* Gov’t pushes Peres ‘Peace Valley’ plan The government on Sunday gave a bureaucratic push to a joint Israeli-Jordanian-Palestinian project.

* Syria, Iran discuss military links Syrian President Bashar Assad met Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Najjar on Sunday.

* Israel urged to end nuclear ambiguity Israel should pursue a strategy of “open nuclear deterrence” towards Iran if international attempts to curtail Teheran’s nuclear ambitions fail.

* Olmert asks Abbas to concede right of return Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agreed Sunday that the Saudi initiative could serve as a basis for promoting a diplomatic process.

* PM: Israel ‘serious’ about Saudi plan Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday said he was ready to “treat seriously” a dormant Saudi initiative calling for a comprehensive peace agreement between Israel and the Arab world.

* Al-Zawahri slams Hamas for agreeing to unity gov’t Al-Qaeda’s number two leader criticized the Palestinian Hamas for agreeing to form a national unity government.

* Livni: Don’t drop demands on Hamas Israel is hinting at stopping talks with Palestinian moderates over a “political horizon” if the European Union drops its insistence that the Palestinian Authority government recognize Israel.

* Chirac’s departure marks end of EU era French president Jacques Chirac has confirmed he will not stand as a candidate in France’s upcoming presidential elections.

* Analysis: The Saudi fig leaf Much has changed in the five years since the Saudi initiative first emerged.

* Report condemns Sudan over Darfur UN investigators have accused Sudan’s government of “orchestrating and participating” in crimes in Darfur that include murder, mass rape, and kidnap.