Al-Aksa claims chemical capabilities The Aksa Martyrs Brigades announced on Sunday that its members have succeeded in manufacturing chemical and biological weapons.

Israeli threat of military action Israel’s prime minister has promised prolonged and extensive military action to free an Israeli soldier.

Iraqi PM urges timeline for Iraqi troops to take control Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Sunday offered an olive branch to the insurgents who join in rebuilding Iraq.

Sudan suspends UN mission in Darfur Sudan has suspended the work of a UN mission in Darfur.

Holocaust conference opens at Yad Vashem More than 300 educators from 21 countries around the world will take part in a Holocaust education conference that begins Monday at Jerusalem’s Yad Vashem.

IDF Intel Chief Says Withdrawal Increased Existential Threats IDF Intelligence Chief Maj.-Gen. Amos Yadlin recently declared that Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from Gaza has increased the number of strategic threats to Israel’s existence.

Saddam Thinks U.S. Will Beg For His Help Saddam Hussein believes the United States will have to seek his help to quell the bloody insurgency in Iraq.

Pragmatic Vienna exits downbeat EU political stage An unassuming Austrian presidency draws to a close this week.

Iraq oil output hits a new high Oil production in Iraq has hit its highest level since former leader Saddam Hussein was ousted in 2003.

Activists receive restraining orders Judea-Samaria police gave out eight restraining orders overnight Sunday to right-wing activists.

PM, Abbas agree to hold official summit Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met at an informal breakfast hosted by Jordan’s King Abdullah II Thursday morning.

Hundreds of WMDs discovered in Iraq The U.S. has located some 500 chemical weapons in Iraq since 2003 with more likely to be found.

Jordan urges Nobel laureates to help create Palestinian state Jordan’s king urged Nobel laureates on Wednesday to help set up a Palestinian state and cure the world of conflict.

Iran’s Neighbors Arming Themselves With Iran rattling its saber and continuing on its nuclear path, neighboring countries like the United Arab Emirate (UAE), Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia are looking to the U.S. to help upgrade their arsenals.

Scientists urge evolution lessons The world’s top scientists have joined forces to call for “evidence-based” teaching of evolution in schools.

Israeli-Jordanian International Airport Planned Israel and Jordan have agreed on a multi-faceted package of joint projects to begin immediately.

Iran war ‘could triple oil price’ World oil prices could triple if the West’s stand-off over Iran’s nuclear program escalates into conflict.

Olmert hints at pullout of Shilo, Beit El, Ofra, Kedumim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Thursday hinted that the settlements of Shilo, Beit El, Ofra and Kedumim would be evacuated under his unilateral withdrawal plan.

Warm words but wishy-washy results at EU-US summit Standing side by side with US president George W. Bush after a bilateral summit, EU leaders toned down their rhetoric on controversial issues.

‘All Israel will be attacked by Kassams’ Likud Chairman Binyamin Netanyahu warned on Thursday that if Prime Minister Ehud Olmert executed his realignment plan “the whole of Israel will be (attacked by) Kassams.”

Jimmy DeYoung and Col. Bob Maginnis discuss US President Bush’s defense of the Guantanamo Bay prision for terrorists.

Guantanamo clouds EU-US meeting US President George W Bush is holding talks with EU leaders at a summit which may be overshadowed by calls for the closure of Guantanamo Bay prison camp.

EU official: Time to talk to reach peace Kassam rocket fire on Sderot is another sign that the Israelis and Palestinians need to “sit down and talk and go for a long-lasting peace.”

Saddam defence lawyer shot dead One of the main lawyers defending former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein at his trial has been shot dead.

Olmert, Abbas to breakfast in Petra Dozens of Nobel laureates and international public figures will convene for the second time here on Wednesday to discuss and define their roles in responding to global crises.

US Church defiant on gay bishops Members of the US Episcopal Church have rejected a demand from the worldwide Anglican Church that they stop electing gay bishops.

Bar-On: Falash Mura aliya not a priority Bringing the remaining Falash Mura to Israel is not necessarily a priority and the delay of their immigration is not simply a matter of money.

Episcopalians refuse affirmation of Christ The House of Deputies of the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church today overwhelmingly refused to even consider a resolution that affirmed Jesus Christ as the “only name by which any person may be saved.”

Sudanese leader blasts Jewish groups Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir escalated his rejection of the United Nations deploying peacekeepers in Darfur.

Somalia president hardens stand Abdullahi Yusuf, the president of Somalia, has said he will only meet with Islamist forces who have seized large parts of the country once they lay down their arms.

Palestinians to ‘wage war’ on Israel ‘collaborators’ The Palestinian Authority security forces have been instructed to resume their campaign against Palestinians suspected of “collaboration” with Israel.

Jordanian source: PM, Abbas to meet Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas plan to sit down together for breakfast during an international conference in Jordan this week.

US soldiers’ bodies found in Iraq Two US soldiers missing in Iraq since Friday have been found dead south of Baghdad.

Islam Channel sponsors anti-Zionist debate in London Informed, honest debate on the Middle East has been stifled because of a fear of being accused of anti-Semitism.

Joint Israel-Jordan Red Sea – Dead Sea Project Israeli and Jordanian officials are working together on a project to build a canal that would replenish the evaporating Dead Sea with water from the Red Sea.

Ahmadinejad ‘has 70% approval rating’ The popularity of Iran’s controversial leader, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is surging almost a year after he unexpectedly won closely contested presidential elections.

Israel to review WB barrier route The Israeli Defence Minister, Amir Peretz, has ordered a review of the route of the controversial barrier Israel is building in the West Bank.

Somalia: A new actor on the stage The last stronghold of a US-backed warlord alliance, the Somali town of Jowhar, was captured last week by an Islamist militia whose leaders pledged to establish Sharia courts.

Bush urges Iran to suspend all uranium enrichment U.S. President George W. reiterated on Monday that Iran must suspend all uranium enrichment-related activity.

Israel to cooperate with Hamas-led Palestinian gov’t on key issues The defense establishment has laid down rules for contact with the Palestinian Authority, under which all direct contact with Hamas officials is barred.

Iranian ‘agents’ active on Lebanon border: Israel More and more Iranian “agents” are active on the Lebanese side of the border with Israel, in support of Shiite militiamen.

EU: Realignment ‘very courageous’ European commissioner for external relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner called Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s realignment plan “a very courageous step.”

Prosecution demands Saddam death The prosecution in the trial of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has called for his execution as it delivered its closing arguments.

EU may resume aid to PA Sources close to PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said Monday morning that the PA received a promise from European authorities to resume financial aid.

Iraq forces get provincial security role Iraq’s prime minister says his forces will take over security in the southern province of Muthanna in July.

China premier begins 7-nation African tour China’s premier has begun a seven-nation African tour to sign deals to keep Africa’s natural resources flowing to its booming economy.

* Somali Islamists warn Ethiopia The Islamist alliance that has taken control of key areas of Somalia has said new fighting may occur if Ethiopia refuses to withdraw its troops.

Iran may be able to produce nuclear bomb by 2010: Blix The former U.N. chief weapons inspector said Iran will be able to produce a nuclear bomb within five years.

U.S. weapons transferred to Palestinian terrorists It was the United States that coordinated the transfer of weapons last week by Israel to Force 17.

Nations press N. Korea on missile Japan, Australia and the United States have united in saying that any test-launching of an intercontinental missile by North Korea would result in serious and stern consequences.

Mubarak, Abdullah: ‘Resume Mideast peace talks’ Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan’s King Abdullah II voiced concern Sunday over fighting among Palestinian factions.

* Bombers defy security to hit Iraq About 30 people have been killed and 80 injured in a string of attacks in and around the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

* Hundreds rally against Iran’s president More than 700 people gathered Saturday to protest the Iranian president’s denial of the Nazi Holocaust as Iran played its second match at the World Cup.

* Abbas vows to uphold truce with Israel The Palestinian president has promised to continue a 16-month-old ceasefire with Israel – denying Hamas ever broke it.

* EU endorses Palestinian aid plan EU heads in Brussels have backed a plan to resume aid for Palestinians, frozen since a Hamas government took power.

* Roundup: EU constitution impasse lingers on For the constitution of the European Union, the only certainty is uncertainty in the coming years as EU leaders have failed to break the impasse at the end of a one-year period of reflection.

* Over half the world to live in cities by next year More than half the world’s population will live in a city by 2007, but for one in three people that will mean a crime-ridden slum with inadequate housing and services.

* Chinese PM launches Africa tour Wen Jiabao, China’s prime minister, has arrived in Africa for a tour of seven states aimed at boosting economic links and securing raw material supplies.

* Somalia Islamists, elders agree to administer militia-held areas Islamic militias secured the backing of influential clan elders overnight to set up a new system of governance for swathes of southern Somalia which the Islamists now control.

* Rice hopeful on EU aid for Palestinians Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday agreement is close on the creation of an international mechanism to provide assistance to Palestinians in a way that does not benefit the Hamas government.

* Hamas criticises EU aid proposals The Hamas government has criticised as “regrettable” an EU plan to provide urgent funding for the Palestinians while bypassing Hamas itself.

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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