Mideast Cease-fire Begins A United Nations Cease-fire has allowed thousands to return to their homes in Israel and Lebanon.

United Kingdom Terror Level is Downgraded The Terror Level in the United Kingdom has been downgraded from Critical to Severe as more suspects are brought in for questioning.

Lebanese Army Plans to Deploy South of the Litani River While there is still uncertainty about a United Nations force in Lebanon, the Lebanese Army prepares to advance South of the Litani River.

Israeli Neighbors Smell Blood Arabs around the Middle East are Celebrating the Israeli acceptance of the Cease-fire in Lebanon.

Iran’s Foreign Minister in Egypt Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has met with the Iranian Foreign Minister to help bring stability to war-torn Lebanon.

Iranian President Hammers the United States in a New Blog Iranian President Ahmadinejad has used his new blog to recount his poor childhood and to take potshots at the United States and Israel.

Hizbullah “Victory” Boosts Namesake More than 50 newborn babies in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank have been named after Hizbullah leader Nazrallah.

Europe is vulnerable to Radical Islam In light of the jetliner plot in London, Europe is becoming a major hub for terroristic activities in the West

EU will help strengthen Lebanon Force EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana says that he expects a quick deployment of European troops to Lebanon.

Jerusalem expects cease-fire to fail Israel will abide by the cease-fire but expects that Hizbullah will not honor it.

IDF given green light to reach Litani River Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz ordered the IDF on Friday to send ground forces into Lebanon and up to the Litani river.

A plan ‘to commit unimaginable mass murder’ ALARMING intelligence that an attack was imminent was the trigger for police raids which captured 24 terrorist suspects.

Lebanon: Cease-fire draft ‘unacceptable’ A new obstacle arose over the latest UN draft proposal to stop the fighting between Israel and Hizbullah on Thursday night.

UN steps up push for Lebanon deal Senior diplomats are meeting at the UN in New York amid signs that a deal on a resolution to end the violence in Lebanon and Israel is close.

Polls: Drop in support for Olmert Israel’s government is losing domestic support for its conduct of the conflict against Hizbullah guerrillas in Lebanon.

Bush: US at war with Islamic fascists US president George Bush has said the alleged plot to blow up transatlantic flights is a “stark reminder” the US is “at war with Islamic fascists”.

Israeli Objections to Ceasefire Proposal Former Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom of the Likud has stinging criticism of the ceasefire plan being formulated in the United Nations.

Hizbullah declares victory In latest video aired on Al-Manar TV terror group says it ‘defeated the invincible army’.

Europe on alert after foiled UK terror attacks Member states across Europe were on high alert after it emerged that the UK authorities had rounded up several people suspected of being within days of blowing up a series of transatlantic planes with liquid explosives.

Expert: Iran Poised To Be ‘Mother of All World Threats’ One Middle East expert shouts a dire warning: “As soon as a cease fire occurs, the ‘Hezbollah Blitzkrieg’ will crumble the ‘Lebanese Republic of Weimar’ and install its own ‘Khumeinist Republic’ on the Eastern shores of the Mediterranean.

Abbas under pressure to dissolve PA Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is under growing pressure to dismantle the PA.

‘Airlines terror plot’ disrupted A plot to blow up planes in flight from the UK to the US and commit “mass murder on an unimaginable scale” has been disrupted.

US pressure prompts delay of offensive The IDF General Staff postponed the expansion of ground operations in south Lebanon late Wednesday night.

Nasrallah: We’ll turn Lebanon into graveyard for IDF Hizbullah leader says Israeli attacks had not weakened organization’s capabilities.

Arab demands split French-US consensus Arab objections over the details of a deal to end the fighting between Israel and Hizbullah have eroded a rare diplomatic consensus between France and the United States.

243 N. American Immigrants Arrive in Israel Thursday The first chartered plane of a record-setting week of Western Aliyah arrived in Israel Thursday.

Annan warning over Gaza situation The war in Lebanon and northern Israel should not distract attention from events in Gaza.

‘New Mideast’ May See Stronger Extremists The “new Middle East” being born out of the warfare in Lebanon may be one where Islamic extremists are even stronger.

Islamists seize key Somali town The Islamic militia has seized control of a strategic township near the Ethiopian border from Somalia’s transitional government.

Young drive ‘radical media shift’ The “networked generation” is driving a radical shift in media consumption.

Ahmadinejad: Bush will ‘not have good ending’ Iranian leader says in US television interview Americans have ‘imperial ambitions, don’t want to live in peace with other nations’.

Israel approves deeper offensive The Israeli cabinet has approved an army plan to push deeper into Lebanon, to try to take control of areas used by Hezbollah to launch rockets on Israel.

France, US at odds on UN resolution changes French President Jacques Chirac appealed to the United States on Wednesday to speed up its response to Arab nations’ demands for changes to a UN resolution on ending the Middle East crisis.

Hezbollah’s Civilian Strategy On July 30th the Israeli Air Force launched an air raid on several houses in Kafar Qana in south Lebanon.

Palestinian poll reveals marked support of Hizbullah A public opinion poll published on Tuesday showed that support for Hamas and Hizbullah among the Palestinians has increased.

Iran’s supreme leader urges Muslims to ‘defend’ Hezbollah Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has renewed calls on Muslims to rally to the defence of the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah in its war against Israel.

Massive Western Aliyah This Week, Despite Month of War Despite the two-front war, the thousands of missiles, and the evacuation of northern communities, more than 800 North American and British Jews are moving to Israel this week.

Iran Hints at Aug. 22 Doomsday for Israel Noted Middle Eastern scholar Bernard Lewis warns that Iran is preparing for an apocalyptic “end of time” � and that it could come as soon as August 22.

Gillerman: Crisis is about terror, not territory Arab League delegation accuses UN Security Council of standing by idly while weeks of fighting between Israel, Hizbullah sow ‘seeds of hatred and extremism’ in Middle East.

40,000 soldiers await word to enter southern Lebanon Tens of thousands of IDF troops amassed along the northern border Wednesday evening in preparation for Israel’s largest and deepest ground incursion into southern Lebanon.

War With Iran ‘Inevitable,’ Former Israeli Defense Chief Says War between Iran and Israel is “inevitable.”

UNSC delays action on cease-fire The UN Security Council delayed action Monday on a UN resolution aimed at ending the Israeli-Hizbullah conflict.

South Lebanese warned of strikes Israel has warned residents of southern Lebanon that it will escalate operations there as it continues its campaign against Hezbollah militants.

PM mulls Lebanon deployment plan Prime Minister Ehud Olmert termed the Lebanese decision to move its army southward an “interesting” one that needs to be considered carefully.

Analysis: Hizbullah still strong Operation Change of Direction was launched last month with the declared goal of weakening Hizbullah.

Natan Sharansky: Israel’s Very Survival at Stake Former Soviet refusenik and Israeli Cabinet Minister Natan Sharansky believes that Israel’s war against Hezbollah is a “test case” for the free world in the war against terror.

In Wake of War, Anti-Semitic Incidents Increase Worldwide The Jewish Agency says that reports it has received in recent days indicate a “dramatic increase” in the amount and severity of anti-Semitic incidents around the world.

US says Iran may use Lebanon war to hurt Iraq The U.S. ambassador to Iraq accused Iran on Tuesday of having forces in Iraq.

Political uncertainty in Ukraine persists The political crisis in Ukraine has been resolved, but uncertainty persists.

Hezbollah Leader a Star in Syria Excerpts from a speech by Hizbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah blast from the speakers of Tareq Otabashi’s music shop in the Syrian capital.

Bird flu spreads in Indonesia Bird flu has spread to Indonesia’s easternmost province of Papua.

Saniora: We are still in shock In his opening remarks to Arab League foreign ministers in Beirut, Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora appealed to fellow Arab states to help a nation “stunned” by a devastating Israeli onslaught.

Olmert, Peretz meet on expanding IDF offensive in Lebanon Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met top defense officials Monday to discuss broadening air and ground attacks in Lebanon.

US reinforces troops in Baghdad US forces have taken up positions in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

U.S., France run into opposition from Lebanon and Arabs on UN resolution The United States and France delayed action on a UN resolution aimed at ending nearly a month of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Olmert tells Europe to stop preaching to Israel Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told European leaders to stop preaching to him about civilian war casualties.

Israeli Arabs flee south to Bethlehem Rashid Khoury and his friends from an Arab village in northern Israel lounged around a spacious hotel lobby in the town of Jesus’ birth.

Record mirror for Euro telescope European astronomers are planning to build an optical telescope that is four times bigger than any in existence.

Arab discontent spreading as Lebanon fighting continues Nearly four weeks of fighting between Hizbullah and Israel, on top of price increases, stalled democratic reforms, and bloodshed in Iraq, are making for a summer of discontent across the Middle East.

Iran to ignore nuclear resolution Iran has vowed to pursue its nuclear programme, in its first official response to last week’s UN resolution urging it to curb nuclear activities.

Yeshiva-Army Partnership A new study initiative is taking hold of many yeshivot in Jerusalem and elsewhere.

Israel smashes bridges, Hezbollah rockets fly Israeli aircraft for the first time in the three-week conflict blasted major roadways north of Beirut on Friday.

Ukraine EU future in doubt as pro-Russia leader takes over Ukraine president Viktor Yushchenko has nominated his pro-Russian arch-rival Viktor Yanukovych as prime minister.

Head of U.S. command: Iraq civil war possible Under tough questioning from U.S. senators, the head of U.S. Central Command acknowledged Thursday that Iraq could descend into civil war.

UN to endorse Israel-Lebanon talks Efforts are under way at the United Nations to set up a mechanism that would facilitate “direct or indirect” Israeli-Lebanese discussions.

Israeli army set for Lebanon push The Israeli army has been told to prepare for a possible advance in what could be its deepest incursion into Lebanon for more than 20 years.

Tens of thousands gather in Baghdad for pro-Hizbullah rally Tens of thousands of Shi’ite youths covered in white shrouds gathered Friday in Iraq’s capital for a pro-Hizbullah rally.

‘Scrap peace deal with Israel’ Judges in Egypt called upon the government to dissolve its peace agreement with Israel.

Nasrallah threatens to strike Tel Aviv Hizbullah’s leader, for the first time since fighting began 22 days ago, offered Thursday to stop rocket attacks on northern Israel in return for an end to airstrikes throughout Lebanon.

Olmert: I hope Germany sends peacekeepers to South Lebanon Prime Minister Ehud Olmert would welcome the participation of German soldiers in a stabilization force in South Lebanon.

Lebanon: Israel Wages War of Starvation Israel is waging a “war of starvation” on Lebanon’s civilians in an effort to force the government to agree to Israel’s demands.

Iraq civil war warning for Blair Civil war is a more likely outcome in Iraq than democracy.

Iranian president: Israel’s destruction solution to Mideast crisis Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday the solution to the Middle East crisis was to destroy Israel.

Evidence Mounts that Kana “Massacre” Was a Fake The world awoke Sunday to the news that an Israeli airstrike killed 57 Lebanese civilians.

Muslim powers stage Mideast summit The Muslim world’s biggest bloc held an emergency summit Thursday to muster support for a swift cease-fire.

Jerusalem Braces for Gay Pride Events “The gay pride parade in Jerusalem has been canceled, but that still leaves another 165 hours of gay activities in Israel.”

Temple Mount closed for Tisha Be’av Citing intelligence alerts of possible violence, Jerusalem police announced Wednesday that the Temple Mount will be closed to non-Muslim visitors on Thursday.

Report: Bin Laden’s son sent to operate against Israel Iran has freed a son of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden from house arrest.

Olmert apologizes for pullout remarks Ten right wing IDF reservists have announced that they will refuse to obey orders to enter Lebanon following comments made by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert arguing that the war in Lebanon could create momentum for further West Bank pullouts.

Olmert: Send us ‘real soldiers, not pensioners’ The ground battle in Lebanon is widening, but on the eve of a new United Nations Security Council decision on the Israeli-Hizbullah conflict, its days may be numbered.

Israel bombs Beirut as diplomats’ words aim to ease crisis Israel resumed its bombardment of southern Beirut Thursday.

Olmert says fighting will go on Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said that there will be no ceasefire in Lebanon until an international force is deployed in the south of the country.

PM: IDF stays until int’l force in place Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Israel’s three-week-old offensive in Lebanon will stop only once a robust international peacekeeping force is in place in southern Lebanon.

Iran defiant on nuclear deadline Iran has asserted its right to produce nuclear energy a day after the United Nations passed a resolution demanding it suspend uranium enrichment.

Rice wants UN action by week’s end US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stepped up her drive for an end to the conflict in Lebanon Tuesday.

Iraq Shia in show of force Thousands of Shias charged with guarding neighbourhoods in Iraq have marched through Baghdad as violence continued to plague the city.

Nasrallah and the three Lebanons Many in the Arab world are blaming the Lebanese for being so disunited and for not rallying en masse behind Hezbollah and its secretary general, Hassan Nasrallah.

EU rebuffs US call to put Hezbollah on terror list The EU will not for the time being put the Islamist Hezbollah movement on its blacklist of terrorist organizations.

Palestinian anti-Rice feeling peaks Anti-American sentiment has been running high in the West Bank and Gaza Strip since the beginning of the Israel-Hizbullah war three weeks ago.

Settler reservists: Won’t go to Lebanon if aim is to advance pullout PM Ehud Olmert on Wednesday predicted that the outcome of the IDF’s fighting in Lebanon would create “new momentum” for Israel’s plan to separate from the Palestinians by withdrawing from much of the West Bank.

EU waters down ceasefire call The European Union has called for an immediate end to hostilities in Lebanon.

Israel steps up ground offensive Heavy clashes have been taking place in southern Lebanon between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters.

Assad calls on army to raise readiness Syrian President Bashar Assad called on his army Monday to increase readiness to cope with “regional challenges.”

EU ministers divided over ceasefire call EU foreign ministers are divided on whether to call for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and islamist Hezbollah fighters ahead of crisis talks on the matter in Brussels.

One-Year Anniversary of Expulsion of 9,000 Jews Mourning, longing and hope: Though for many expellees remembering it is difficult, events are being held this week to commemorate one year to the forced expulsion of 9,000 Jews by Ariel Sharon.

Assad smuggling weapons to Hizbullah Three weeks into the war with Hizbullah, the IDF’s intelligence picture is growing clearer.

Iraq bomb attacks kill 44 people A series of bomb attacks in Iraq have killed at least 44 people – many of them soldiers.

Despite War, IDF Distributing Demolition Orders to Outpost Though many assumed that the destruction of communities in Judea and Samaria had been postponed, if not canceled, due to the war, the IDF distributed demolition orders to one community.

Gazans also want multinational force The Palestinian Authority is trying to win Arab backing for the deployment of an international force along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel.

Security Cabinet Approves Stepped-Up Ground Forces Operation The Security Cabinet after meeting for about four hours has given a green light to the IDF to sizably increase the IDF infantry force operating in southern Lebanon.

French FM: Iran a ‘stabilizing force’ Israeli officials were bewildered by French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy’s comment Monday that Iran plays a stabilizing role in the region.