LEAD STORY The EU Presidency is calling for a Europe-wide EU Constitution referendum The head of the outgoing Austrian EU Presidency, chancellor Wolfgang Schussel, believes a pan-European referendum could be the way to revive the stranded EU constitution.

BREAKING NEWS Bush Makes Surprise Visit to Baghdad President Bush made a surprise visit to Iraq on Tuesday to meet newly named Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

* Palestinian premier’s office torched Gunmen set fire to the Palestinian prime minister’s office and parliament on Monday.

* Bush makes surprise visit to Baghdad President Bush arrived Tuesday in Baghdad on an unannounced visit to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

* Al-Qaida in Iraq names new leader Al-Qaida in Iraq on Monday named a successor to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and said he would continue in the slain leader’s path.

* Findings Indicate: Hamas Bomb Killed Arab Family IDF finds that the Arab family decimated on a Gaza beach was not hit by IDF artillery.

* ‘Israel will never leave all of W. Bank’ Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, speaking before the British parliament Tuesday afternoon, said that Israel, “would never agree to pull out of all of the West Bank.”

* Turkey sets off on EU road after late hitch Turkey completed the first official step in the long journey towards membership of the European Union.

* Saddam trial enters closed session The open session for the trial of Saddam Hussein and seven co-defendants has concluded.

* Jordan Probes Lawmakers’ Zarqawi Links Jordan is preparing legal action against four parliament members who were detained after offering condolences for the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

* How to curb China’s arms trade The People’s Republic of China remains a major stumbling block to US efforts to impose economic and military sanctions on three countries: Sudan, Myanmar and Iran.

* Austrian chancellor suggests EU-wide referendum on constitution Chancellor Wolfgang Schussel believes a pan-European referendum could be the way to revive the stranded EU constitution.

M.E.N.U. Middle East News Update Get the latest daily headlines and current events directly out of the Middle East.

LEAD STORY Jordan’s King Abdullah says that his country is not a substitute homeland for Palestinians Recently, Jordan’s King Abdullah and Israeli PM Ehud Olmert met in Oman, Jordan, capital city of this Middle Eastern state, and discussed Olmert’s realignment plan..

* Al-Qaida deputy praises al-Zarqawi, slams PA referendum Al-Jazeera satellite channel broadcast Friday excerpts of a videotape by deputy leader of al-Qaida, Ayman al-Zawahri, that praises Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

* Poll: Israelis go off Olmert plan A majority of Israelis oppose the government’s plan to unilaterally fix the country’s borders.

* Russia urges Israel against Iran attack Russia sent messages to Israel through US intermediaries recently, voicing opposition to a possible military attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

* Abbas ‘sets date’ for referendum Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is to hold a referendum on a plan for statehood.

* Amman: Olmert sticks to unilateralism Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stuck to his guns in a meeting in Jordan with King Abdullah II.

* Cleric Urges Iran to Reject Nuclear Deal A top hard-line cleric on Friday came out against a Western incentive package aimed at persuading Iran to suspend uranium enrichment.

* Curfew ordered after al-Zarqawi killed Iraqi police imposed a curfew Friday in Baghdad and in the Diyala province.

* EU states clash over enlargement ahead of summit Member state ambassadors clashed on Thursday (8 June) over a draft text to be adopted by EU leaders next week.

* Blair, Chirac talk nuclear power British Prime Minister Tony Blair is in Paris Friday for talks with French President Jacques Chirac.

* Palestinian factions in arms race The Palestinian president’s forces and their Hamas rivals are expanding their arsenals as a power struggle intensifies.

Guest Editorial Muslim Zionism is stronger Might Muslim Zionism be stronger than Jewish Zionism?

M.E.N.U. Middle East News Update Get the latest daily headlines and current events directly out of the Middle East.

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