* Ben-Eliezer: In absence of deal, binational state will be set up National Infrastructures Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer on Saturday strongly criticized the ongoing peace talks with the Palestinians.

* Abbas to push Olmert on state of peace talks, says aide Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will assess the state of peace talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at their next planned meeting in Jerusalem on Monday.

* Assad: We’ll use any means in Lebanon Syria won’t hesitate to use any means at its disposal to deal with the ongoing political crisis in Lebanon.

* Iran cleric says Israel behind anti-Islam Dutch film Israel and unidentified “oppressive powers” are behind the production of an anti-Islamic film by right-wing Dutch MP Geert Wilders.

* Iraq PM halts battle with militia Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has ordered a stop to all operations against “people who carry weapons” in the country.

* China gives data on Iranian nuclear program China recently gave the International Atomic Energy Agency intelligence about Iran’s nuclear program.

* Nato Macedonia veto stokes tension When they chose Bucharest as the venue for their 2008 summit, Nato leaders meant to send an encouraging signal to all Balkan countries.

* Al Qaeda No. 2: We don’t kill innocents The second-in-command of al Qaeda has said the terrorist group does not kill innocents and that its leader Osama bin Laden is healthy.

* Russia rules out new Cold War Russia’s president has ruled out a return to the Cold War mentality that almost brought about nuclear war.

* B-1 bomber crashes in Qatar The U.S. military says a B-1 bomber has crashed at an American air base in Qatar.