* PM: Israel to expose nuclear arms program Israel does not accept the bottom line of the US National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003, and will continue its efforts to halt the Iranian nuclear program.

* PM pledges to ‘forge historic path’ toward peace deal On the eve of the first peace talks in nearly seven years, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday promised to “forge a historic path” toward a final settlement with the Palestinians.

* Ramon: Cede part of Jerusalem to Palestinians Vice premier defends construction project in contested Jerusalem neighborhood but says Israel should consider handing over the city’s Arab areas to the Palestinian Authority so as not to lose crucial US support.

* Egypt, Saudi Arabia Attempt Another Fatah-Hamas Unity Government For the second time in less than a year, leaders of two major Arab nations are working hard to bring the Fatah and Hamas terrorist factions together in a new unity Palestinian Authority unity government.

* Shas minister: Americans’ attitude to report reminiscent of Auschwitz Yitzhak Cohen says during cabinet meeting ‘US intelligence report was ordered by someone who wants dialogue with Tehran.

* ‘Early independence’ for Kosovo Kosovo will declare independence from Serbia “much earlier” than the expected month of May, a spokesman says.

* Israel wants citizens abroad back home Israel is trying to persuade hundreds of thousands of its citizens living overseas to return home in a project to coincide with the state’s 60th anniversary next year.

* Putin sees Medvedev as successor Russian leader Vladimir Putin has backed First Deputy PM Dmitry Medvedev to replace him as president next year.

* Top level talks on Lebanon crisis Lebanon’s army chief and potential president, Gen Michel Suleiman, has met the head of the Maronite church amid efforts to end the political crisis.

* Arab Christians try new ways to sustain spirit On a November weekend, over 10,000 Arab Christians, mostly from Egypt, boarded hundreds of buses headed to a desert camp outside Cairo for three days of non-traditional worship.