By: Haaretz
Six decades of Israeli history as seen in photographs from private albums.
By: Abraham Rabinovich – The Jerusalem Post
Arieh Handler participated in Israel’s birth on two separate occasions. The lesser event, in his view, was on May 14, 1948, when he was among some 200 persons invited to the Tel Aviv hall where David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the establishment of the state. Handler, 93 this month, is believed to be the only one of those present still alive.
* ‘There is no nation like Israel’ Remembrance Day for the Fallen, a somber 24 hours of visits to cemeteries, tales of survivors and sad recollections of wartime losses, gave way Wednesday evening to the celebration of Israel’s 60th Independence Day.
* UN aid flights to Burma under way The UN says its first aid flight has now arrived in Burma, bringing much needed relief to up to one million people made homeless by Cyclone Nargis.
* Blair: Mideast peace process must move faster Quartet envoy to the Middle East Tony Blair said Thursday that the Mideast peace process needs to move faster.
* Hizbullah blocks roads, airport in protest against Lebanese government Explosions and gunfire rang out across the Lebanese capital Wednesday as Hizbullah backers trying to enforce a strike against the US-backed government clashed with government supporters.
* Putin confirmed as new Russian PM Russia’s parliament has overwhelmingly approved former President Vladimir Putin as the new prime minister.
* ‘Syrian-Israeli meeting fell through’ A Turkish initiative to hold a meeting between Israeli and Syrian officials fell through.
* British PM: Israel’s creation one of the 20th century’s ‘greatest achievements’ British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Monday congratulated Israel on its 60th anniversary of independence.
* Official: No 3-way talks for Bush visit US President Bush’s second trip to the Mideast this year, designed in part to make progress toward a peace deal before the end of his presidency, will not see him hosting a joint session.
* Days of Our Lives: 1948-2008 Six decades of Israeli history as seen in photographs from private albums.
* Some Kadima MKs slam Olmert, seek new leader After another day of rampant rumors concerning the latest criminal investigation into Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, members of the prime minister’s own party openly criticized Kadima’s top man.
* Israel: Iran could have nukes by ’09 With Iran racing forward with its nuclear program, Israel now believes the Islamic Republic will master centrifuge technology and be able to begin enriching uranium on a military scale this year.
* Medvedev becomes Russia’s leader Dmitry Medvedev has promised to extend Russia’s civil and economic freedoms after being sworn in as new president.
* Some Kadima MKs slam Olmert, seek new leader After another day of rampant rumors concerning the latest criminal investigation into Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, members of the prime minister’s own party openly criticized Kadima’s top man.
* Iraq prepares for Baghdad exodus The authorities in Baghdad say they are preparing for an exodus of thousands of people from eastern parts of the city.
* PA official: No Israeli partner in light of latest Olmert probe A senior Palestinian official told Haaretz on Tuesday that “as of now there is no Israeli partner for talks on a final status agreements.”
* Birthing pains Arieh Handler participated in Israel’s birth on two separate occasions. The lesser event, in his view, was on May 14, 1948.
* Livni Getting Set to Replace Olmert Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is making preparations for replacing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert if and when the latest bribery scandal forces him to resign.
* EU: Int’l policy on Hamas has failed The international community’s efforts at trying to weaken Hamas have failed and should be reevaluated.
* Sarkozy ‘non’ to Blair presidency Nicolas Sarkozy has withdrawn his backing of Tony Blair to become the first president of the European Union.
* Israel’s population stands at 7,282,000 On the eve of Israel’s 60th Independence Day, the country’s population stands at 7,282,000.
* Nation to honor fallen on Remembrance Day Israel will pause Tuesday night to mourn its fallen soldiers, as the nation marks Remembrance Day.
* Burma’s cyclone death toll soars The death toll from Burma’s devastating cyclone has now risen to more than 22,000.
* Brussels turns to gods for climate change Brussels officials have turned to religious VIPs to help spread the gospel of an environmentally friendly society.
* Somalia forces ‘out of control’ Civilians are completely at the mercy of armed groups in Somalia, says human rights group Amnesty International.
* Israel throws 60th birthday bash under cloud of uncertainty Israel this week celebrates its 60th birthday with military displays, barbecues and a Bible quiz.
* John Bolton: US should bomb Iranian camps Mr Bolton said that striking Iran would represent a major step towards victory in Iraq.
* Oil passes $122 on $200 oil prediction, supply concerns Oil futures blasted to a new record over $122 a barrel Tuesday, gaining momentum as investors bought on a forecast of much higher prices.
* Serbs to have easier travel in EU Serbs are to be offered free visas by 17 European countries, days before their country’s parliamentary election.
* Row over Hezbollah telecoms grid Lebanon’s government is to take legal action against a private communication network established in the country by Hezbollah.
* Israel at 60: Population nears 7.3 million, 76% Jewish On the eve of its independence day, Israel’s population numbers 7,282,000, 75.5 percent of which is Jewish, and 20.1 percent Arab.
By: Honor Mahony – EUobserver
The European Commission is this week to present an overview of the eurozone as it approaches its tenth anniversary amid strong differences between member states on the role of the European Central Bank
* US: Hizbullah training Iraqi Shi’ite extremists in Iran Iraqi Shi’ite extremists are being trained by members of the Lebanese terror group Hizbullah in camps near Teheran.
* Burma’s storm toll ‘nears 4,000’ The death toll from a devastating cyclone that hit western Burma on Saturday has now climbed to 3,939 people.
* Peres ‘not in favor’ of attacking Iran President Shimon Peres on Monday compared the Iranian nuclear threat to Hitler’s Germany.
* Putin defends missiles at parade Russia’s display of heavy weapons in this year’s Victory Day parade in Moscow is “not sabre-rattling”, President Vladimir Putin insists.
* Opposition: Coalition will fall soon Opposition members said on Sunday that in light of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s latest investigation and the split of coalition member Gil Pensioners Party, the government’s days are numbered.
* Brussels to make suggestions on eurozone’s future The European Commission is this week to present an overview of the eurozone as it approaches its tenth anniversary.
* Official: Israel to accept ceasefire within days Israel is expected to agree to an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire with Hamas within days.
* Jerusalem Diary: Monday 5 May On page 15 of the 17 January 1896 edition of the London Jewish Chronicle, the editorial is buried, modestly, beneath advertisements.
* Olmert Scandal Will “Shake The Country” Staffers in the Attorney General’s office said Monday, according to Army Radio, that the findings in the latest Olmert scandal collected thus far will “shake the country”.
* 75% of population: War within next 5 years As Israel stands on the brink of its seventh decade of independence, security issues continue to worry the majority of its citizens.
* ‘PM will probably have to step down’ Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s situation is serious and problematic, and it is doubtful that he will be able to continue to serve as prime minister.
* Rice heads for new Mid-East talks US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has arrived in the Middle East in the latest attempt to push for an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.
* Iran warns UK not to cross ‘red lines’ in nuclear offer Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki warned the United Kingdom not to cross “red lines” on Saturday.
* Asian bank in food crisis warning The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has warned that the crisis of rising food prices could reverse gains made in reducing poverty across the continent.
* Lebanese MP: Expel Iranian ambassador A pro-government Lebanese politician called Saturday for the expulsion of Iran’s ambassador.
* Jordan’s king: Progress on peace could bring ties with Arab world Jordan’s King Abdullah told visiting MK Yossi Beilin on Saturday that progress in peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians prior to the two sides reaching an agreement on the core issues of the conflict would be sufficient.
* Bush seeks $200m in funding for PA As international donors met in London to provide aid to the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority, US President George W. Bush included $200 million in funding for the PA.
* Turkish raids ‘kill PKK fighters’ More than 150 Kurdish fighters have been killed in a series of cross-border air raids by Turkey into northern Iraq.
* Mofaz: Take J’lem off negotiating table Jerusalem must be taken off the negotiating table, Transportation Minister and former defense minister Shaul Mofaz said.
* ‘Israelis must rediscover Jewish values’ President Shimon Peres says he is greatly concerned about the demoralization of the nation and the loss of traditional Jewish values.
* Quartet wants settlement activity halted The Middle East peace Quartet held talks in London on Friday and called on Israel to cease all settlement activity to prevent the collapse of the peace process.
* Chinese build secret nuclear submarine base In what will be a significant challenge to US Navy dominance and to countries ringing the South China Sea, one photograph shows China’s latest 094 nuclear submarine.
* Somalia – East Africa’s new Afghanistan? After a US missile killed a senior leader of an Islamist militant group in Somalia, the BBC’s Rob Watson considers how serious the West considers the militant threat from the region.
* Rice raises new doubts about Iran’s nuclear program Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice raised fresh doubts Thursday about the nature of Iran’s nuclear program.
* Lebanon Palestinians to march on border More than 100,000 Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon are expected to march toward the border with Israel on May 14.
* Turkish planes bomb rebel Kurds Turkey’s air force has launched fresh bombing raids against bases of separatist Kurds in northern Iraq.
* 60th Independence guest list takes shape President Shimon Peres did not invite Syrian President Bashar Assad to Facing Tomorrow.
* Saudi Arabia in `Golden Era,’ Credit Suisse Says Credit Suisse Group recommended buying shares of Al Rajhi Bank, Saudi Arabia’s biggest bank by market value.
* Where terrorists hide The just released Country Report on Terrorism 2007 by the U.S. State Department outlines a number of areas that serve as safe havens for terrorists.
* Bosnia angered by signing of EU-Serbia deal The signing of a pre-accession deal between the EU and Serbia has been criticised by Bosnia and Herzegovina.
* Hamas: Jews planned Holocaust Jewish leaders concocted the mass murder of handicapped Jews in order to keep from having to support them, and this murder is what the Jews term “the Holocaust.”
* Iraqi MPs call Maliki ‘depraved’ Iraqi deputies have denounced the government, using a quotation from the Koran to describe Prime Minister Nouri Maliki as “depraved”.
* US: Iran ‘most active’ sponsor of terror Iran continues to be the world’s “most active” state sponsor of terror.
* Survey: 52% of Israeli teens say Israel faces existential threat An Anti-Defamation League survey revealed on Wednesday that 52 percent of Israeli youth believe the country faces an existential threat.
* Olmert makes surprise visit to Jordan Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s surprise two-hour visit to Amman on Wednesday for talks with Jordan’s King Abdullah II reflects an Israeli interest.
* Israeli forces kill Islamic Jihad chief, sources say One person was killed and three were wounded Wednesday in an Israeli airstrike targeting a metal shop in Rafah.
* ‘Iran may get nuke technology this year’ Iran will likely have nuclear bomb technology in 2008, Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz said.
* Air raid kills Somali militants The leader of the military wing of an Islamist insurgent organisation in Somalia has been killed in an overnight air strike.
* German historians push for new version of ‘Mein Kampf’ German historians want Adolf Hitler’s manifesto, Mein Kampf, to be republished.
* IDF chief leads 10,000 young Jews in March of the Living at Auschwitz Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi on Thursday led some 10,000 young Jews, Poles and Holocaust survivors in the March of the Living.