* Haniyeh calls on Arabs to defend Al Aksa Mosque Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh on Tuesday called on Israel’s Arabs to unite on the Temple Mount and defend the Al Aksa Mosque.

* Syria ‘can broker peace in Iraq’ Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said his country can play a major role in international efforts to end sectarian violence in Iraq.

* Gun sales triple in Lebanon Gun sales in Lebanon have increased threefold since the onset of the current political standoff between the Lebanese government and Hizbullah and the opposition.

* Palestinian PM ‘hopeful’ on talks The Palestinian PM Ismail Haniya has said he hopes a meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas will lead to a government of national unity being formed.

* Merkel criticizes Iran, Syria during Mideast trip German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday criticized Iran and Syria for their role in the Middle East.

* Global Warming: The Cold, Hard Facts? Global Warming, as we think we know it, doesn’t exist. And I am not the only one trying to make people open up their eyes and see the truth.

* Khamenei: Israel dividing Muslim world Iranian supreme leader tells Pakistani President Musharraf, ‘Zionist regime was created by West to divide Muslim world’.

* Ethiopian leaders urge end to Falashmura immigration to Israel Ethiopian rabbis and spiritual leaders (keisim) called on the government Monday to halt the Ethiopian Falashmura aliyah to Israel.

* Blood libel on Lebanon TV The traditional anti-Semitic blood libel in which Jews are accused of murder and using blood for religious purposes has once again found expression in the Arab world.

* Netherlands set to delay EU referendum decision The Netherlands is set to postpone a decision on whether to hold a second referendum on the European constitution.