* Arabs woo Israel over peace plan The two Arab countries with ties to Israel have paid an historic visit to the Jewish state to “extend the hand of peace” on behalf of their fellow Arabs.

* Secy. Rice: Israel Must End Occupation of ‘West Bank’ Speaking with Arabic-language Radio Sawa, based in Washington and Dubai, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice went further in her demands on Israel than President Bush.

* Olmert plans talks with Abbas over Palestinian state Eagerly seeking to restart long-stalled peace talks, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Wednesday that he plans to hold negotiations with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

* Crisis warning on Iraq refugees The scale of the exodus of refugees fleeing violence in Iraq has prompted a “humanitarian crisis”, a conference in Jordan has heard.

* 3,000 rifles arrive in Jericho Some 3,000 rifles were delivered to the Palestinian security forces in Jericho on Thursday.

* Jerusalem panel approves alternate plan for Mughrabi Bridge Jerusalem’s Planning and Construction Committee approved Thursday an alternative plan to the controversial Mughrabi Bridge project.

* ‘Israel, Turkey, as close as ever’ The re-election of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the return of his Islamic Justice and Development party to power will have no impact on Turkish-Israeli relations.

* Lebanese army ‘tightens noose’ on camp Islamists The Lebanese army Thursday tightened the noose around Islamists at a refugee camp in a bid to end a near 10-week standoff that has cost the lives of 119 soldiers.

* Brussels embraces Libya after medics’ release Libya can look forward to “a new era of relations” with the European Union on political and economic areas following the release of European medical staff.

* PA frets over Abbas murder plots Was Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas the target of an assassination attempt earlier this week?