Israeli, Syrian representatives reach secret understandings In a series of secret meetings in Europe between September 2004 and July 2006, Syrians and Israelis formulated understandings for a peace agreement.

‘There was no breakthrough with Syria’ Israel and Syria both issued vehement denials on Tuesday to a report that there had been secret agreements between the two countries.

UN marks soaring Iraq death toll More than 34,000 civilians were killed in violence in Iraq during 2006, a UN human rights official has said.

Russia confirms Tor-1 sale to Iran Russia’s defense minister said Tuesday that Russia has sold Tor-M1 air defense missile systems to Iran.

Rice gets backing for Iraq plan Saudi Arabian leaders have told Condoleeza Rice, the US secretary of state, that Arab countries are ready to back the new US strategy to stabilise Iraq.

Kosovo decision must satisfy both Pristina and Belgrade – Lavrov A decision on the sovereignty of Kosovo, which is being demanded by the predominantly Albanian population in the historically Serbian region, must satisfy both Kosovo and Serbian authorities.

Iran says Sunni-Shiite ties discussed in Saudi Iran’s top national security official today said talks he held in Saudi Arabia were aimed at improving understanding between Shiites and Sunnis.

Estimates of US Jewry Differ, but It’s Less Than in Israel The latest estimate, provided in the American Jewish Year Book, says there are 6.4 million American Jews.

AP: Iran gets army gear in Pentagon sale The US military has sold forbidden equipment at least a half-dozen times to middlemen for countries – including Iran and China.

New EU parliament boss pledges to be tough with Merkel German Christian democrat Hans-Gert Poettering, elected as the new European Parliament president today, has pledged to stand up to pressure by big member states.

Talks for Rice, Olmert and Abbas US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are to meet soon for a three-way summit.

US ‘will deal’ with Iran in Iraq George Bush, the US president, has warned Tehran that if any Iranians are caught in Iraq “we will deal with them”.

Saddam Hussein’s top aides hanged Two of Saddam Hussein’s key aides have been hanged in Baghdad, two weeks after the chaotic execution of the former Iraqi president.

Iranian, Nicaraguan leaders meet, vow to work together Iran’s hardline president expanded his courtship of allies in his standoff with Washington on Sunday.

Euro displaces dollar in bond markets The euro has displaced the US dollar as the world’s pre-eminent currency in international bond markets.

Israel Seeking Builders for West Bank The government on Monday published plans to build 44 homes in Israel’s largest West Bank settlement.

Temple Aqueduct and Ritual Bath Excavated Opposite Temple Mount Excavations being conducted opposite the Western Wall Plaza have uncovered an aqueduct that brought water to the Holy Temple, as well as a ritual bath from that period.

Egypt to launch first spy satellite Egypt is expected to launch its first spy satellite into outer space on Tuesday.

Rice: UN sanctions on Iran ‘not enough’ Talk of a military strike against Iran shows how serious it would be for the Iranians to continue down the path of nuclear development.

Nasrallah: Israeli-Syrian pact unrealistic Hizbullha’s leader Hassan Nasrallah estimated that Syria and Israel are not expected to sign a peace agreement in the near future.

Rice begins Mid-East peace push US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Israel as she begins a renewed effort to revive stalled negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.

Somalia declares state of emergency Somalia’s parliament has declared a state of emergency for three months to restore security after several weeks of war.

Iranian embarks on tour to forge anti-US ties Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is locked in a tense standoff with the United States, embarks on a Latin American tour Saturday, making his first stop in Venezuela for talks with his ideological “brother,” President Hugo Chavez.

Hamas calls for Palestinian unity Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of the ruling Palestinian movement Hamas has urged national unity after weeks of deadly feuding.

Iraqi PM delivers belated support for US strategy Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki Saturday delivered a lukewarm endorsement of a new US policy to rescue his country from civil war as Baghdad braced nervously for stepped-up security operations.

EU frets about gas risks after oil disruptions The recent disruption in Russian oil to Europe is set to prompt serious debate about the bloc’s vulnerable gas supplies.

Terrorists ‘use Google maps to hit UK troops’ Terrorists attacking British bases in Basra are using aerial footage displayed by the Google Earth internet tool to pinpoint their attacks.

Internet should be run by key players: new ITU boss The Internet should continue to be overseen by major agencies including ICANN and the ITU, rather than any new “superstructure”.

Haniyeh: Israel, US trying to ignite civil war Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh accused Israel and the US on Saturday of trying to inflame the conflict between Hamas and Fatah in the Palestinian territories.

President Bush Further Explains New Iraq Strategy The President Bush has vowed to move forward with his plan to send more U.S. troops to Iraq, despite bipartisan congressional objection and a lack of public support.

Al-Qaeda ‘rebuilding’ in Pakistan The head of US spying operations says the leaders of al-Qaeda have found a secure hideout in Pakistan from where they are rebuilding their strength.

Iranians captured inside Iraq U.S. troops launched two raids on Iranian targets in Iraq yesterday.

Rocket hits US embassy in Athens Attackers have fired a rocket at the US embassy compound in the centre of the Greek capital, Athens

Rice rejects dialogue with Iran, Syria Ahead of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s departure for Israel and other Middle Eastern states this weekend.

Chinese facing shortage of wives China will have 30 million more men of marriageable age than women by 2020.

Sharon warned Bush of Saddam threat Former prime minister Ariel Sharon told President George W. Bush ahead of the US-led invasion of Iraq of the dangers Saddam Hussein posed for the region.

London Mosque DVD: Jews Face Mass Extermination A leading mosque in London is selling DVDs that proclaim the coming mass extermination of Jews around the world.

Blair supports US decision to expand force in Iraq Prime Minister Tony Blair said Thursday he supported a US decision to send 21,500 more troops to Iraq.

Mubarak warns against religious state in Egypt Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak warned Thursday that the Muslim Brotherhood is a serious threat to his country.

Europe should train its Muslim clerics, Germany says The German EU presidency has suggested Europe should train its Imams to improve the integration of the continent’s Muslim population.

Russia turns Europe oil tap back on Russia has resumed pumping oil to Europe via Belarus, ending a three-day suspension of supplies.

PM lauds China’s stance on Iran nukes Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Thursday he was surprised and encouraged by talks with Chinese leaders.

Mahdi army told to disarm Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, has told Shia fighters to surrender their weapons.

Official: Abbas determined to hold PA elections Palestinian president’s bureau chief says ‘if the Palestinian dialogue, set to be renewed next week, fails – the decision is to declare elections’.

Syria: ME peace not currently possible Peace in the Middle East was an impossibility in light of US President George Bush’s announcement to send more troops to Iraq.

Asian Foreign Ministers Focus on North Korea, Burma Burma’s sluggish reform process again overshadowed trade and political discussions.

IDF finds Hizbullah cache near border Weaponry belonging to Hizbullah was discovered overnight Wednesday by IDF soldiers patrolling the Lebanese border.

First Time: Arab Minister in Israeli Government The appointment of Labor MK Majadele as Minister of Science was decided upon Wednesday evening by Defense Minister Amir Peretz.

Abbas: No to state with temporary borders Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday that he rejected any possibility for the establishment of a Palestinian state with temporary borders.

Somali raids miss terror suspects The US air strikes in Somalia failed to kill any of the three al-Qaeda suspects they targeted.

If you ever wanted to see Paris or Rome before you die, but haven’t had a chance to do so, you might want to hurry. Soon enough, most of what we now think of as Western Europe will be transformed into a branch of the Muslim world, which is sure to make it an even less welcoming place for Americans, Israelis and for Jews.

That, at least, is the unpleasant, yet entirely unavoidable conclusion to be drawn from Europe’s headlong demographic drive toward oblivion.

Think I’m exaggerating? Consider a few cold hard facts.

Read more…

China, Israel agree on Iran sanctions China and Israel discussed Iran’s nuclear program on Wednesday during a visit by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

New attacks in southern Somalia Air strikes targeting Islamist fighters have resumed in southern Somalia, but there is no United States confirmation.

IDF: Prospects for regional conflict higher in 2007 Predicting that 2007 will turn into a year of various strategic threats for the State of Israel.

Jewish Population in Judea and Samaria Increases in 2006 The Jewish population in Judea and Samaria grew by nearly 6% in 2006, four times the rate of increase a year earlier.

Fatah strongman in Gaza lashes out at Hamas Fatah’s strongman in Gaza branded the ruling Hamas “a bunch of murderers and thieves” Wednesday.

Anger as Russia digs in over oil Vladimir Putin on Tuesday faced an angry European backlash about his decision to halt oil supplies through the pipelines crossing Belarus.

British Christians Protest Gay Rights Christian activists submitted a petition to Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday protesting a gay rights law.

EU plans ‘industrial revolution’ The European Commission has unveiled a new energy strategy.

Bird flu hits three Asian countries Bird flu has re-emerged in Asia with human infections and dead ducks reported in three countries.

EU plans ‘industrial revolution’ The European Commission has unveiled a new energy strategy, calling on member states to cut emissions of greenhouse gases by at least 20% by 2020.

MKs, Christian leaders vow to confront radical Islam Knesset Members and Christian leaders vowed to work together to confront the threat posed by Iran and radical Islam.

US Somali air strikes ‘kill many’ The US has carried out at least two air strikes in southern Somalia targeting Islamist fighters, who the US believes include members of an al-Qaeda cell.

New UN chief wants stronger UN The United Nations must strengthen its capacity to deal with the unprecedented threats to peace and security it faces in 2007.

Fierce clashes shake west Baghdad US and Iraqi troops backed by aircraft have been engaged in fierce clashes with Sunni fighters in central Baghdad.

Prime Minister Olmert in China Olmert is to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and other senior officials.

Prime Minister: Unilateralism policy has been a failure Prime Minister Ehud Olmert recently expressed his disappointment with the results of Israel’s two unilateral withdrawals.

Hizbullah steps up bid to bring down Lebanese gov’t The Hizbullah-led Lebanese opposition vowed Monday to step up its protest campaign aimed at bringing down the government.

Gates Continues Push for Wired Homes For more than a decade, Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) chairman Bill Gates and others in the tech industry have touted a vision of a connected lifestyle.

MI head: UNIFIL not stopping Hizbullah from rearming Military Intelligence head Maj.-Gen. Amos Yadlin announced Tuesday that Hizbullah was rebuilding itself and rearming.

Putin plans oil production cut Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, has told Russian oil companies to consider cutting oil production as part of a growing trade war with Belarus.

Sudan peace deal is ‘not working’ South Sudan’s leader Salva Kiir has said that there are “serious problems” with the deal signed two years ago to end one of Africa’s longest conflicts.

Revealed: Israel plans nuclear strike on Iran Israel has drawn up secret plans to destroy Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities with tactical nuclear weapons.

Hizbullah Threatens to Paralyze Lebanon Starting Monday Over the past few days, the Hizbullah-led Lebanese opposition has threatened to escalate the conflict through violent protests.

Teheran: Israel will regret any attack In response to a report on Sunday that Israel planned to attack Teheran’s nuclear sites, Iran declared that any attack would provoke a reaction.

Future of Iraq: The spoils of war Iraq’s massive oil reserves, the third-largest in the world, are about to be thrown open for large-scale exploitation by Western oil companies.

Kurd genocide trial to resume without Saddam The trial of six former Iraqi officials over the mass killing of 182,000 Iraqi Kurds in the 1980s resumes Monday.

Olmert to head to China for visit focusing on Iran nuclear plan Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will depart for China on Monday evening on an official visit.

Plans for European far-right group intensify The European Parliament looks set to have the first far-right grouping within its corridors by mid-January.

Khamenei: Iran will never abandon nuke works Iran’s highest authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on Monday Tehran would never yield to international pressure.

Sudan: Darfur – UN Envoy Heads to Sudan for Talks With Government, Rebels And Others The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Darfur heads to Sudan and neighboring Ethiopia tonight.

Hamas warns: Abbas responsible for bloodshed Six armed Palestinian groups affiliated with Hamas issued a statement Sunday evening threatening to respond with force to any attempt to dissolve the government’s special security force.