* PM: ‘Israel seeks peace with Syria’ “Israel seeks peace with Syria, but we must be wary of miscalculations which could bring about an unwanted escalation,” Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said.

* Israel, Palestinians Call Off Meeting Israeli and Palestinian leaders Wednesday called off a planned summit this week.

* Iraqi parliament wants say in extension of US-led forces Iraqi legislators led by followers of a radical Shi’ite cleric passed a resolution Tuesday requiring the government to seek parliamentary permission.

* Turkey launches large-scale attack on Kurdish militants – media The Turkish army is conducting the largest military operation against Kurdish separatists in the south-east of the country in the past few years.

* EU parliamentarians push to withdraw sanctions on Hamas A growing number of European Parliament members are demanding the European Union recognize the Palestinian unity government.

* House of Representatives: Move US embassy to Jerusalem The House of Representatives on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution calling on President George W. Bush to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

* US rejects German G8 climate goal Washington says it will not agree to a deal on slashing greenhouse gas emissions at the G8 summit in Germany.

* Settlements continue to be built “We are being sent abroad, quite simply, to lie,” a senior Israeli diplomat serving in a foreign country said.

* ‘Mentally ill’ man tries to jump into popemobile A 27-year-old German man managed to jump onto Pope Benedict’s uncovered popemobile in a dramatic breach of security.

* Knesset Moves to Ban Gay March in Jerusalem With tensions rising again as homosexuals prepare to parade in Jerusalem, the Knesset passes a preliminary reading of an amendment that would ban future such marches.

By: Steve Linde – The Jerusalem Post

Those who call the Six Day War a disaster or a Pyrrhic victory are grossly mistaken, because they overlook the fact that Israel wasn’t destroyed, historian Michael Oren told The Jerusalem Post on Monday.

Read more….

* ‘Arab armies planned to destroy Israel’ Those who call the Six Day War a disaster or a Pyrrhic victory are grossly mistaken, because they overlook the fact that Israel wasn’t destroyed.

* Mid-East marks start of 1967 War Israeli and Palestinian peace activists have been holding protests to mark 40 years since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

* Syrian MP confirms preparation for war A member of the Syrian parliament, Muhammad Habash, confirmed on Tuesday that his country was actively preparing for war with Israel.

* Bush: Russia is not the enemy Russia is not an enemy of the United States and has nothing to fear from a proposed missile defence system.

* ‘Palestinians are on verge of civil war’ Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas warned Tuesday that his people were on the verge of civil war.

* Iranian president cautions world ‘not to play with lion’s tail’ The Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has warned the Security Council “not to play with the Iranian lion’s tail” by enforcing further sanctions on the country.

* Ashkenazi: IDF preparing for escalation on two fronts “The IDF is preparing for an escalation on both the Palestinian and northern fronts,” Chief of General Staff Lt. -Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi said.

* Lebanese army resumes shelling of Islamic militants Lebanese troops pounded Islamic militants hiding in a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon.

* J’lem Arabs push separate municipality An alliance of Jerusalem Arab organizations on Monday launched an international campaign to create an independent municipality for Arab residents of east Jerusalem.

* Most of Baghdad ‘not controlled’ US and Iraqi forces control fewer than one-third of Baghdad’s neighbourhoods, according to a review of a security crackdown in the city since February.

* Countdown to Israel’s destruction has begun, says Ahmadinejad Iranian president says Israel’s disappearance imminent, ‘Zionist regime’ will have to bow down to Palestinians.

* Putin threatens to target Europe In a threat not uttered since the Cold War, Vladimir Putin said that Russia intends to aim its missile systems – potentially nuclear weapons – at targets in Europe in retaliation for the U.S. decision to establish antimissile bases there.

* Iran and Egypt to hold talks on restoring full diplomatic ties Egypt and Iran will hold a round of talks in the coming days aimed at restoring full diplomatic relations.

* Spanish FM slams Ahmadinejad remarks Spain will summon Iran’s ambassador to condemn the Iranian president’s latest verbal attack on Israel, officials said Monday.

* New vow to spread Lebanon battle A commander of the Palestinian militant group battling Lebanese troops from a northern refugee camp has reportedly pledged to escalate the conflict.

* Putin calls himself the world’s only ‘absolute democrat’ Russian President Vladimir Putin has described himself as an ‘absolute democrat’ whose credentials are so pure that he has no peer in the world, a top Russian newspaper reported on Monday.

* Netanyahu: As long as we stay in West Bank we’re unbeatable ‘Automatic assumption of withdrawal to 1967 borders is unjustified, immoral and very dangerous for the State of Israel,’ opposition leader tells conference marking Six Day War’s 40th anniversary.

* Extremists planned uprising in Lebanon Ð report Al-Hayat daily quotes Lebanese, Palestinian sources as saying Fatah el-Islam leader planned to establish ÔIslamic principalityÕ in Tripoli with the help of al-Qaeda members who fled Iraq.

* ‘Coordinate confrontation against Israel’ Syrian president quoted by Iranian news agency as calling for ‘better coordination’ between Damascus and Tehran against Israel.

* High-level group writes new-look EU constitution A small group of politicians from around the EU have published a repackaged treaty for the bloc, hoping to feed into the emerging consensus among member states that a “simplified treaty” has to be extracted from the ashes of the rejected EU constitution.

* Hamas says it may consider a one-year truce with Israel Hamas may consider a one-year cease-fire with Israel, the organization’s deputy political leader said.

* Battle rages on Lebanon camp edge Lebanese troops have intensified their assault on the perimeter of a Palestinian refugee camp, demanding the surrender of Islamist militants inside.

* US and China cool military dispute China has sought to address US concerns over its upgraded war capabilities, saying its military build-up is purely defensive.

* Putin renews criticism of US missile system Days before he is to join the Group of Eight gathering of the world’s industrialised powers in Germany, Russian President Vladimir Putin again criticised United State’s plans to install a missile defence system in Eastern Europe.

* Violence as 30,000 join G-8 demos Masked demonstrators hurled stones and flagpoles at police during a demonstration Saturday by tens of thousands of people against the upcoming Group of Eight summit in Germany.

* Sources: U.S. fires at al Qaeda target in Somalia A U.S. Navy destroyer off the coast of northern Somalia Friday fired on a suspected al Qaeda operative.

* Gaza extremist group threatens to behead female broadcasters A Muslim extremist group on Friday threatened to behead female TV broadcasters if they don’t don strict Islamic dress.

* Brussels warns Poland and UK on EU constitution European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has warned both Poland and the UK not to block attempts to agree a new treaty for the European Union.

* Bush calls on Iran to free scholars President George W. Bush demanded on Friday that Iran “immediately and unconditionally” release four Iranian-American scholars and activists being held on suspicion of spying.

* Rival Sunni groups clash in Iraq Iraqi Sunni fighters have been battling militants linked to al-Qaeda in a suburb of Baghdad.

* FM Livni: Middle Eastern Nations Share a Common Threat Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni expressed the view on Thursday that all the nations of the Middle East share a common threat – that of extremist religious ideology.

* Israel and the Garden of Eden It is said of Israel that she is a mini-cosmos. A country of immigrants hailing from more than 120 countries.

* Fresh fighting hits Lebanon camp Heavy fighting has resumed between the Lebanese army and Islamic militants entrenched in a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon.

* A new/old idea for Palestinian peace It was almost 40 years ago that this city, like the rest of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, fell out of Jordanian hands and into Israeli control.

* Iran continues nuclear defiance Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator has reiterated his country’s refusal to suspend its nuclear programme after talks with EU officials in Madrid.

* US mulls long-term stay in Iraq The US is considering a long-term military presence in Iraq, similar to the arrangement agreed with South Korea.

* Rice: Russian Attitudes Locked In Past Russian attitudes are locked in the past, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said.

* Putin issues sharp warning to US, vows to counter ‘imperialism’ President Vladimir Putin issued an acerbic warning Thursday to the United States.

* ‘Israel a Jewish state first’ Israel is first and foremost a Jewish state, said Justice Dalia Dorner, who retired from the bench in 2004.

* EU ‘distancing itself’ from latest Georgia peace plan EU neighbour Georgia is angling for European support for a new solution to one of its “frozen conflicts.”

By: Ilene R. Prusher – The Christian Science Monitor

Jordan is quietly discussing closer ties – even some form of official union – with the Palestinian West Bank.

Read more….

* Jordan: Stop Temple Mount digging A Jordanian official called on Israel Wednesday to stop archaeological excavations in the Old City of Jerusalem.

* Poll: Israelis Finished With Withdrawals A poll carried out by the Knesset channel found a majority of Israelis want no more withdrawals from parts of the Land of Israel.

* Israel to ready public for ‘all-out war’ With Iran racing toward nuclear power and IDF preparations for the possibility of a conflict with Syria and Hizbullah in high gear, the Home Front Command plans to launch a publicity campaign.

* UN approves Hariri murder court The UN Security Council has approved the creation of an international court to try suspects in the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

* Top official: Israel mulling renewing Syria peace talks Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is exploring the possibility of renewing peace talks with Syria.

* Iran links Iraq and nuclear issue A senior Iranian official has said that direct Iran-US talks about security in Iraq will have an impact on the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program.

* ‘Arms race’ warning over US shield US plans to erect a missile defence system in former Soviet-bloc countries is reigniting a Cold War-style arms race.

* Russians Bidding for Control in Downtown Jerusalem If current negotiations with the Russians succeed, a large complex in central Jerusalem will be handed over to control of the Russian government.

* Turkey troops head to Iraq border Turkey has sent large contingents of soldiers, tanks, guns and armored personnel carriers to reinforce its border with Iraq.

* Public Figures Express Regret For Disengagement The Yesha Council of Judea, Samaria and Gaza communities has published a collection of statements by public figures who supported or helped implement the unilateral withdrawal from Gaza.

* Turkey-Iraq border tension grows Tension is rising on Turkey’s border with Iraq amid speculation Ankara may be about to launch an incursion to tackle Kurdish rebels.

* Mashaal: Rocket attacks will continue Damascus-based Hamas political leader Khaled Mashaal declared on Tuesday that the rocket attacks against Israel would continue.

* Houses raided after Iraq kidnap US and Iraqi troops have raided houses and buildings in Baghdad’s Sadr City, close to where five Britons were kidnapped on Tuesday.

* Russia Says New ICBM Can Beat Any System Russia tested new missiles Tuesday that a Kremlin official boasted could penetrate any defense system.

* Iran links Iraq and nuclear issue A senior Iranian official has said that direct Iran-US talks about security in Iraq will have an impact on the dispute over Iran’s nuclear programm.

* Qaeda warns of attacks ‘worse than 9/11’ An American member of Al-Qaeda warned in an Internet video that US President George W. Bush should withdraw all his troops from Muslim land or face attacks worse than September 11.

* Ministers push for stepped-up Gaza campaign The security cabinet voted Wednesday in favor of stepping up Israel’s military pressure on terror groups responsible for the firing of rockets from the Gaza Strip towards Israel.

* France gives stay of execution on Turkey EU hopes France has confirmed that it will agree to press ahead with Turkey’s EU membership talks for now.

* Leaders to meet as Gaza deaths rise Two suspected Palestinian fighters have been killed in fresh Israeli air raids on the Gaza Strip.

* Lebanese army files terrorism charges against militants A Lebanese military magistrate filed terrorism charges Wednesday against 20 suspected members of the militant Fatah Islam group.

* Bush toughens sanctions on Sudan US President George W Bush has announced fresh sanctions against Sudan over the four-year Darfur conflict.

* Syrians vote to endorse Assad for second term Posters plastered on walls of the capital and songs blaring from cars and loudspeakers proclaimed “We love you” as Syrians voted in a referendum to endorse President Bashar Assad – the only candidate – for a second term.

* Russia tests long-range missile Russia has test-launched a new intercontinental ballistic missile, Russian military officials say.

* China to catch up with US economy: world poll China is on course to catch up with the United States and join the front ranks of world economic powers, but that is little cause for concern even among Americans.

* Blair in Libya for Gaddafi talks Tony Blair has arrived in Libya at the start of a week-long tour of Africa seen as highlighting what he believes to have been foreign policy successes.

* Arabs Fear U.S-Iran Talks Cut Them Out Arab officials and commentators said Tuesday they feared the budding dialogue between Washington and Iran could cut them out of the debate over the future of Iraq.

* Israel party votes to oust leader Israel faces further political uncertainty after the Labour party, a key coalition member, voted to replace its much-criticised leader.

* High Court Bans New Muslim Burial Site Next to Temple Mount The High Court of Justice has upheld a decision by Public Security Minister Avi Dichter to ban Muslim burials on the grounds immediately southeast of the Temple Mount.

* Abbas to meet Israeli PM as Gaza violence persists Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday that he will meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert next week for the first time in nearly two months.

* Merkel promises ‘fair’ solution on EU constitution German chancellor Angela Merkel has said she is determined to find a way out of the EU’s institutional impasse.