* Abbas warns of collapse in Gaza Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has warned that continuing violence in Gaza risks taking the region to the point of collapse.

* Barak wins Labor primary race Former prime minister Ehud Barak stepped back into the political limelight early Wednesday morning when he defeated MK Ami Ayalon.

* Beirut blast kills politician A car bomb has hit Beirut’s seafront Corniche al-Manara killing at least four people and injuring 10 more.

* Syria ready to discuss land for peace Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmad Arnous stated Tuesday that Damascus was willing to join Israel at the negotiating table.

* Solana says EU would consider military role in Gaza if asked The European Union would consider participating in an international force in Gaza if asked by the major players in the region.

* Shimon Peres elected ninth president Vice Premier Shimon Peres put an end to his historic losing streak Wednesday by beating MKs Reuven Rivlin (Likud) and Colette Avital (Labor) to become Israel’s ninth president.

* Beit El Celebrates Wool-Shearing Surrounded by hundreds of happy children, the last of a herd of five sheep had its wool shorn in Beit El Tuesday afternoon.

* Analysis: It all comes back to Iran Press rewind, stop at May 15, hit play and you’ll reel from a sense of deja vu.

* Prime Minister Maliki of Iraq likens s conflict to U.S. Civil War Iraq’s embattled prime minister compared the fight for order in Iraq with the U.S. Civil War almost 150 years ago.

* Police approve Gay Pride parade Police on Wednesday approved the Jerusalem Gay Pride march, paving the way for the parade to take place next Thursday.