* VP hopefuls push for two-state solution Both vice presidential candidates on Thursday affirmed their strong support for Israel and the importance of pushing for a two-state solution.

* EU big four gather for financial crisis talks The leaders of the EU’s four biggest states – Germany, France, Britain and Italy – are gathering for emergency talks on the financial crisis in Paris.

* ‘US radar could jeopardize IDF secrets’ Israel is wary of the deployment of the new US high-powered radar facility in the Negev.

* Iran’s Khamenei: Islamic World ‘Awakened’ to Israel Israel and Islamic unity were two major themes of recent speeches by the ayatollah who rules Iran.

* Pakistan official says country at war Pakistan’s war against Islamic extremists will go on until the country is “terrorism-free.”

* ‘Hundreds join’ settler violence Hundreds of settlers are engaged in violence against Palestinians and Israeli soldiers.

* ‘Financial crisis sparks anti-Semitism’ The worldwide financial meltdown has triggered an uptick in anonymous anti-Semitic comments blaming Jews for the crisis on mainstream Web site message boards.

* Russia sees in credit crisis end of U.S. domination The Russian president said in a speech Thursday that the financial crisis in the United States should be taken as a sign that America’s global economic leadership is drawing to a close.

* Vatican official attacks U.S. Democrats as “party of death”

* Iraq’s Talabani Pledges to Restore Minorities Law: Exclusive In an exclusive interview to the Middle East Times at the sidelines of the opening of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani was upbeat about Iraq’s future.