* Barak: Israel not ruling out any option in stopping Iran threat Israel is not ruling out any option when it comes to dealing with Iran’s nuclear program.

* EU holds financial reform summit A summit of EU leaders has opened in Brussels aimed at reaching agreement on ways to reform the global financial system after the recent market shocks.

* Israel sets new rules on Lebanon targets In any future conflict with Hizbullah, Israel will likely cite the Shi’ite group’s increasing influence within the Lebanese cabinet as a legitimate reason to target Lebanon’s entire infrastructure.

* Sarkozy pledges France’s support on Iran While the position of US President-elect Barack Obama on Iran’s nuclear ambitions has raised a fair deal of questions, Israel received an encouraging push from French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

* Exploratory drilling for oil in Judean Desert passes final hurdle The Council of National Parks and Nature Reserves on Thursday approved exploratory drilling for oil in the Judean Desert Nature Reserve.

* Georgia’s claims on war with Russia questioned Newly available accounts by independent military observers of the beginning of the war between Georgia and Russia this summer call into question the longstanding Georgian assertion.

* Arabs happy Obama won… and that Bush’s man lost Arab and Muslim reaction to incoming US President Barack Obama’s electoral victory around the globe has been largely optimistic.

* U.N. chief: Rebels ‘poisonous’ for Congo U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Friday rebels who are fighting government troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo pose “poisonous consequences” for the country amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.

* Hamas Changes its Tune, Ready to Meet with Obama The Hamas terrorist organization has changed its tune and has expressed a desire to talk with President-elect Barack Obama.

* France pushes for more EU engagement in Iraq France, currently chairing the six-month rotating European Union presidency, is pushing for the bloc to engage more and “without delay” in Iraq.