* Syrian source says regime in bad condition Damascus official tells London-based newspaper ‘mystery man’ assassinated over weekend was in charge of all of country’s sensitive security issues.

* Israel Ignoring Hamas Bid to Conquer Judea/Samaria Pinchas Inbari writes that Hamas has a realistic plan for a peaceful takeover of Judea and Samaria in the near future – and that Israel is not paying enough attention.

* Talks not derailed by Assad’s Iran trek Israel will not reevaluate its indirect talks with Damascus as a result of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s visit to Teheran over the weekend.

* Possible VP Nominee: Jerusalem is “Ground Zero” Eric Cantor, whom McCain is considering as running mate, said in a speech last November that Jerusalem is “Ground Zero in the global battle between tyranny and democracy” and is “Israel’s lifeblood.”

* Israel’s Islamic Movement: Filling the vacuum, aiming for a caliphate It wasn’t just sermons and prayers that filled the gender-segregated soccer field during the annual summit of the southern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel.

* Proof of Jeremiah Unearthed in Jerusalem Archaeologists have unearthed proof of another Biblical story at Jerusalem’s ancient City of David, this time corroborating the Book of Jeremiah.

* National-Religious Parties Considering Historic Merger Once again, voices in the national-religious parties are calling for unity – in time for the possibly upcoming national elections.

* New Sect Joins Volatile Palestinian Political Brew A shadowy Islamic organization has crept into the political equation, creating the possibility of a new reality on the ground both in Gaza and the West Bank.

* EU plans further nuclear talks with Iran Iran has missed an unofficial deadline to respond to an offer from the world’s key powers on its nuclear program but the EU’s negotiators are planning to get in touch with Tehran in the coming days.

* Iran: We tested new naval weapon Iran’s official IRNA news agency quoted the chief of the elite Revolutionary Guards on Monday as saying that Iran has tested a new marine weapon.