers and sailors to conduct very accurate close and long range firing using the latest weapons in the IDF's arsenal.

08/05/13

* Report: State funds groups that advocate building Third Temple Army Radio: Temple Institute backed by Education, Culture Ministries.

* Edelstein: 'Peace Talks' May Cause Violence Trying to resolve all of the problems will result in a wave of unrest and international pressure, predicts Knesset speaker.

* Dempsey in Israel to Talk About Syria and Iran Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff arrives in Israel to discuss issues such as Syria and a possible Israeli strike in Iran.

* EXCLUSIVE: What to expect from Iran's new leader On August 3rd, Iran's notorious former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad officially left office, paving the way for Hassan Rouhani, considered by many as a ray of hope for the West, Israel included.

* Obama 'Leaking Info on Israeli Strikes in Syria' Leaks reflect 'resentment' toward Israel within the U.S. intelligence community, reports World Tribune.

* Report: US, EU, Arab envoys in Egypt visit jailed Brotherhood leader Visits are part of mediation efforts to end bloody conflict.

* Tunisians come out in show of force for Islamist-led government Tens of thousands push back against protests of secular opposition.

* U.S. extends embassy closings; warnings renew debate over NSA data collection The closing of U.S. embassies in 21 predominantly Muslim countries and a broad caution about travel during August that the State Department issued on Friday touched off debate Sunday over the National Security Agency's sweeping data collection programs.

* Israel, US have vastly different takes on Iran's Rouhani inauguration Washington ready to talk, while Jerusalem is warning that regime goal remains development of nukes.

* Syria's war splits nation into 3 distinct regions Regime forces, rebels and Kurds each control territories, boasting their own flags, security agencies and judicial systems.

08/03/13

* Iranian President-Elect Rouhani: Israel a 'wound' on Muslim world Two days before his inauguration as Iran's new president, Hassan Rouhani said on Friday that Israeli occupation of Palestinian land had inflicted a "wound" on the Muslim world.

* Feiglin Declares 'It's Time to Flood the Temple Mount' Israelis who believe the Temple Mount should remain in Israeli hands must take urgent action.

* The Five Flaws of Kerry's Mideast Peace Process Here is a list of reasons why Secretary Kerry's Mideast peace process is unfairly flawed in ways that endanger Israel.

* Nasrallah: Destroying Israel is the Interest of All Arabs Destroying Israel is the interest of the entire Arab world, Hizbullah chief Hassan Nasrallah declared.

* Rouhani to officially assume Iran's highest elected office Iran's president-elect Hasan Rouhani was to be officially endorsed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

* Egypt government urges Morsi supporters to end protests Egypt's army-installed government on Saturday promised supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi a safe exit.

* US issues global travel alert, cites al-Qaida threat The US Congress has been briefed on US intelligence that al-Qaida was in an advanced stage of planning an attack on American interests abroad.

* 'Israeli diplomats say top EU official deliberately misled them over settlement ban' Israel's envoy to the EU warned the Israeli government in March and again in May about the European Union's plans to implement an unprecedented directive banning all EU cooperation.

* France and Germany seek to revive EU defence policy The EU needs to do more for international security France and Germany have said as they call for improved battlegroups and the use of drones in civilian airspace.

* Syrian opposition, UN to cooperate in probe of chemical arms allegations The Syrian opposition has pledged to fully cooperate with UN inspectors who are due in the war-torn country.

08/01/13

* Feiglin Declares 'It's Time to Flood the Temple Mount' Israelis who believe the Temple Mount should remain in Israeli hands must take urgent action, Likud MK Moshe Feiglin warned.

* Diplomat: Obama approved intelligence leaks on Israeli air strikes in Syria The U.S. intelligence community leaked information on Israeli air strikes on Syria.

* Israelis discuss tolerance in Jerusalem at annual gay pride parade Thousands of proud gay, bisexual and transgender men and women throughout the country gathered at Independence Park in Jerusalem.

* Inside the Ring: Russia boosts Cuba ties The Russian military recently dispatched a guided-missile warship to Cuba as part of what U.S. officials say are growing military, intelligence and economic ties between Moscow and Havana.

* Assad: We wouldn't have kept fighting for more than 2 years if we weren't sure of victory Syrian President Bashar Assad said on Thursday he was confident of victory against rebels.

* Feathered dinosaurs had 'flight-ready' brains Several ancient dinosaurs evolved the brainpower needed for flight long before they could take to the skies.

* Egypt protesters defy cabinet threat to end sit-ins The country's interim leaders have ordered police to end ongoing protests at two sites in the city.

* Iraq death toll 'tops 1,000' in July, highest in years At least 4,137 civilians have been killed and 9,865 injured so far this year, with Baghdad province worst hit.

* NSA spy leaks: Snowden thanks Russia for asylum In a statement, Mr Snowden also accused the US government of showing "no respect" for international law.

* Netanyahu praises new round of US sanctions on Iran Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday welcomed an American decision to level new sanctions on Iran.