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Peace deal realistic says Blair
Middle East envoy Tony Blair said yesterday a deal on Palestinian statehood by the end of next year is realistic as life on the Gaza Strip gets more desperate under Israeli sanctions.
PA asks U.S. to force Israel stick to Road Map
'We loudly ask the US administration to act as the judge and compel Israel to implement its commitments which the Road Map plan specified,' Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told Voice of Palestine radio.
Rice warns Israel against planned construction in E. J'lem
Housing Minister Ze'ev Boim said Saturday that nothing should prevent Israel from following through on a plan to build 300 housing units in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Homa, a plan which U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said could jeopardize peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Report: Hamas wants ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip
According to the report, senior Hamas officials are attempting to dissuade militants from firing Qassam rockets and mortar shells from the Strip into southern Israel in efforts to prevent a wide Israel Defense Forces ground operation in the Hamas-ruled territory.
Defense officials concerned as Hamas upgrades Qassam arsenal
Hamas has recently upgraded its Qassam rocket capability in the Gaza Strip, raising grave concern in the Israeli defense establishment.
Senior defense officials say that Hamas is now able to store the rockets for a relatively long period, which would allow the organization to launch a large number of Qassams at one time.
Israeli troops set to move into Gaza
Israel's army has completed plans for a large offensive in the Gaza Strip and is only waiting for government approval, the military chief said Wednesday, shortly after two Palestinian militants were killed by Israeli tank fire in the coastal area.
Israeli Arab leader to PA: Don't recognize Israel as Jewish state
Israeli Arabs, Palestinian Authority representatives gather in Nazareth Friday for Hadash party annual convention. Head of Higher Arab Monitoring Committee says Arabs in Israel pay heavy price for country's definition as Jewish state
Poll: Few West Bank settlers willing to leave homes for cash
Many religious settlers see living in the West Bank as the fulfillment of a biblical commandment. Accordingly, nonreligious settlers - many of whom moved to the West Bank for cheap housing and not for ideological reasons - are far more willing to take compensation, the poll indicated.
Young Israelis Resist Challenges to Settlements
For two months, Jewish youths have been renovating an old stone house on this muddy hilltop in the northern West Bank. The house is not theirs, however. It belongs to a Palestinian family. And their seizure of it, along with the land around it, for a new settlement outpost is a violation of Israeli law. The police have evicted the group five times, but they keep coming back.
Bush to travel to Mideast
President Bush will visit the Mideast in early January as he presses the Israelis and Palestinians to resume long-stalled peace talks and forge an elusive agreement for an independent Palestinian homeland.
"The president believes now is an appropriate time to visit the region," said White House press secretary Dana Perino.
Sneh: US intelligence report on Iran's nuke program `flawed'
The US report, or National Intelligence Estimate, does not give sufficient weight to Iran's continued enrichment of uranium and its threats to destroy Israel, Sneh told Israel Radio.
Decision time on Iran nearing, Livni says
'Tehran close to crossing technological threshold after which it will be able to secretly produce nuclear weapons without supervision,' foreign minister says during NATO conference in Brussels
Israel seeks to convince allies Iran is a growing threat
Iran is "a dangerous regime based on an extreme ideology" that speaks "clearly about its vision of wiping a state [Israel] off the map, denies the Holocaust, works with radical elements in order to undermine other regimes in the region and financing terrorist organizations, while it simultaneously tries to achieve nuclear weapons," Tzipi Livni, Israel's foreign minister, said during a speech at NATO headquarters in Brussels. "Have no mistake. This is the Iranian goal."
Israel considering strike on Iran despite US intelligence report
Although Israel argues that it wants to see strong diplomatic pressure put on Iran, it is reluctant to rule out the threat of a unilateral military attack. Matan Vilnai, Israel's deputy defence minister, told Army Radio today: "No option needs to be off the table."
Reps back Israel, blast U.S. oil dependence
The two Republicans, Ros-Lehtinen, from Miami, and Buchanan, of Sarasota, were adamant that U.S. dependence on oil has major repercussions for Israel. Ros-Lehtinen said she looks forward to the day when the United States is no longer "over an OPEC barrel."
Israeli minister 'in fear of arrest' cancels UK visit
The Israeli foreign ministry advised Avi Dichter, the Public Security minister, that what it described as an "extreme leftist" group was likely to file a legal complaint over the July 2002 bombing attack in Gaza on Saleh Shehadah which killed at least 13 civilians.
Israel livid as pilgrims cross Rafah
Amid concerns that terrorists were allowed to leave Gaza and travel abroad for training in Iran, Israel has filed a complaint with Cairo after Egypt allowed 1,700 Palestinians to pass through the Rafah Crossing to make the haj pilgrimage to Mecca.
Reform rabbi aims to forge bond with Israel among U.S. Jews
Meir Azari, rabbi of the Beit Daniel synagogue in Tel Aviv, home to the largest Reform following in Israel, has a dream: "I'd like to see large groups of Reform and Conservative Jews on El Al flights from the U.S., not just the many ultra-Orthodox, blocking the aisle with minyanim."
German politico files suit against Wikipedia over use of Nazi symbols
Katina Schubert, a deputy leader of the Left party, said she had filed the charge with Berlin police on the grounds that Wikipedia's German language site contained too much Nazi symbolism, particularly an article on the Hitler Youth movement.
Jerusalem Mansion May Have Housed Exiled Queen
The queen came from a royal clan that ruled Adiabene, a region now in northern Iraq, and converted along with her family to Judaism. They came to Jerusalem in the first half of the first century A.D.
In texts she was praised for her generosity to Jerusalem's poor, and for making contributions to the Second Temple, the center of the Jewish faith, near her house. She was buried in an elaborate tomb not far away.
Jordan king to address European parliament on Mideast
King Abdullah II of Jordan will meet French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris on Tuesday and address the European Parliament on Wednesday, the palace said on Friday.
Syria 'not pessimistic' on Middle East peace talks
Syria is not pessimistic about US-brokered talks that had set a goal of a Israeli-Palestinian peace deal by the end of 2008, said its envoy to Washington, Imad Moustapha.
But he warned that Israel's occupation of territories and killing of Palestinians could wreck negotiations launched at the US-sponsored peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland last month.
U.S. Defense Sec.: Gulf nations must band together to counter Iran
Persian Gulf nations must demand that Iran come clean about its past nuclear ambitions and openly vow to not develop such weapons in the future, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Saturday.
United Arab Emirates - PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 Missile System
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the United Arab Emirates of the PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 Missile System as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $9 billion.
Japan to develop its own stealth fighter amid advances by Chinese air force
Japan plans to develop its own stealth fighter jets to compete against the rapidly advancing Chinese air force and other threats.
Officials say Japan has been searching for replacements for its aging fleet of F-4s and F-15s.
However, its hopes of buying F-22 stealth planes from Washington have been hindered by U.S. reluctance to share sensitive military technology with foreign governments.
Investors look to emerging markets in China, Israel
Homesick entrepreneurs longing to return to China or Europe may find the motherland is offering more than a warm embrace: funding by eager investors.
China says West responsible for curbing global warming, refuses to restrict own industries
China insisted Friday the U.S. and other wealthy nations should bear the burden of curbing global warming, saying the problem was created by their lavish way of life. It rejected mandatory emission cuts for its own developing industries.
And finally Donkey News
Gaza's donkeys in demand as fuel crisis mounts
For, while working donkeys have been bought and sold in Gaza since before Samson pulled down the Philistines' temple, it is a long time since they have been as valuable as they are now. Prices have risen, according to the traders, by up to 60 per cent since Israel closed off the enclave after Hamas's enforced takeover of the Strip almost six months ago.
Middle East envoy Tony Blair said yesterday a deal on Palestinian statehood by the end of next year is realistic as life on the Gaza Strip gets more desperate under Israeli sanctions.
PA asks U.S. to force Israel stick to Road Map
'We loudly ask the US administration to act as the judge and compel Israel to implement its commitments which the Road Map plan specified,' Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told Voice of Palestine radio.
Rice warns Israel against planned construction in E. J'lem
Housing Minister Ze'ev Boim said Saturday that nothing should prevent Israel from following through on a plan to build 300 housing units in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Homa, a plan which U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said could jeopardize peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Report: Hamas wants ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip
According to the report, senior Hamas officials are attempting to dissuade militants from firing Qassam rockets and mortar shells from the Strip into southern Israel in efforts to prevent a wide Israel Defense Forces ground operation in the Hamas-ruled territory.
Defense officials concerned as Hamas upgrades Qassam arsenal
Hamas has recently upgraded its Qassam rocket capability in the Gaza Strip, raising grave concern in the Israeli defense establishment.
Senior defense officials say that Hamas is now able to store the rockets for a relatively long period, which would allow the organization to launch a large number of Qassams at one time.
Israeli troops set to move into Gaza
Israel's army has completed plans for a large offensive in the Gaza Strip and is only waiting for government approval, the military chief said Wednesday, shortly after two Palestinian militants were killed by Israeli tank fire in the coastal area.
Israeli Arab leader to PA: Don't recognize Israel as Jewish state
Israeli Arabs, Palestinian Authority representatives gather in Nazareth Friday for Hadash party annual convention. Head of Higher Arab Monitoring Committee says Arabs in Israel pay heavy price for country's definition as Jewish state
Poll: Few West Bank settlers willing to leave homes for cash
Many religious settlers see living in the West Bank as the fulfillment of a biblical commandment. Accordingly, nonreligious settlers - many of whom moved to the West Bank for cheap housing and not for ideological reasons - are far more willing to take compensation, the poll indicated.
Young Israelis Resist Challenges to Settlements
For two months, Jewish youths have been renovating an old stone house on this muddy hilltop in the northern West Bank. The house is not theirs, however. It belongs to a Palestinian family. And their seizure of it, along with the land around it, for a new settlement outpost is a violation of Israeli law. The police have evicted the group five times, but they keep coming back.
Bush to travel to Mideast
President Bush will visit the Mideast in early January as he presses the Israelis and Palestinians to resume long-stalled peace talks and forge an elusive agreement for an independent Palestinian homeland.
"The president believes now is an appropriate time to visit the region," said White House press secretary Dana Perino.
Sneh: US intelligence report on Iran's nuke program `flawed'
The US report, or National Intelligence Estimate, does not give sufficient weight to Iran's continued enrichment of uranium and its threats to destroy Israel, Sneh told Israel Radio.
Decision time on Iran nearing, Livni says
'Tehran close to crossing technological threshold after which it will be able to secretly produce nuclear weapons without supervision,' foreign minister says during NATO conference in Brussels
Israel seeks to convince allies Iran is a growing threat
Iran is "a dangerous regime based on an extreme ideology" that speaks "clearly about its vision of wiping a state [Israel] off the map, denies the Holocaust, works with radical elements in order to undermine other regimes in the region and financing terrorist organizations, while it simultaneously tries to achieve nuclear weapons," Tzipi Livni, Israel's foreign minister, said during a speech at NATO headquarters in Brussels. "Have no mistake. This is the Iranian goal."
Israel considering strike on Iran despite US intelligence report
Although Israel argues that it wants to see strong diplomatic pressure put on Iran, it is reluctant to rule out the threat of a unilateral military attack. Matan Vilnai, Israel's deputy defence minister, told Army Radio today: "No option needs to be off the table."
Reps back Israel, blast U.S. oil dependence
The two Republicans, Ros-Lehtinen, from Miami, and Buchanan, of Sarasota, were adamant that U.S. dependence on oil has major repercussions for Israel. Ros-Lehtinen said she looks forward to the day when the United States is no longer "over an OPEC barrel."
Israeli minister 'in fear of arrest' cancels UK visit
The Israeli foreign ministry advised Avi Dichter, the Public Security minister, that what it described as an "extreme leftist" group was likely to file a legal complaint over the July 2002 bombing attack in Gaza on Saleh Shehadah which killed at least 13 civilians.
Israel livid as pilgrims cross Rafah
Amid concerns that terrorists were allowed to leave Gaza and travel abroad for training in Iran, Israel has filed a complaint with Cairo after Egypt allowed 1,700 Palestinians to pass through the Rafah Crossing to make the haj pilgrimage to Mecca.
Reform rabbi aims to forge bond with Israel among U.S. Jews
Meir Azari, rabbi of the Beit Daniel synagogue in Tel Aviv, home to the largest Reform following in Israel, has a dream: "I'd like to see large groups of Reform and Conservative Jews on El Al flights from the U.S., not just the many ultra-Orthodox, blocking the aisle with minyanim."
German politico files suit against Wikipedia over use of Nazi symbols
Katina Schubert, a deputy leader of the Left party, said she had filed the charge with Berlin police on the grounds that Wikipedia's German language site contained too much Nazi symbolism, particularly an article on the Hitler Youth movement.
Jerusalem Mansion May Have Housed Exiled Queen
The queen came from a royal clan that ruled Adiabene, a region now in northern Iraq, and converted along with her family to Judaism. They came to Jerusalem in the first half of the first century A.D.
In texts she was praised for her generosity to Jerusalem's poor, and for making contributions to the Second Temple, the center of the Jewish faith, near her house. She was buried in an elaborate tomb not far away.
Jordan king to address European parliament on Mideast
King Abdullah II of Jordan will meet French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris on Tuesday and address the European Parliament on Wednesday, the palace said on Friday.
Syria 'not pessimistic' on Middle East peace talks
Syria is not pessimistic about US-brokered talks that had set a goal of a Israeli-Palestinian peace deal by the end of 2008, said its envoy to Washington, Imad Moustapha.
But he warned that Israel's occupation of territories and killing of Palestinians could wreck negotiations launched at the US-sponsored peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland last month.
U.S. Defense Sec.: Gulf nations must band together to counter Iran
Persian Gulf nations must demand that Iran come clean about its past nuclear ambitions and openly vow to not develop such weapons in the future, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Saturday.
United Arab Emirates - PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 Missile System
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the United Arab Emirates of the PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 Missile System as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $9 billion.
Japan to develop its own stealth fighter amid advances by Chinese air force
Japan plans to develop its own stealth fighter jets to compete against the rapidly advancing Chinese air force and other threats.
Officials say Japan has been searching for replacements for its aging fleet of F-4s and F-15s.
However, its hopes of buying F-22 stealth planes from Washington have been hindered by U.S. reluctance to share sensitive military technology with foreign governments.
Investors look to emerging markets in China, Israel
Homesick entrepreneurs longing to return to China or Europe may find the motherland is offering more than a warm embrace: funding by eager investors.
China says West responsible for curbing global warming, refuses to restrict own industries
China insisted Friday the U.S. and other wealthy nations should bear the burden of curbing global warming, saying the problem was created by their lavish way of life. It rejected mandatory emission cuts for its own developing industries.
And finally Donkey News
Gaza's donkeys in demand as fuel crisis mounts
For, while working donkeys have been bought and sold in Gaza since before Samson pulled down the Philistines' temple, it is a long time since they have been as valuable as they are now. Prices have risen, according to the traders, by up to 60 per cent since Israel closed off the enclave after Hamas's enforced takeover of the Strip almost six months ago.