* Iran to hold drill to protect nuke sites Iranian state TV is reporting that the country will begin large-scale air defense war games Sunday aimed at protecting nuclear facilities against any possible attack.

* Lebanon army chief calls for high alert Lebanese Army commander Gen. Jean Kahwaji instructed his troops to raise the level of alert along the border with Israel in preparation for an attack planned by “the Israeli enemy”.

* Assad wants ‘guarantee’ of land return Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during talks in France that he was willing to engage in negotiations with Syria without preconditions.

* Barghouti urges PA to use ‘resistance’ Jailed Tanzim leader and Fatah Central Committee member Marwan Barghouti urged Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian factions to lead a ‘popular resistance’.

* Israel to send first warship to NATO naval force Israeli and NATO officials say Israel will dispatch a warship to join a NATO naval force, marking an upgrade in ties.

* EU chooses unknowns for new top jobs EU leaders have chosen Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy to be the first president of the European Council.

* Life in Jerusalem’s city of three faiths Jerusalem’s Old City is a district containing a number of holy sites venerated by Muslims, Christians and Jews.

* ‘PM wants Syria talks without delay’ Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris last week that he wished to launch talks with Damascus without preconditions.

* Archbishop of Canterbury and Pope to ‘seek closer ties’ The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Pope agreed to seek closer relations between Anglicans and Catholics at a meeting in Rome.

* Cern Large Hadron Collider restarts after 14 months The Large Hadron Collider experiment has re-started after a 14-month hiatus while the machine was being repaired.