12/31/13

* New year celebrations welcome 2014 Celebrations around the world are under way to mark the start of 2014.

* The World in 2014: America's retreat has not brought peace on earth It's that time to consult the snow globe and try to peer ahead at some of the key stories, crises and opportunities which await the world as we prepare for a new year.

* Putin Orders Saudi Arabia "Destroyed" After Volgograd Terror Strikes A grim memorandum circulating in the Kremlin today written by Federal Security Services (FSB) Director Alexander Bortnikov outlining the new security measures being put into place throughout Russia ordered by President Putin a few hours ago in response to the deadly Volgograd terror attacks further warns that Russia's leader has, in effect, vowed to "destroy" Saudi Arabia as he personally is blaming them for this horrific crime against humanity.

* Egypt Calls on Arab Countries to Blacklist the Brotherhood Egypt, which has blacklisted the Muslim Brotherhood, urges other members of the Arab League to follow suit.

* Wiesenthal releases 'Top Ten 2013 anti-Semitic, anti-Israel slurs' list Iran and Turkey's leaders take top spots, American Jewish anti-Semites also make the list.

* New Year's Eve: Should Jews party like the rest of the world? Israel is ironically among the few countries that name the occasion after known anti-Semite, Pope Sylvester.

* Most Israelis own Bibles ~ but never open them, says study The Smith Research poll of 500 Israelis also revealed that a tenth of religious and ultra-Orthodox respondents have not opened a Bible in the past year.

* PM says peace deal must take into account Israel's 'settlement interests' Netanyahu blasts PA for receiving freed terrorists as "heroes;" Kerry to meet PM, Abbas to work on "guidelines for permanent status."

* Settler leaders: Washington understands the Jordan Valley must remain in Israeli hands Area's Regional Council head tells 'The Jerusalem Post' "the Americans cannot say this, because it would destroy the negotiations."

* Abbas Says Jordan Valley Annexation 'A Red Line' PA Chairman attacks Sunday ministerial vote on bill to annex region, calls annexation 'red line which can not be crossed.'

12/30/13

* Netanyahu: Israel's security, Palestinian demilitarization are necessary conditions for peace The prime minister vows to bring any accord to a referendum; Bennett mocks Livni: Israel should make peace with aliens instead.

* DHS insider gives final warning One of the questions oft asked in alternative news circles is why, if elements within the U.S. government intend to collapse our economy and implement martial law, no one within these circles has spoken out.

* Israeli population surpasses 8 million Population grows by 147,000 in 2013, including 19,200 immigrants from around the world.

* Jordan Valley sovereignty bill sparks political storm Likud MK Miri Regev's proposed bill to apply Israeli law in Jewish areas of the Jordan Valley is approved by Ministerial Committee on Legislation.

* Suicide bombing in Russia highlights Olympics security The deaths of at least 16 people in a suicide bombing in southern Russia on Sunday fit a pattern of recent terror attacks and increased the focus on already-heavy security for the Sochi Olympics in six weeks, U.S. scholars of Russia say.

* MIT Head Rejects ASA's Boycott of Israel The head of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has expressed opposition towards the academic boycott of Israel that is being promoted by the American Studies Association (ASA), the Israel Hayom daily newspaper reported on Sunday.

* Anti-Semitism seen driving massive rise in French aliyah 19,200 new immigrants came to Israel in 2013, with marked increases from Western Europe, but a decline from UK, US.

* Iraqi police dismantle Sunni protest in west Iraqi police took down tents and cleared a Sunni sit-in in a flashpoint western city after protesters there agreed to end their months-long demonstration following talks with the Shiite-led government, an official said Monday.

* Ya'alon: EU boycott preferable to rockets on Ben-Gurion Airport Defense minister says "wide-eyed and naive people in the West" err in pressuring Israel that "peace must happen immediately."

* Rouhani optimistic as talks on Iran nuke deal resume Experts from P5+1 and Iran meet in Geneva after recent disagreements over implementation of November 24 agreement.

12/28/13

* Cairo campus torched amid Egypt protests Supporters of Egypt's Islamist Muslim Brotherhood have set fire to university buildings in Cairo, state TV says.

* Global Islamism: Prospects for 2014 Thanks to the Obama administration's uninformed and flimsy foreign policy decisions, the year 2013 has distinctively been a blessing for the independent Islamist parties and fundamentalist Islamic governments.

* Kerry to return to Middle East next week US Secretary of State John Kerry will return to the Middle East next week.

* New calls for Jewish prayer at Jerusalem holy site For decades, the religious Jews who bucked a rabbinic ban and visited a contested holy site in Jerusalem where the ancient Jewish temple once stood were seen by many as a fanatic fringe.

* Iraq MP Ahmed al-Awlani arrested in deadly Ramadi raid Iraqi forces have arrested an MP, killing his brother and five of his guards during a raid on his home in the western city of Ramadi.

* Turkish protesters clash with police as supporters cheer Erdogan Protesters demanding Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan resign over a high-level corruption scandal clashed with riot police in Istanbul.

* Deep sea creatures found off Rockall 'new to science' Four animals previously unknown to science have been discovered in deep water off Scotland, the Scottish government has said.

* IDF fighting new brand of Palestinian terror The Israeli security establishment has been attempting to deal with the populist terror surge in the West Bank.

* The Jihadist Cleansing of Christianity from Muslim Countries Fox News reported that in Iraq, "Christians are afraid to put up a Christmas tree or other decorations, according to one Christian pastor in Iraq".

* Iranian nuclear chief: Islamic Republic designing new centrifuges Iran's nuclear chief said the Islamic Republic was making plans to mass produce new centrifuges for uranium enrichment.

12/27/13

* In Turkey, Erdogan is fighting for his political life Turkey Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has received a political blow from which he may not recover.

* On the brink of explosion? Is Israel facing a new wave of Palestinian terror?

* Iraq Getting Help from the United States in Fighting Al-Qaeda The United States has delivered dozens of missiles to Iraq to help combat the Al-Qaeda terrorist group.

* Beirut blast kills Sunni ex-minister Mohamad Chatah Former Lebanese minister and opposition figure Mohamad Chatah has been killed by a car bomb in central Beirut.

* Russia: Syria weapons deadline won't be met A top Russian diplomat says the Dec. 31 deadline for removing the most toxic of Syria's chemical weapons won't be met.

* From these alleyways, the anger will flow The view surrounding the Balata and Askar refugee camps outside of Nablus in the West Bank is stunning.

* Iran calls for bilateral talks with each of P5+1 The top foreign adviser to Iran's supreme leader on Friday called for separate talks directly with the United States.

* Navy's ocean-powered drones to wage underwater war While American drones patrol the skies in war-torn countries like Afghanistan, the United States is also looking to establish a similar presence in the world's oceans.

* Obama Admin to IDF Generals: Stop Being So Concerned About Israel's Security The Obama administration is pressuring Israeli generals to stop publicly voicing their concerns about the administration's security proposals in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

* Erekat: New Israeli settlement building would 'destroy peace process' The Palestinian Authority said it would plan to appeal to the international community.

12/26/13

* Netanyahu Warns Hamas Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu delieverd a threatening message to Hamas and probably to Iran, too.

* China marks Mao Zedong's 120th birthday anniversary Top leaders including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang visited the Mao mausoleum in Beijing to pay their respects.

* North Korea Rushing Imminent War Preparations North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un further escalated tensions of war on Wednesday, putting his army on notice for imminent combat.

* Steinitz: Sunni-Shi'ite nuke race will result if Iranian program isn't stopped If Iran remains a nuclear threshold state, there will be a Sunni-Shi'ite nuclear arms race.

* Treatment of Temple Mount Artifacts 'A Disgrace' The treatment of important historic artifacts found on the Temple Mount is "a disgrace," the Knesset's Internal Affairs and Environment Committee head said.

* Paratroopers hone camouflage skills as IDF prepares for unstable borders The IDF's Paratroopers have launched a brigade-wide program to hone soldiers' camouflage skills.

* Arafat died of natural causes, Russian experts say Former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat died of natural causes and was not poisoned by polonium.

* South Sudan crisis: Kenya and Ethiopia leaders in Juba for talks More than a thousand people are feared dead in violence that began 11 days ago and has raised fears of a civil war.

* Biblical films' Hollywood comeback The saint-like image of a hooded woman looms out from the movie poster, her arms outstretched as a divine light bursts from the sky.

* Atheists, Work With Us for Peace, Pope Says on Christmas Pope Francis, celebrating his first Christmas as Roman Catholic leader, on Wednesday called on atheists to unite with believers of all religions.

12/24/13

* Advocacy for a third temple The Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem's Old City is the third holiest site for Muslims.

* New calls for Jewish prayer at Jerusalem holy site For decades, the religious Jews who bucked a rabbinic ban and visited a contested holy site in Jerusalem where the ancient Jewish temple once stood were seen by many as a fanatic fringe.

* No Christmas spirit in the West Bank: Israeli journalists banned from celebrations The Palestinian Authority said on Tuesday that it expelled Israeli journalists who came to Bethlehem to cover Christmas celebrations.

* Israel to Abbas: No, Jesus was not a Palestinian Israeli officials reacted with bitter scorn to a Christmas message from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in which he called Jesus a Palestinian.

* Israeli Air Force Strikes Terror Bases in Response to Attack The Israeli Air Force (IAF) has struck multiple terrorist sites throughout Gaza.

* Is the Israeli Government Intentionally Relinquishing the Temple Mount? Over the past few years, an increasing number of reports have emerged about the heightened tensions in the area of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

* Israel to ease restrictions on Palestinian Christians over Christmas Israel will permit 21,000 Christian residents of the West Bank and 5,000 Christians from the Gaza Strip to enter the country during the Christmas holiday.

* Are Bethlehem's Christians losing grip on their city? It's nearly Christmas, but the leader of this famed little town - the first female to ever hold the role - says that tourists are not flocking to the events.

* Iran to its nuclear workers: Take a break, it's Christmas Talks between Iran and six world powers over implementation of a recent nuclear deal will take a break until after Christmas.

* US plan said to include dismantling all Jordan Valley settlements US-drafted security proposals for an Israeli-Palestinian peace accord accept almost all of Israel's demands.

12/23/13

* Netanyahu says US spying on Israel 'unacceptable,' calls for 'clarifications' PM issues strongest comments yet on revelations that NSA spied on former Israeli PMs; meets Pollard's wife, reiterating calls for his release.

* Israel must never be betrayed Unfortunately, recent actions of the Obama administration represent a sharp reversal of the historical precedent of unshakable support to the Jewish state.

* Israel to Abbas: No, Jesus was not a Palestinian Foreign Ministry pans PA president's 'outrageous rewriting of Christian history,' says he needs a hug from Santa.

* As both sides wait for Kerry, the refugee camps boil In the West Bank, hotbeds of discontent seethe under weakening PA control, leading to attacks such as Sunday's bus bombing.

* PLO Video Claims Jesus was 'Palestinian' Video uses Christmas 'magic' to push demonization of Israel; claims Jesus 'was of its own.'

* Istanbul clashes as Turkey PM Erdogan condemns 'plot' Turkish police have used tear gas against thousands of anti-government protesters in Istanbul as Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to break the hands of "plotters".

* Far From Happy Christmas for Christians in the Holy Land The Christians who still live in the Holy Land face a Christmas that will be far from happy, merry or bright. They are a persecuted minority.

* Syrian Mortar Shell Strikes Golan Heights The shell exploded in empty territory near Tel Fares, causing no casualties or damage, is probably Syrian civil war 'spillover'.

* MK's request denied: No Christmas trees in Knesset Knesset speaker denies Arab-Christian MK's request to set up Christmas tree in Israel's legislative for allegedly technical reason, but permits him to deck the halls of his own Knesset office.

* Statistics: Terror Attacks Increase As Talks Progress Israel's Security Agency (Shin Bet) statistics for November show dramatic increase in attacks; numbers follow negotiation timeline.

12/21/13

* Putin Backs Israel's Security Needs in Middle East A pact was forged between Moscow and Jerusalem to ensure Israel's security during a private meeting last month.

* Jordan to Israel: Stop Watching Temple Mount The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan wants Israel to take its "hungry eyes" off the Temple Mount.

* South Sudan evacuation aircraft fired on, US troops hurt Four US service personnel on an evacuation mission have been wounded after their aircraft were shot at in South Sudan.

* Erdogan blames 'international groups' for corruption scandal that rocks Turkey Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan denounced "international groups" and "dark alliances" on Saturday.

* Nuclear Holocaust? Yes, He Can Whatever terrific deal Obama, Ashton and Hague pretended they had pulled off with Iran in Geneva.

* Iran stages war games as nuclear talks resume The Iranian Air Force was set to launch large-scale drills Friday, as part of "annual exercises aimed at testing indigenous air defense systems".

* Putin's Latest Moves Tip the Balance of Power Toward Russia With the New Year approaching, leaders across the European continent paused.

* Egypt Buries the Brotherhood It's not unusual for the United States and a Muslim country to be on the opposite sides of the War on Terror.

* Slaughter of Christian Women and Children in Muslim Lands Two of the most tragic Islamic attacks on Christians, killing several women and children, took place in the month of October.

* IDF, PA Coordinate Christmas Merriment IDF officials announced Wednesday that security restrictions will be relaxed during Christmas to allow Palestinian Authority residents who celebrate the holiday to enjoy the festivities.

12/20/13

* Iran stages war games as nuclear talks resume The Iranian Air Force was set to launch large-scale drills Friday.

* Internal Islamist feud in Turkey threatens stability of Erdogan's government Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan is facing the greatest challenge to his rule since the protests that erupted in the summer in Gezi Park.

* West prefers Assad over Islamists in Syria, Russian FM says Western diplomats are increasingly saying that President Bashar Assad keeping power is a better option for Syria.

* Jordan to Israel: Stop Watching Temple Mount The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan wants Israel to take its "hungry eyes" off the Temple Mount.

* Putin Backs Israel's Security Needs in Middle East A pact was forged between Moscow and Jerusalem to ensure Israel's security during a private meeting last month.

* S Sudan on precipice of civil war, Obama warns US President Barack Obama has warned that South Sudan is on the "precipice" of a civil war, after clashes in the capital Juba spread around the country.

* Ugandan MPs pass life in jail anti-homosexual law The anti-homosexuality bill also makes it a crime punishable by a prison sentence not to report gay people.

* Radical Cleric: It's OK to Blow Yourself Up 'For Allah' "Blowing oneself up for the sake of Allah is acceptable,"" according to a radical Muslim cleric who recently spoke to a Lebanese television network.

* Pope's First Holy Land Trip: 'in May' Pope Francis is to make a brief visit to Israel and the territory occupied by the Palestinian Authority on May 25.

* Nasrallah: Israel will be 'punished' for Laqqis' death The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah warned Friday that the Israelis would be "punished" for killing a leader of the Shiite party.

12/19/13

* Iran, Syria smuggling weapons to Hezbollah through Iraq ran and Syria are reportedly smuggling weapons to Hezbollah through Iraqi airports.

* Iran nuclear talks return to Geneva Delicate talks between Iran and world powers on how to implement a landmark nuclear deal were to resume in Geneva Thursday.

* Iran FM: We can resume 20% enrichment within a day Iran's foreign minister said Wednesday that his country could immediately resume enriching uranium to 20 percent.

* IDF, PA Coordinate Christmas Merriment IDF officials announced Wednesday that security restrictions will be relaxed during Christmas.

* PLO Official: We Supported the Nazis in WWII If anyone has had doubts about the Palestinian Authority‚Äôs (PA) support for the Nazis, recent remarks by one of its leaders should make things clearer.

* Syria 'abducting civilians to spread terror', UN says UN human rights investigators say the Syrian government is using what they call "enforced disappearances" as part of a widespread campaign of terror against civilians.

* South Sudan rebels take Bor town after 'coup attempt' South Sudanese rebels have taken over a key town.

* Israel Museum obtains world's 'first Jewish coin' The Israel Museum has acquired over 1,200 ancient silver Persian coins.

* 'Duck Dynasty's' Phil Robertson on Indefinite Hiatus Following Anti-Gay Remarks A&E has placed Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson on indefinite hiatus following anti-gay remarks he made in a recent profile in GQ.

* No 'giant leap' on EU defence at summit Britain and Germany are aiming to downgrade plans for deeper EU military co-operation.

12/18/13

* Debate over Jewish prayer at Temple Mount heats up For decades, the religious Jews who bucked a rabbinic ban and visited a Muslim holy site in Jerusalem where the ancient Jewish temple once stood were seen by many as a fanatic fringe.

* Turkey leads the way for states suppressing media While the number of state-imprisoned journalists declined slightly in 2013 from the record number of the previous year, Turkey, Iran and China held steady.

* Iranian Official: We Planned to Destroy Israel A former Iranian government official confirmed last week that Israel was right to take seriously the Islamic Republic's threats.

* Iran Arming Hezbollah via Iraq to Avoid IAF Strikes A Kuwaiti newspaper has reported that Iran and Syria are planning to re-route arms supplies to Hezbollah via an Iraqi airport.

* Saudi Arabia warns it will act against West's policy in Middle East Saudi Arabia has warned it has been forced to go its own way in foreign policy.

* Merkel compared NSA to Stasi in heated encounter with Obama In an angry exchange with Barack Obama, Angela Merkel has compared the snooping practices of the US with those of the Stasi.

* Robots are the not-too-distant future of war The need for humans to participate in armed conflicts could soon be over.

* Iran Arming Hezbollah via Iraq to Avoid IAF Strikes A Kuwaiti newspaper has reported that Iran and Syria are planning to re-route arms supplies to Hezbollah via an Iraqi airport.

* Egyptian: Goal of Arab Spring to Wipe Out Christians Dr. Ashraf Ramelah, an Egyptian Christian activist and founder of Voice of the Copts, said in a recent interview with Arab media that the new constitution being discussed in Egypt is further evidence.

* Egypt orders deposed President Morsi to trial for conspiring with Hamas, Hezbollah Egypt's public prosecutor ordered former President Mohamed Morsi and 35 other Islamists to stand trial.

12/17/13

* Thousands of Foreigners Have Fought in Syria Between 3,300 and 11,000 fighters from more than 70 nations, including a rising number from Western Europe, have joined the struggle in Syria against President Bashar al-Assad.

* Hamas and the Palestinian Authority in talks to form unity government Hamas and the Palestinian Authority were in talks to form a national unity government.

* Japan to bolster military, boost Asia ties to counter China Japan will boost its military spending in coming years.

* US warns Russia over deploying missiles in Kaliningrad Washington has warned Moscow not to destabilize the region after Russia announced the deployment of missiles on its western borders.

* 'Whole families murdered': Syrian rebels execute over 80 civilians outside Damascus Over 80 civilians in a town northwest of the Syrian capital of Damascus have been executed by Islamist rebels.

* Americans' Belief in God Is Strong--But Declining A new Harris Poll finds that a strong majority (74 percent) of U.S. adults say they believe in God.

* American Trust In Clergy Members Hits New Low A record number of people throughout the United States have expressed a lack of trust in clergy members.

* GAY RIGHTS MAG NAMES POPE FRANCIS 'PERSON OF THE YEAR' DESPITE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE STANCE The December issue of The Advocate features Pope Francis with a "NO H8" message photoshopped on his right cheek.

* From Hungarian Neo-Nazi to Orthodox Jew A film is being made on the life story of reformed neo-Nazi Csanad Szegedi.

* EU-Turkey relations heading for new pause The EU and Turkey on Monday (16 December) feted a new pact on migrants.

12/16/13

* US Military Chiefs Advised Against Judea-Samaria Pullout in '67 Declassified document obtained by Arutz Sheva shows Joint Chiefs agreed Israel must not give up Judea, Samaria.

* Poll reveals most Palestinians think peace talks with Israel are dead Palestinian Center for Public Opinion poll finds that 56% of Palestinians expect a fresh confrontation with Israel.

* Rival rallies continue in Kiev as Western meddling increases Pro-European intergration protesters are pictured through an Ukrainian flag decorated with the European Union stars during a mass rally at Independence Square in Kiev December 15, 2013.

* Poland Says Worried Over Russian Missile Deployment Poland is worried about the possibility Russia has deployed Iskander missiles in the Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad, and will consult with its NATO partners on the issue, the foreign ministry in Warsaw said on Monday.

* U.S. Should Plan For War With China - Defense Analysts The U.S. needs to prepare for a potential war with China, according to a group of defense analysts at a U.S. House armed services subcommittee hearing this week.

* Mahmoud Abbas: I Refuse to Allow 'Israelis' into 'Palestine' Palestinian Authority Chairman makes racist remarks against Israelis, lumps Israeli Arabs together with Jews, according to PLO official.

* Syria: Turkey Supplied 47 Tons of Weapons to Islamist Rebels Despite past denials, Turkish foreign ministry spokesman admits UN report detailing military support to Syrian rebels.

* Italian Leader Justifies Hitler With Jewish Conspiracy ADL condemns Italian populist 'Pitchfork Movement' protest leader's Jewish conspiracy comments, justification of Hitler.

* Israel reaches out to US Jewish community Jerusalem's newfound role in the American Jewish debate is a role reversal of sorts

* Germany unveils new Merkel government German Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to start her third term on Tuesday (17 December) after the Bundestag votes on her new cabinet.

12/14/13

* China lands Jade Rabbit robot rover on Moon China says it has successfully landed a craft carrying a robotic rover on the surface of the Moon.

* Experts: West Losing War of Ideas with Radical Jihadist, Islamist Groups The West is losing the war of ideas with radical jihadist and Islamist groups.

* PA Formally Refuses to Recognize Jewish State PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas formally rejected US proposals for Israel to keep troops in a future Palestinian state along the Jordan border.

* Iran, Russia warn US against sanctions blacklist, say nuclear deal in jeopardy A breakthrough agreement to end the standoff over Iran's nuclear program appeared to face its first major difficulty.

* Snowed-In Jerusalem Remembers Start of Babylonian Siege 589 BCE Jerusalem is cut off from the rest of the coutry today by a fierce, but beautiful, snow storm.

* Secret Report Reveals Kerry's Plan 'Fraud' A secret US Joint Chiefs of Staff (USJCoS) Memorandum from 1967 has been uncovered by Arutz Sheva analyst Mark Langfan.

* US Poll: 84% Think Iran Stalling to Build Nukes Americans overwhelmingly distrust the Iranian regime and want stricter sanctions to be imposed.

* EU shows it's unhappy to fund divided, dysfunctional Palestinians stening closely to European diplomats these days means realizing how fed-up the European Union is with the Israeli-Palestinian issue.

* Syrian Islamist rebels to meet US officials, say oppositions sources Syrian rebel commanders from the Islamic Front which seized control of bases belonging to Western-backed rebels last week are due to hold talks with US officials in Turkey.

* Russia Warns America 'We Will Respond With Nukes' Deputy PM says Moscow is "preparing a response" to U.S. plans for missile shield in Europe.

12/13/13

* Chinese Naval Vessel Tries to Force U.S. Warship to Stop in International Waters A Chinese naval vessel tried to force a U.S. guided missile warship to stop in international waters recently.

* North Korea Executes Leader's 'Traitor' Uncle The once powerful uncle of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has been executed for a string of alleged crimes.

* Iran Puts Nuclear Talks on Hold Iran angrily suspended negotiations with world powers late Thursday.

* 'Worst storm in decades' batters Jerusalem Jerusalem on Friday night was in the midst of a storm feared to be "three times worse" than the snows that had hit Thursday and earlier Friday.

* Final UN report confirms chemical weapons used multiple times in Syria Chemical weapons were likely used in five out of seven attacks investigated by UN experts in Syria.

* EU and Ukraine drift further apart despite new talks The EU has said it will give Ukraine more money if it signs a trade pact.

* Egypt's army chief: Sadat appeared to me, and told me I'd be president Egypt's Defense Minister and army chief Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi claimed he was approached in a dream by the late president Anwar Sadat.

* Kerry: Israeli-Palestinian peace deal still possible by April Shrugging off gloomy predictions of failure, US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday that Israelis and Palestinians remained committed to peace talks.

* Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood turns to sisters in fight against state With many of its male members jailed, Egypt's besieged Muslim Brotherhood is calling up an unlikely reserve force.

* Despite calls for neutrality in Ukraine protests, young Jews are on the front lines Despite calls by Jewish leaders to remain neutral, young Jews have been on the front lines of protests against Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich.

12/12/13

* Lawmakers grill White House adviser on secret Iran talks Lawmakers are raising questions about the secret US diplomacy with Iran that led to last month's nuclear breakthrough.

* Covering Kiev: Jews fear opposition's anger might turn against them I'm standing in Kiev's Town Hall on Wednesday, down the street from the city‚Äôs Maidan ("Independence") Square.

* Experts: West Losing War of Ideas with Radical Jihadist, Islamist Groups The West is losing the war of ideas with radical jihadist and Islamist groups.

* Russia Warns America 'We Will Respond With Nukes' Deputy PM says Moscow "preparing a response" to U.S. plans for missile shield in Europe.

* India's Gay Rights Movement Rises Up After Supreme Court Criminalizes Homosexuality A controversial Supreme Court ruling on Wednesday morning that reinstated an archaic colonial law criminalizing homosexuality incited outrage.

* Bavaria Retracts Reprint Plans for Mein Kampf Germany's Bavaria state has pledged to maintain an effective post-war ban on Adolf Hitler's manifesto Mein Kampf.

* Kerry arrives in Israel to continue push for peace, after snowstorm delayed visit US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived back in the Middle East on Thursday.

* Australia high court overturns ACT gay marriage law Australia's High Court has overturned legislation allowing gay marriage in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

* Flurries return to Jerusalem as night falls A rare and heavy winter snowstorm hit parts of Israel, including Jerusalem, Wednesday night and Thursday.

* Neo-Nazi symbol spreads in Europe In recent months, the researchers warn, anti-Semites have been taking advantage of the lack of public awareness of the new "salute" and taking pictures of themselves performing the salute.

12/11/13

* Pope Francis, The People's Pope On the edge of Buenos Aires is a nothing little street called Pasaje C.

* Muslim Finds Islam, Not Israel, Ruining Temple Mount Writing for the Gatestone Institute, Palestinian academic Mudar Zahran discovers that it is local Islamic authorities, and not Israel, that are truly threatening the future of Jerusalem's Temple Mount.

* White House 'failing to challenge Iran's interpretations of Geneva deal' Iranian interpretations of the Geneva interim nuclear agreement, which run contrary to the White House's presentation of the accord, are going unchecked by the Obama Administration.

* Ex-IDF chief: Israel prefers that Assad stay in power Israel would prefer that Bashar Assad hold onto the presidency in Syria, rather than leave a power vacuum.

* Romanian state TV airs Christmas carol about burning Jews, celebrating Holocaust A Romanian public broadcaster distanced itself from a Christmas carol celebrating the Holocaust.

* US and UK suspend non-lethal aid for Syria rebels The US and UK have suspended all "non-lethal" support for rebels in northern Syria, but not humanitarian aid.

* Abbas Decorates Killer of 125 Israelis Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has granted a post-mortem honor to arch-terrorist Abu Jihad.

* Muslim Countries Top List of State-Persecution of Atheists Islamic countries top the list of states which routinely discriminate against and persecute atheists and agnostics.

* Bethlehem's Christians put a patriotic spin on a traumatic siege Visitors to the Church of the Nativity these days will have a hard time hearing their tour guide speak, for the banging of hammers and clamor of construction workers.

* Audit: EU pays Palestinians in Gaza to not work The European Union should stop paying the salaries of Palestinian civil servants in Gaza who don't work, EU auditors recommended.

12/10/13

* Jewish activists press ahead with demands to pray at Jerusalem holy site prompting potentially explosive clash with Muslims over right to worship there Jewish activists are pressing ahead with demands to pray at a contested Jerusalem holy site.

* Israeli Defense Minister: Iran Has Terror Infrastructure in Central, South America Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said yesterday that Iran has built up a terror infrastructure in Central and South America.

* Analyst: Kerry's Jordan Valley Arrangements 'A Death-Trap' Arutz Sheva analyst Mark Langfan has warned that US Secretary of State John Kerry's "security arrangement" proposals for Israel are an updated version of the 1967 "Allon Plan," and place the country in strategic danger.

* Putin orders Arctic military build-up in 2014 Russia will create forces in the Arctic in 2014 to ensure military security and protect the country's national interests in the region.

* Israel, Jordan, Palestinians sign 'Red-Dead' water agreement Israel, the Palestinians and Jordan on Monday signed an agreement that will see a pipeline built to channel water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea.

* Former Jihadi Warns of Syrian Rebels with '9/11 Ideology' A French Islamist who fought as part of a jihadi rebel faction in Syria has said that foreign fighters with a "9/11 ideology" could return to the West.

* In Ukraine protests, young Jews are marching with ultranationalists On the last evening in November, at least 31 protesters were taken into custody and dozens treated for injuries.

* Former ambassador: Netanyahu is not welcome in South Africa Nearly 100 heads of state are taking part in the memorial service for Nelson Mandela in South Africa. Israel's leaders are not among them.

* Apple's Wailing Wall is in Palestine Apple is often first in breaking new ground with the latest hi-tech gadgets. Now the company has introduced yet another brand new notion.

* Marriage should be defined as heterosexual in Russian Constitution - politician Russia's supreme law should specify that marriage is "a union between a man and a woman," one of the authors of the Russian Constitution has said.

12/09/13

* Israel, Jordan, PA to sign trilateral Red Sea-Dead Sea pipeline plan Energy and Water Minister Silvan Shalom is due to attend "historic" signing ceremony at World Bank headquarters in DC.

* Ya'alon: Every Iranian embassy in the world is a base for terrorism Defense Minister says Iranians have built a terror infrastructure in South America, designed to target Jews, Israelis.

* Analysis: A stronger Iran, a weaker America and a region teetering on the brink Agreement appears to be another step in America's flight from the Middle East rather than a genuine effort to stop Iran's rush to nuclear weapons.

* Hamas: We Won't Cede a Single Grain of Soil Hamas marks 26 years since First Intifada, stating it won't settle for less than 'Palestine from the sea to the river.'

* Fars report: Saudi intelligence chief met with Israeli counterpart Iranian news agency cites twitter account of whistleblower who said sides met to coordinate on Iran, Syria.

* Israel to hold its first int'l cyber security conference Conference an attempt to advance field that Netanyahu has pegged as an area of potential economic growth for Israel.

* Putin dissolves state news agency, tightens grip on Russia media President Vladimir Putin tightened his control over Russia's media on Monday by dissolving the main state news agency and replacing it with an organization that is to promote Moscow's image abroad.

* NSA, GCHQ 'planted agents' into World of Warcraft, Second Life to spy on gamers The NSA and the UK's GCHQ spying agencies have collected players' charts and deployed real-life agents into online World of Warcraft and Second Life games, a new leak by whistleblower Edward Snowden has revealed.

* Getting down to details: Iran and powers start implementing nuclear deal Experts from both sides meet for the first time in Vienna to start working on the recently signed deal; On the agenda: Date for stopping the sensitive nuclear activity and sanctions relief.

* Iran says it produced laser guided ballistic missiles with increased range Iranian President says world powers have admitted failure in stopping Iran's nuclear progress.

12/07/13

* Tension at Temple Mount is escalating week by week Early on Friday evenings, they meet at the Temple Mount - a group of worshipers who differ from the others in appearance, and especially ideology.

* Explosion on Israeli-Syrian border was aimed at IDF patrol A blast that took place on the Israeli-Syrian border on Friday evening was caused by explosives intended to target the IDF unit that was patrolling the border.

* Sacred Shrines Become 'Ticking Time Bomb' The supreme leader of the Palestinian Muslims and guardian of Islam's most sacred shrine in the Old City of Jerusalem has warned of an uprising.

* Putin Meets Saudi Intel Chief To Discuss Syria and Iran Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Saudi intelligence chief Prince Bandar Bin Sultan in Moscow.

* Americans: US is Losing Respect Growing numbers of Americans believe that U.S. global power and prestige are in decline.

* How Egypt's Gen. al-Sisi Won TIME's Person of the Year Poll Ahmed Abu Hashima, an Egyptian steel magnate and Sisi supporter, was one of the first to publicly congratulate Sisi on Twitter.

* Kerry: We are closer to peace than we have been in years Both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas are committed to continuing peace talks.

* Muslims Launch Fireworks at Police on Temple Mount A group of Arab Muslim youth on Wednesday launched fireworks at Israeli police officers.

* Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood has gone underground and is plotting to destabilize country Egypt has disclosed a plan by the ousted Muslim Brotherhood to sabotage the Arab power.

* Jewish activists want to pray on Jerusalem's Temple Mount, raising alarm in Muslim world A small but growing movement by Jewish activists demanding the right to pray at the site of their destroyed temple.

12/06/13

* Tension at Temple Mount is escalating week by week Early on Friday evenings, they meet at the Temple Mount - a group of worshipers who differ from the others in appearance, and especially ideology.

* Police pelted by rocks atop Temple Mount Israeli forces briefly clashed with rock-throwing Muslims atop the Temple Mount Friday.

* Kerry: We are closer to peace than we have been in years Both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas are committed to continuing peace talks.

* Nelson Mandela death: South Africa and world mourn South Africans have gathered in Johannesburg and Soweto to mourn their former leader, Nelson Mandela, who died on Thursday aged 95.

* Syrian opposition alleges new poison gas attack Opposition activists again accused President Bashar Assad's forces of using poison gas in Syria's civil war.

* Egypt reportedly to declare Muslim Brotherhood 'terrorist organization' Egyptian media reported Thursday that the government is preparing to deem the Muslim Brotherhood "a terrorist organization".

* Capt. of IDF unit that lost soldier to sniper: 'We're leaving Hebron quieter than we found it' After seven grueling months of service in Hebron, Capt. Dvir Alami, 26, feels confident his unit is leaving the area safer than when it arrived.

* Russia and Ukraine leaders seek partnership treaty Mr Yanukovych flew from China to Sochi in southern Russia for the meeting.

* Hagel assures Gulf allies US not naive on Iran The US is entering the new nuclear pact with Iran "very clear eyed".

* How Egypt's Gen. al-Sisi Won TIME's Person of the Year Poll When TIME announced on Thursday that Egypt's Defense Minister, Gen. Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, had topped TIME's 2013 Person of the Year poll with more than 440,000 votes his supporters were triumphant.

12/05/13

* Muslims Launch Fireworks at Police on Temple Mount A group of Arab Muslim youth on Wednesday launched fireworks at Israeli police officers from inside the Al Aqsa Mosque.

* Kerry: Israel's security at the top of US agenda in Iran nuclear talks The bond between the US and Israel is "unbreakable," and while there may be tactical differences between the two countries occasionally, the long term strategy for Israel's security and peace in the region is the same.

* What is anti-Semitism? EU racism agency unable to define term The European Union's agency for combating racism dropped its definition for anti-Semitism and now is unable to define the term.

* Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood has gone underground and is plotting to destabilize country Egypt has disclosed a plan by the ousted Muslim Brotherhood to sabotage the Arab power.

* Turkey's Erdogan Battles Country's Most Powerful Religious Movement Both were religious men. In the early 1970s, Cemal Usak and Recep Tayyip Erdogan were classmates at the Istanbul Imam Hatip Lisesi.

* World's largest menorah lights up Tel Aviv sky The eighth 'candle' was 'lit' Wednesday night on the World's Largest Menorah.

* Snowden documents show NSA gathering 5bn cell phone records daily The National Security Agency is reportedly collecting almost 5 billion cell phone records a day.

* 'Assad gained a year in power with chemical deal' Bashar Assad has gained at least one more year as Syria's president.

* What is going on in Ukraine? Watching hundreds of thousands of people flock to the streets of Ukrainian cities, Western audiences may have a feeling of deja vu.

* Americans: US is Losing Respect Growing numbers of Americans believe that U.S. global power and prestige are in decline.

12/04/13

* Forget Trade Talks, Biden Is in East Asia to Stop a Potential War U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden Jr.‚Äôs trip to Asia was supposed to be about mutually beneficial trade partnerships.

* Jewish activists want to pray on Jerusalem's Temple Mount, raising alarm in Muslim world A small but growing movement by Jewish activists demanding the right to pray at the site of their destroyed temple.

* Hezbollah says commander killed in Beirut, blames Israel Lebanese terror Hezbollah said on Wednesday one of its commanders was killed outside his Beirut home.

* Aiming to stymie pilgrims, rabbis reiterate ban on Temple Mount visits Israel's chief rabbis this week re-endorsed a longstanding prohibition for Jews to visit the holy site in Jerusalem's Old City.

* Putin Meets Saudi Intel Chief To Discuss Syria and Iran Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Saudi intelligence chief Prince Bandar Bin Sultan in Moscow.

* EU Threatens Action Against Israel and PA if Talks Fail The European Union (EU) is apparently fed up with the lack of progress in peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

* Bible Quiz Winner: It's a Way of Life The winner of this year's Bible quiz for adults spoke to Arutz Sheva after his victory.

* Economic concerns and war fatigue drive US foreign policy attitudes A majority of Americans want their country to "mind its own business internationally" (51%).

* 'The Negev is a Powderkeg' The socio-economic gap between Jews and Bedouin has turned the Negev into "a powderkeg," warned Sigal Moran.

* World's Tiniest Menorah Built By Hebrew U Lab In honor of Hanukkah a physics laboratory at Hebrew University in Jerusalem has built the world's tiniest hanukkiah.

12/03/13

* Jewish activists want to pray on Jerusalem's Temple Mount, raising alarm in Muslim world A small but growing movement by Jewish activists demanding the right to pray at the site of their destroyed temple, in the heart of this disputed capital's Old City, is creating a potentially explosive clash with the Muslim world.

* Army source to 'Post': Syrian cross-border shooting 'was not stray fire' The cross-border gun attack from Syria on an IDF patrol on the Golan Heights on Monday was a deliberate attack launched by a lone Syrian soldier.

* ZOA Head: Iran Deal 'Shameful and Disgraceful' The deal reached between Iran and the West is "shameful and disgraceful," says Morton Klein.

* Casualties from Terror in Heartland 'Up 120%' A senior IDF commander admitted in a Knesset session Tuesday that there has been a spike in the number of casualties from terrorism in Judea and Samaria.

* Feiglin: Weakness in Negev Starts on Temple Mount MK Moshe Feiglin (Likud Beytenu) linked Sunday between violent Bedouin Arab protests Saturday regarding the Prawer Plan for legalizing Bedouin settlements.

* Yasser Arafat 'was not poisoned' - leaked French report A team of French scientists probing the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in 2004 do not believe he was poisoned, according to leaks from their report.

* Islamic Movement: All Negev Lands Belong to Islam Leaders of the extremist Islamic Movement in Israel have claimed that Muslim MKs and other communal leaders took part in Saturday's "Day of Rage" against the Prawer plan.

* Forget Trade Talks, Biden Is in East Asia to Stop a Potential War U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden Jr.'s trip to Asia was supposed to be about mutually beneficial trade partnerships.

* Nobel Laureate: Bible is Key to Jewish Genius After two Israeli professors living in the US won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry this year, it begs the question: Why have Jews been so successful in this realm?

* 'Absolute killer' air-to-air missile readied for Russian 5G fighter jet Russia is finalizing an advanced air engagement system combining "fire-and-forget" guidance and "single-shot kill" ability.

12/2/13

* Sacred Shrines Become 'Ticking Time Bomb' The chief cleric at one of the world's holiest mosques tells Sky News that acts of Jewish prayer could spark a regional war.

* Ex-Intel Chiefs: Obama Let Iran Go Nuclear Former Israeli and American intelligence chiefs this week said the deal US President Barack Obama and other Western leaders struck with Iran last week in Geneva had essentially allowed the Islamic Republic to become a 'nuclear threshold state.'

* Netanyahu holds first meeting with Pope Francis Two speak about Iran nuke program, Israeli-Palestinian talks, Christians in Israel and Mideast.

* Saudi Arabia: Muslim Authority Threatens War Over Temple Mount Saudi Arabia's highest Islamic authority blasts Israeli plans for Jewish prayer on Temple Mount, threatens 'religious war'.

* Erdogan's problems with his neighbors Turkey's recent spat with Egypt, that saw a mutual downgrading of ties, is just the latest in a series of diplomatic incidents that have left Erdogan's government isolated in the Middle East.

* Bayit Yehudi vetoes 'revolutionary' tax break bill recognizing gay couples Shaked of Bayit Yehudi says bill "defies religious status quo"; Horowitz of Meretz says move reveals Bennett's "dark worldview."

* Syrian gunmen, IDF forces exchange fire over Golan border Army unit at Quneitra Border Crossing accurately strikes target in response to fire stemming from across Golan, IDF says.

* Netanyahu: I will not 'shut up' when Israel's interests are at stake PM, predecessor go head-to-head over Iran approach; Olmert: Netanyahu has "declared war" on US by slamming ally's role in brokering deal.

* Iraqi PM to visit Iran this week Nouri al-Maliki set for two-day trip to Tehran to discuss bilateral ties, Syrian conflict.

* Newest EU state bans gay marriage Over 65 percent of Croatians on Sunday (1 December) voted in favour of a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a "union between a man and a woman."