* Gates in Iraq to Meet Maliki and U.S. Commanders Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates landed here Thursday on an unannounced visit to meet with Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki of Iraq.

* Experts say Iran has clear path to nuclear weapons Last week the Harvard Kennedy School held a simulation game of the Iranian nuclear crisis, and Israel should be very concerned about its course and its outcome.

* EU warns Israel not to divide bloc over Jerusalem The European Union says Israel must not play “divide and rule” with the 27-member bloc over a recent resolution.

* Turkey warns IAF against using airspace If Israel were to violate Turkish airspace in order to conduct reconnaissance operations on Iran, Ankara’s reaction would resemble an “earthquake.”

* Syrian VP: Israel won’t attack Iran without US support Syrian Vice President Farouk al-Shara estimated that Israel would not be able to attack Iran without the support of the United States.

* Egypt starts building steel wall on Gaza Strip border Egypt has begun constructing a huge metal wall along its border with the Gaza Strip as it attempts to cut smuggling tunnels.

* Iran’s Khamenei named ‘dictator of the year’ A day before US President Barack Obama receives the Nobel Peace Prize, Norway presents an original initiative of its own.

* Glimmers in the Holy Land: Time to Reset U.S. Mideast Policy The time has come for the Obama Administration to do a reset of American policy in the Middle East.

* Hamas preparing ‘offensive’ tunnels Israel is likely to face advanced Iranian weaponry, long-range rockets, large missile silos and dozens of kilometers of underground tunnels connecting open fields with urban centers in the event of a future conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

* Population control called key to deal Population and climate change are intertwined but the population issue has remained a blind spot when countries discuss ways to mitigate climate change and slow down global warming.