Peretz: IDF will expand ground offensive After declaring a 48-hour suspension of aerial strikes over Lebanon in wake of the Kana attack, Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Israel would expand and strengthen its ground operations in southern Lebanon.

Mubarak: UN ‘impotent’ over Lebanon Egyptian president says Security Council had revealed its impotence in its response to Israel’s conflict with Hizbullah.

Lebanon rejects Rice’s statement “We will not accept any offer before an immediate and complete cease-fire. Rice is giving Olmert more time.”

Hezbollah Using Human Shield at Qana, Israel Says Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was quick to point out that Hezbollah had been using the shelter in the Lebanese town of Qana to launch rockets at Israeli towns and cities.

EU says ‘nothing can justify’ Israeli Qana airstrike The EU has fiercely condemned the Israeli airstrike on the Lebanese village of Qana over the weekend as “unjustifiable.”

UNSC withholds condemnation of Kana The UN Security Council has passed a statement expressing “extreme shock and distress.”

Settlers to mark ‘pullout anniversary’ Despite ongoing war in North, former Gaza residents decide to mark ‘disengagement memorial day’.

Turkey and Albania least popular of EU hopefuls Almost half of Europeans are against Turkey joining the EU.

Iraqi VP Accuses Israel of ‘Massacres’ Iraq’s vice president on Monday accused Israel of carrying out “massacres” in Lebanon.

China clash as church demolished There have been clashes between police and Christians protesting against the demolition of a church in eastern China’s Zhejiang province.

Tide of Arab Opinion Turns to Support for Hezbollah At the onset of the Lebanese crisis, Arab governments, starting with Saudi Arabia, slammed Hezbollah for recklessly provoking a war.

Hezbollah leader said to be hiding in Iranian Embassy Intelligence reports indicate the leader of Hezbollah is hiding in a foreign mission in Beirut, possibly the Iranian Embassy.

Rice to go back to Middle East; EU offers peacekeepers Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday in Malaysia she will be returning to the Middle East to continue work to bring about a sustainable cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel.

Blair to press Bush on Mideast British Prime Minister Tony Blair headed to Washington Friday where he was expected to press President George W. Bush on a swift solution to the Middle East crisis.

EU says Israel “totally wrong” on ceasefire message The Finnish presidency of the EU has denied giving Israel a green light to continue its operations in Lebanon.

Hizbullah launches five Iranian-made missiles at Afula After a number of Katyusha barrages hit northern Israel over the course of the morning, five Iranian-made Fajr-5 missiles landed in and around Afula shortly after 3:30 p.m. Friday.

Israel ends deadly Gaza operation The Israeli army has pulled out of the Gaza Strip after a two-day operation in which at least 29 Palestinians were killed, many of them civilians.

Iran denies giving aid to Hizbullah Iran’s foreign ministry on Friday denied allegations that Teheran has provided military support to Hizbullah in its fight against Israel.

Somali government minister killed A minister in Somalia’s transitional government has been shot dead.

Iraqi Shia leader rejects role for US reinforcements One of Iraq’s most influential Shia leaders rejected Friday the use of US forces to stabilize Iraq’s security situation.

Rome talks upset Arabs, please Israel Arab countries have expressed disappointment at the Rome talks’ failure to demand a ceasefire in the Middle East.

Iranians volunteer to fight Israel Surrounded by yellow Hezbollah flags, more than 60 Iranian volunteers set off Wednesday to join what they called a holy war against Israeli forces in Lebanon.

Al-Zawahiri urges attacks on Israel Al-Qaeda’s deputy leader has urged Muslims to attack Israel and its allies over the violence in the Middle East.

Report: Nasrallah is in Damascus Hizbullah head Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah is currently in Damascus.

Israel says world backs offensive Israel says the decision by a summit of world powers not to call for a halt to its Lebanon offensive has given it the green light to continue.

UN aid chief says Israel has ‘created a generation of hatred’ United Nations humanitarian chief Jan Egeland accused Israel on Wednesday of committing “catastrophic mistakes” in its attack on Hizbullah.

Saddam trial ends in Baghdad The trial of Saddam Hussein, the former Iraqi president, for crimes against humanity has adjourned in Baghdad until October 16, when a verdict is expected.

Rice Attends Asian Security Forum U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has arrived in Malaysia to attend a regional security forum.

Security cabinet decides against expanding Lebanon operation The security cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, decided Thursday morning against expanding the Israel Defense Forces operation in southern Lebanon.

Iraq resolute against terror, Iraqi PM tells US Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki vowed Wednesday to remain resolute in the face of violent sectarianism ripping apart his country.

UN calls for Mid-East ceasefire UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, at Middle East crisis talks in Rome, has called for an immediate ceasefire from both Hezbollah and Israel.

Nasrallah vows deeper missile strikes Hizbullah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, looking extremely tired, defiantly vowed Wednesday that his guerrilla fighters would begin firing rockets deeper into Israel.

Iranian report: Suicide bombers en route to Lebanon Iran is set to send the first group of suicide bombers to Lebanon on Wednesday.

PM to olim: You’re our secret weapon Minutes before the first of 650 new olim from France streamed off their planes at Ben-Gurion Airport Tuesday, Jewish Agency Chairman Ze’ev Bielski declared, “This is the Jewish answer to Hizbullah and to Hamas.”

Mubarak: Egypt will not go to war for Lebanon Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak rejected calls for tougher action in response to Israel’s offensive in Lebanon.

Abdullah: IDF could cause Mideast war Saudi King Abdullah appealed to the world Tuesday to stop IDF attacks on Lebanon.

Saddam ‘forced’ to courtroom Saddam Hussein, who has been receiving medical care for his hunger strike to protest against his trial for crimes against humanity.

Rice to Abbas: Its time for a new ME US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met Tuesday with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah following her earlier meeting with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Annan: Israel ‘Deliberately’ Killed 4 U.N. Observers A crisis in the U.N. is brewing following charges by Sec. Gen. Kofi Annan that Israel “deliberately” attacked a UNIFIL post.

Letters expose EU divide on Solana Middle East role The Finnish EU presidency has sent a muted response to French president Jacques Chirac’s request for a stronger role for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana in the Middle East.

Rice in Mid-East diplomacy push US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has held talks in Jerusalem with Israeli PM Ehud Olmert as she seeks to ease Israel’s conflict with Lebanon.

Hamas urges ‘moral stance’ from US The Palestinian prime minister has said he wants the US secretary of state to force Israel to end its offensive in the Gaza Strip, but Condoleezza Rice will not meet him.

Peres: ‘No alternative to victory’ Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres on Tuesday appealed to the Lebanese people to disarm Hizbullah and make peace with Israel.

Iran threatens response if Syria attacked Iranian threats against Israel continue: Iranian media outlets published sections of interviews given by Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammad-Reza Sheybani.

Germany to open Nazi files Germany will sign an agreement Wednesday to open to researchers an archive of millions of Nazi files that describe how the Holocaust was carried out.

EU to continue to fund stem cell research The EU has agreed to continue its funding of stem cell research.

Amidst War, 650 French Jews Move to Israel in One Day Despite the Re-Engagement War, 650 French Jews arrived on Aliyah (immigrating to Israel) Tuesday – the largest number to arrive in a single day since 1971.

Somalia agrees to talks with Islamists Somalia’s interim government agreed on Tuesday to attend new peace talks with the country’s powerful Islamists.

Bush to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister President Bush retains confidence in Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki despite the failure of the Shiite politician’s signature effort to improve security in Iraq’s bloody capital.

UN humanitarian chief blasts Hizbullah The UN humanitarian chief accused Hizbullah of “cowardly blending” among Lebanese civilians.

Rice holds key talks in Lebanon US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has held talks with Lebanon’s PM in Beirut.

Israel advances as Rice arrives in Beirut The Israeli army has pushed deeper into Lebanon towards the town of Bint Jbail as Condoleezza Rice arrives in Beirut to meet Lebanese leaders.

Arab nations work towards crisis resolution Diplomatic sources reported that Saudi Arabia is working diligently on a proposal to end the current crisis in Lebanon.

Syria warns against ground incursion Israel and Syria went on high alert along their mutual border late Sunday.

IDF Intelligence: Lebanon crisis good for Syria, Iran IDF Intelligence Chief Major-General Amos Yadlin said Sunday evening in a press briefing that Syria and Iran see the widening conflict on the northern border as an opportunity to advance their interests.

Iran: Israel doomed to ‘destruction’ Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, declared Sunday that Israel had “pushed the button of its own destruction” by launching its military campaign against the Iranian-backed Hizbullah in Lebanon.

Pakistan Expanding Nuclear Program Pakistan has begun building what independent analysts say is a powerful new reactor for producing plutonium.

Saddam in hospital as trial resumes The trial of Saddam Hussein reopened today in typically chaotic fashion, with the former Iraqi president absent in hospital while his lawyers boycotted the hearing.

Maliki Says Iraq Will Not Slide Into Civil War Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki says his country will not slide into civil war, despite a wave of deadly sectarian violence in recent weeks.

Somalia Heads for Civil War When the Union of the Islamic Courts (UIC) seized the Somali capital of Mogadishu on June 5, it was generally feared that it would only be a matter of time before they clashed with the forces of the interim government.

Israel tightens grip on Lebanon Israel has called up thousands of reserve troops and told civilians to quit southern Lebanon immediately.

Curfew extended as Baghdad bleeds A daytime curfew on Baghdad has been extended in an apparent effort to cut violence after one of the bloodiest weeks this year.

Lebanese defense minister: Army will fight ground invasion Lebanon’s army, which so far has sat on the sidelines of the violence raging in the country, will fight an Israeli ground invasion.

Nasrallah: Nazereth kids are martyrs Hizbullah leader, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, spoke on Thursday for the first time since the beginning of the week.

3,000 Americans emigrate to Israel As rockets slam into Israel and Israeli reprisals force Lebanese to flee the border region and parts of Beirut, more than 3,000 American citizens are leaving the comfort and security of the United States to make war-torn Israel their home.

Report: Olmert-Abbas meeting in works Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is “actively” planning for a long-delayed meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Saudi fatwa: Don’t support Hizbullah Leading Wahhabi cleric in Saudi Arabia issues scathing fatwa against Hizbullah.

UN calls for immediate ceasefire UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan faces opposition from Israel and the United States to an immediate ceasefire in the escalating Israeli-Lebanon conflict.

Somali militia threaten Ethiopia Islamic militia leaders in Somalia have threatened to wage what they called a holy war against Ethiopia unless it withdraws its troops from Somalia.

Ra’anan Gissin: It’s Iran, stupid Ra’anan Gissin, prime minister Ariel Sharon’s recently sidelined, gravel-voiced spokesman, had advice Thursday for how Israel should be waging the public relations campaign: “Emphasize Iran, Iran and Iran.”

Three soldiers wounded, one seriously, in gunfights An IDF soldier was seriously wounded Thursday morning during clashes with a Hizbullah terrorist cell.

Lebanon ‘torn to shreds’ Lebanon’s prime minister has pleaded for help to stop the “callous retribution” being inflicted by Israel.

IAF attempts to hit Hizbullah leaders IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz said Thursday that an offensive in Lebanon would not end until Israel’s security was restored.

Turkish anti-West mood ‘rising’ Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has warned that moderate Turks are becoming anti-American and anti-EU.

Israel: Hizbullah firing on Christian holy city Israel is planning on citing the lethal rocket attack on Nazareth as part of its public relations campaign.

Iranian leader: West uses Holocaust as pretext Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yesterday again expressed doubts over the true extent of the Holocaust and called it a pretext by the West to gain domination over the Middle East.

Somali Islamists vow holy war on Ethiopia troops Somalia’s Islamists vowed a “holy war” on Thursday against Ethiopian troops crossing into the Horn of Africa nation.

Al-Sistani Urges End to Sectarian Violence Iraq’s top Shiite cleric urged his followers Thursday to refrain from reprisal violence against Sunnis.

250 N. American Jews Move to Israel Despite War A record-setting year of North American Aliyah continued Thursday, with a plane full of immigrants touching down at Ben Gurion Airport.

Key Mideast Players to Meet at U.N. The United Nations was bringing key Mideast players together Thursday for a series of meetings over the escalating hostilities between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah guerrillas.

IDF ground forces, Hizbullah engage near Moshav Avivim IDF ground forces were engaged in a heavy exchange of fire with Hizbullah guerrillas on the Lebanese side of the northern border.

Syria, Iran determined to protect Hizbullah Damascus sources report that two countries identified downfall of organization as red line stemming from outlook that Hizbullah’s face-off with IDF.

Israel claims Iran link to crisis Hezbollah’s capture of two Israeli soldiers last week was timed to divert attention from Tehran’s nuclear program.

Syria’s Not-So-Hidden Hand in Lebanon Struck by IDF Israeli planes destroyed, and are continuing to target, trucks coming into Lebanon from Syria smuggling ammunition, weapons or supplies for the Hizbullah.

Sudan told to accept UN troops World powers pressed the Sudanese government to accept a United Nations peacekeeping force in Darfur.

Turkey Signals It’s Prepared to Enter Iraq Turkish officials signaled Tuesday they are prepared to send the army into northern Iraq if U.S. and Iraqi forces do not take steps to combat Turkish Kurdish guerrillas there.

US Muslims criticise Bush over Israel American Muslims have criticised the US government for its reluctance to condemn Israel.

Oil price spike “very uncomfortable”: OPEC The latest spike in oil prices is “very uncomfortable” and it is having a negative impact on the world economy.

Search for tsunami survivors as toll rises The death toll from the tsunami that struck Indonesia’s Java island has risen to 531 as the search for survivors continues.

EU top diplomat in Middle East amid continuing violence EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has arrived in the violence-stricken Middle East for fresh talks with Israeli, Palestinian and Egyptian politicians.

Iran to Hizbullah: Curb attacks on Israel Arabic language newspaper reports Iran was warned by European country that Israel is ready to attack targets in Syria.

IDF needs another week to alleviate Hizbullah threat Forty to fifty percent of Hizbullah’s military capability has been destroyed in the six days of the IDF counter-attac.

Lebanon evacuation gathers pace The evacuation of foreigners from Lebanon is being stepped up.

Day of Fasting Marked by War in Israel Jews around the world mark the beginning of a three-week commemoration of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Holy Temples with a day of fasting today.

UN call for Middle East ceasefire UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has called for urgent action from the international community to stop the violence between Israel and Lebanon.

Arab world fed up with Hizbullah With the exception of the Palestinians, the Arab world appears to be united in blaming Iran and Syria for the fighting in Lebanon.

Tsunami death toll nears 300 The death toll from a tsunami that struck the island of Java is nearing 300 while 131 people remain missing.

EU ‘acutely concerned’ by Middle East violence EU foreign ministers have urged Israel “not to resort to disproportionate action”.

Oil Prices Plunge on Iran Report Crude oil prices plunged more than $1 a barrel Monday on a rumors of moves toward peace in the Middle East and in Iran’s nuclear standoff with Western nations.

Top Somali Islamist warns against peacekeepers he supreme leader of Somalia’s increasingly powerful Islamist movement warned world powers on Monday against backing peacekeepers for the lawless nation where his forces are now dominant.