* ‘Resistance has dispirited Zionists’ Palestinians’ strong resistance has completely dispirited Zionists, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said.

* Syrian minister signs defense agreement with Iran during Tehran visit Syria and Iran on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding regarding defense issues.

* 61 MKs back bill against Golan withdrawal A multi-party bill designed to make it harder for the government to cede the Golan Heights to Syria received an initial promise of 61 signatures.

* Expert: Golan Will Become Crowded Terror Base Arab affairs expert Dr. Guy Bechor of the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya estimates that a “Golan for peace” deal will net Israel, in the long run, anything but peace.

* IDF considers creating Gaza Strip buffer zone In an effort to minimize chances of successful terrorist attacks against Israel, the IDF is drawing up plans to move the Gaza crossings away from Israel’s border.

* Iran ‘defying UN’ on nuclear work Iran is continuing to defy UN demands that it suspend uranium enrichment, the UN atomic watchdog has said.

* Aftershocks demolish China homes Two further aftershocks have destroyed more than 420,000 houses in the Chinese region hit by a massive earthquake two weeks ago.

* Abbas meets with Hamas reps in surprise move In a surprise move, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met late Monday night with a senior Hamas delegation in his office in Ramallah.

* ‘Eastern Partnership’ could lead to enlargement, Poland says Poland and Sweden have officially tabled proposals for an “Eastern Partnership” between the EU and its neighbours Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

* Iranian aid seen growing among militants on Israel’s flanks Rockets and weapons bearing signs of Iranian paint, lettering and serial numbers are making their way into the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

* Ahmadinejad: Syria will continue to oppose ‘Zionist entity’ Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met with Syrian Defense Minister Gen. Hassan Turkmani in Teheran on Monday, and expressed his certainty that Damascus would continue to stand on its previous stance of opposition to Israel.

* Ex-US president: Israel has 150 nukes One month after his visit to the region spurred criticism from Israeli officials for his willingness to meet with Syria-based Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, former US President Jimmy Carter is again making waves, this time in telling the London Times that Israel possesses 150 nuclear weapons.

* Olmert: Only delusional fantasists believe in ‘Greater Israel’ Fear of possible military conflict with Syria prompted renewal of negotiations, prime minister reveals at Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee session.

* ‘J’lem offers 91% of W. Bank in new map’ Palestinian officials close to peace talks said Sunday that Israel has offered a West Bank withdrawal map that leaves about 8.5 percent of the territory in Israeli hands, less than a previous plan but still more than the Palestinians are ready to accept.

* Barak: Israel on crash course with Hamas Israel is on a crash course with Hamas, and if a cease-fire is not reached, the clash could come any time in the next few days, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Monday.

* Olmert: Israel hasn’t offered Golan Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made a rare appearance Monday morning at the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee to discuss his diplomatic and defense policy, particularly in light of the recent revelation that Israel has been conducting secret negotiations with Syria.

* Historic pictures sent from Mars A Nasa spacecraft has sent back historic first pictures of an unexplored region of Mars.

* EU to seek new pact with Russia The European Union has given the go-ahead for the start of talks with Russia on a new partnership agreement, following about 18 months of delays.

* First tasks for Lebanon president Lebanon’s new President, Michel Suleiman, has arrived at the presidential palace to begin his first full day in office.

* EU foreign ministers to debate Kosovo mission delays EU foreign ministers are meeting on Monday (26 May) to discuss looming delays of the bloc’s mission to Kosovo, with the lack of a UN blessing for Europe’s judges and policemen proving a major obstacle.

* Syria refuses to sever ties with Iran A Syrian government paper rejects Israel’s demand that Damascus should cut its ties with Iran and Arab militant groups.

* ANC call to ‘retake the streets’ The secretary general of South Africa’s governing ANC has called on party members to form local committees to combat violence against foreigners.

* ‘Olmert too weak to talk with Syria’ Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is too weak to take the necessary steps for peace with Syria.

* China, Russia sign bln-dlr nuclear deal: official China and Russia on Friday signed a one-billion-dollar deal to expand a nuclear energy facility in the Asian nation.

* Ahmadinejad ‘displeased’ by talks Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has expressed surprise and displeasure at Syria’s “violation of its commitment to Iran” by holding talks with Israel.

* Ban praises China quake response UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has praised China’s “extraordinary leadership” in dealing with the recent earthquake in Sichuan.

* Medvedev Says China, Russia to Play Key Role in World Security Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said his country and China will work together to shape global security even if other powers don’t approve.

* Lebanese await ‘savior’ president The Lebanese are looking at their next head of state, who will finally be elected in parliament on Sunday.

* Time is ripe for EU-wide nuclear safety rules, Brussels says Brussels has called on EU member states to end the six-year deadlock over one of Europe’s touchiest topics.

* ‘World’s biggest PA flag’ displayed in Syria Thousands of Palestinians and members of Syria-based radical Palestinian groups have put on a display what they claim to be the world’s largest Palestinian Authority flag.

* French FM: Nothing justifies settlement expansion A Palestinian business conference has raised investments for projects worth $1.4 billion, including in housing, high-tech and telecommunications.

* Presidents condemn US shield plan Russia and China have condemned a US plan for a missile defence shield, saying it will set back international disarmament efforts.

* Meridor: Iran is winning the nuke race Despite years of economic sanctions, Iran is winning the race to acquire nuclear weapons, posing an unprecedented threat to the future of the West.

* Demand grows for remote-controlled drones on front lines The demands of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are behind a new push by the Pentagon to increase the ranks of one of its most tireless fighting machines.

* Netanyahu denies saying he wouldn’t abide by Syria deal Opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu on Friday denied ever saying that he would not abide by a peace agreement signed with Syria.

* McCain rejects minister’s endorsement In the face of mounting controversy over headline-grabbing statements from the Rev. John Hagee, CNN has learned that presumptive Republican nominee John McCain decided Thursday to reject his endorsement..

* Analysis: Bush wondering whether PM knows what he’s doing President Bush nearly gave the game away last week. In his White House interview with this and three other Israeli journalists, when he was asked about American reluctance to see Israel legitimating Syria.

* New Russian leader visits China Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has arrived in Beijing as he continues his first official foreign tour.

* World Christian legislators meet in DC to buttress support for Israel A delegation of Christian parliamentarians from around the world whose countries have formed pro-Israel parliamentary lobbies gathered Thursday on Capitol Hill.

* Israel, Syria to resume talks shortly in Turkey Israel and Syria will resume indirect peace talks shortly mediated by Turkey.

By: Judy Siegel-Itzkovich –

A group of Israeli and foreign businessmen and bankers are finally ready to build a $3 billion canal between the Red and Dead Seas, desalinating the water, producing hydroelectric power and yielding profits, clean water, jobs and potentially unprecedented regional cooperation.

Read more….

* Israel denies deal on full Golan pullout Hours after the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced that Israel and Syria had begun indirect peace talks, the PMO denied Wednesday a statement by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem.

* Oil soars to new record over $135 Oil prices hit a record high above $135 a barrel on Thursday, having rocketed by more than $4 a barrel on Wednesday.

* Israel: Russia may be selling Syria arms Fearing that Damascus is acquiring advanced military platforms, Israel is closely following meetings being held in Moscow this week.

* Medvedev Goes to China on First Presidential Visit Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrives in China tomorrow for a two-day mission to persuade the world’s fastest-growing major economy to buy more than just energy from his country.

* Hizbullah gains veto power in Lebanon talks Lebanon’s feuding factions reached a breakthrough deal in Qatar Wednesday that ended the country’s long political stalemate.

* Is an attack on Iran a big risk? The standard assumption is that a military attack by the United States or Israel to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons would be disastrous for the attackers.

* Abbas: ‘East Jerusalem must be returned’ Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday opened the Palestine Investment Conference in Bethlehem.

* EU ends 18-month-long deadlock over Russia The European Union and Russia are set to open long-delayed talks on a new “Partnership and Co-operation” pact in June.

* 65-70% of Israelis against ceding Golan 65 percent of Israelis are against a full withdrawal from the Golan Heights, even if this would bring true peace with Syria.

* Poland and Sweden to pitch ‘Eastern Partnership’ idea Poland and Sweden are to unveil joint proposals for a new eastern Europe policy at an EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels.

By: Nazila Fathi – International Herald Tribune

In his almost three years as president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been harshly criticized in the West. But he is increasingly drawing fire from Shiite clerics here, who accuse him of using religion to distract attention from his government’s failure to deliver on promises of prosperity and political freedoms.

Read more….

* ‘Bush intends to attack Iran before the end of his term’ US President George W. Bush intends to attack Iran in the upcoming months, before the end of his term.

* Iraqi forces enter Sadr’s Baghdad bastion Iraq’s army moved on Tuesday to take control of Baghdad’s Sadr City.

* ‘Iran’s nuke program may spur arms race’ Iran’s disputed nuclear program has sent a wave of interest in atomic energy across the Middle East.

* ANALYSIS: In Gaza conflict, Iran’s fingerprints are everywhere Anyone listening to the arguments of the Israeli leadership these days may get the impression that the Strip no longer tops the agenda.

* Russian envoy: Don’t push Iran into a corner A nuclear Iran is as much “a nightmare” for Russia as it is for the US and Israel.

* Ethiopian millions ‘risk hunger’ Six million children in Ethiopia are at risk of acute malnutrition following the failure of rains.

* Opec says oil could hit $200 Opec’s president on Monday warned oil prices could hit $200 a barrel and there would be little the cartel could do to help.

* China earthquake toll tops 40,000 The death toll from last week’s devastating earthquake in south-west China has risen to 40,075.

* Egyptian FM: US, Israeli tanks make Mideast unstable Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit expressed his frustration Monday over what he called a lack of political will to address the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

* Iranian clerics tell the president to leave the theology to them In his almost three years as president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been harshly criticized in the West.

* Barak hints Gaza incursion imminent Even as Defense Ministry officials said Sunday that Israel was likely to accept the Gaza Strip cease-fire deal brokered by Egypt, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, in a meeting with a high-level US congressional delegation, did not mention the cease-fire and talked instead about a possible large-scale military incursion.

* Bin Laden: Arab leaders sacrificing Palestinians Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden lashed out at Arab leaders for “sacrificing” the Palestinians in a new message released Sunday and he called on Muslim terrorists in Egypt to help break the blockade of Gaza.

* Bush to Arab nations: You’re running out of oil President George Bush yesterday told leaders of the oil-rich states of the Middle East that they must face up to a future without their precious hydrocarbons.

* Test looms in Sadr City ceasefire A major test of the declared ceasefire in Baghdad’s Sadr City between Iraqi security forces and the militia of extremist cleric Moqtada Sadr is coming; and with it the potential for a new, cataclysmic eruption of violence.

* China in mourning over earthquake China has begun three days of mourning for the victims of the devastating earthquake in Sichuan province.

* Orthodox Jews in US slam same-sex decision The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (UOJCA) and Agudath Israel of America, two of the largest Orthodox organizations in the US, over the weekend attacked a California Supreme Court ruling that permits same-sex marriages.

* Lebanese unity plan ‘in trouble’ Talks aimed at resolving the Lebanese political crisis appear to have run into further trouble, reports say.

* Thousands flee S Africa attacks Some 6,000 people have fled a wave of attacks on foreigners in South Africa, which has left at least 22 dead, aid workers say.

* Netanyahu: Olmert gov’t has no mandate to negotiate Israel’s borders Knesset returns from hiatus to stormy session; Olmert tells Kadima ‘opposition always ready to challenge us, but we’re seasoned and ready’.

* Focus on domestic energy demand, says Russia’s free market guru Anatoly Chubais, architect of Russia’s 1990s privatisation programme, has suggested that Moscow should re-channel its focus on feeding energy into European grids to serving its domestic market.

By: Tristan Stewart-Robertson and Mike Theodoulou – Johnston Press Digital Publishing

President George Bush yesterday told leaders of the oil-rich states of the Middle East that they must face up to a future without their precious hydrocarbons.

Read more….