* Forty years later, Jerusalem still a divided city Shimshon Cahaner was among the first Israeli soldiers to storm into the Old City of Jerusalem 40 years ago.

* ‘Israel dissolution rally’ planned for Washington A pro-Israel group is scrambling to organize a last-minute response to a large anti-Israel rally being organized in Washington DC for June 10.

* Syrian official: We want to renew the peace process A Syrian official said Thursday that Damascus is interested in renewing the peace process with Israel.

* Islamists threaten to widen Lebanon attacks Islamist militants locked in a standoff with the Lebanese army threatened Thursday to widen attacks.

* Putin offers joint missile shield President George W Bush has described as “interesting” a proposal by Russia’s president for resolving the row over the planned US missile defence shield.

* Israel may allow Fatah to receive arms Israel is considering authorizing the transfer of millions of bullets and thousands of Kalashnikov rifles from Egypt to forces in the Gaza Strip loyal to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

* Iraq fighters restore al-Qaeda ties The Islamic Army in Iraq is one of the strongest and best-organised Sunni armed groups, responsible for dozens of attacks on American forces in Iraq.

* ANALYSIS-Turkey weighs cost of military action in N.Iraq A cartoon in Turkey’s Sabah newspaper on Thursday showed a Kurdish guerrilla sneaking up behind Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and preparing to push him over a cliff into a raging fire representing Northern Iraq.

* EU restarts talks on closer ties with Serbia (Roundup) The European Union on Thursday said it would resume stalled talks on closer ties with EU-hopeful Serbia.

* EU studies aid, security package for Darfur The European Union is studying how to provide greater humanitarian, security and other help to Sudan’s Darfur region.