* Israel hears Arab peace proposal The foreign ministers of Egypt and Jordan are in Israel to present the Arab League’s Middle East peace plan.

* Iran ready for higher-level US Iraq talks Iran Wednesday said that it was prepared to consider higher-level talks with the United States over Iraq.

* Envoy Blair holds West Bank talks Tony Blair has been in the West Bank to meet Palestinian leaders as part of his first visit to the Middle East as the Quartet group’s special envoy.

* Abbas is close to calling new elections Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday said he is close to calling new legislative elections.

* Sarkozy to boost EU-Libya links French President Nicolas Sarkozy is travelling to Tripoli to meet Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, a day after the release of six foreign medics.

* New plan for Temple Mount bridge aims to silence critics Jerusalem’s Planning and Construction Committee will begin discussing an alternative to the controversial Mughrabi Bridge project.

* UN Kosovo plan a failure – Serbian prime minister The Serbian prime minister said Wednesday that the plan by UN special envoy Martti Ahtisaari, which would have ceded 15% of the Balkan state’s territory, has failed.

* PM confirms intention to negotiate with Abbas on formation of Palestinian state Prime Minister Ehud Olmert confirmed Wednesday that he intends to engage in negotiations with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

* Egypt mufti denies saying Muslims can choose faith The body headed by Egypt’s official religious advisor Tuesday denied that he had said that Muslims were free to change their faith.

* 600 olim from France arrive in Israel Two flights carrying 600 new immigrants from France landed at Ben-Gurion Airport on Wednesday and were greeted by dignitaries including President Shimon Peres.