* Germany foils ‘massive’ bomb plot Three men have been arrested in Germany on suspicion of planning a “massive” terrorist attack on US facilities in the country, officials have said.

* ‘Mideast summit shouldn’t favor Israel’ A Middle East peace conference proposed by US President George W. Bush should not be a showcase or favor Israel in pursuing a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

* UN chief visits troubled Darfur UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is visiting Sudan’s western Darfur region, where a four-year conflict has claimed 200,000 lives and displaced millions.

* Cabinet votes against expanding Gaza operation The security cabinet decided Wednesday not to expand the scope of the IDF’s operations in Gaza despite the ongoing bombardment of Sderot and the neighboring communities.

* Putin talks energy, weapons on Asia, UAE tour Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Indonesia Thursday to discuss deals on natural resources and weapons.

* Ahmadinejad to meet Palestinian leaders Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is expected to meet with Palestinian faction leaders in Teheran on Thursday.

* Mid-East diary: Blair’s intentions Tony Blair is settling into his new job. The Middle East envoy of the Quartet of the UN, US, European Union and Russia has set himself up in Jerusalem’s most beautiful hotel, the American Colony.

* Egypt tries to dispel rumors about Mubarak’s health A government prosecutor plans to question the editor of a prominent independent newspaper about his paper’s recent reports on the health of the country’s 79-year-old leader, President Hosni Mubarak.

* General hints at Iraq troop cuts The most senior US commander in Iraq has hinted that he may recommend a reduction in US troop numbers to avoid placing a strain on the army.

* Official symbol for Israel’s 60th anniversary chosen The symbol, which features a child holding a white and blue sheet of cloth swirling into the figure 60, did not agree with Minister Yitzhak Cohen.

By: Yaakov Lappin – Ynet News

The Second Lebanon War provided Israel with a unique opportunity to study its own weaknesses and resolve problems, ahead of a potentially more far-reaching confrontation caused by a military strike on Iran.

Read more….

* Iraq’s Maliki back under spotlight Iraq’s embattled premier Nuri Al Maliki was back under the spotlight Tuesday after US President George W. Bush urged him to work harder to unite the war-torn nation’s bitterly-divided communities.

* Egypt: Failure of peace summit would fuel extremism in Mideast Egypt told European politicians on Tuesday that a peace conference that fails to achieve a breakthrough between Israelis and Palestinians would add to anger, frustration and extremism in the Middle East.

* Islamic Jihad leaders could be targeted The security cabinet is expected to instruct the IDF to resume targeted killings against Islamic Jihad leaders.

* Pentagon ‘three-day blitz’ plan for Iran The Pentagon has drawn up plans for massive airstrikes against 1,200 targets in Iran, designed to annihilate the Iranians’ military capability in three days.

* 80,000 illegal arms hidden in W. Bank Over 80,000 illegal weapons are believed to be in the hands of West Bank terrorists.

* Beware: enemy attacks in cyberspace Lieutenant General Robert Elder, senior Air Force officer for cyberspace issues, recently joked that North Korea “must only have one laptop”.

* UN chief urges Sudan to seek peace The UN secretary-general has called on Sudanese to support peace initiatives in Darfur.

* EU to boost ties with its neighbours Ministers from the 27-nation EU and its 16 neighbours are gathering in Brussels for the first ever meeting designed to give a new impetus to the €12 billion-strong policy of mutual cooperation.

* Hamas wants to destroy Israel, says Peres “We had a rough day in Sderot. Seven rockets fell and almost killed our children. It’s an intolerable situation and there is one address for it – Hamas.

* The next war? French President Nicolas Sarkozy came away convinced his U.S. counterpart is serious about bombing Iran’s secret nuclear facilities.

* US President Bush makes a surprise visit to Iraq US President George W. Bush made a surprise visit to Iraq on Monday, using the war zone as a backdrop to argue his case that the buildup of US troops is helping to stabilize the nation.

* Remnants of the Second Temple Being Destroyed by Islamic Wakf A large trench being dug on the Temple Mount is destroying a never before uncovered section of the outer wall of the Second Temple.

* Iran ‘reaches key nuclear goal’ Iran has met a key target for its nuclear programme and now has 3,000 centrifuges enriching uranium, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said.

* Lebanon War was a warning shot Counter-terrorism expert says Second Lebanon War provided ‘unique opportunity’ to resolve problems ahead of potential clash with Iran.

* Right-wing group announces 5 new planned outposts Ne’emanei Eretz Israel movement responds to renewed government talks on settlement evacuation by declaring intention to establish five new outposts during Sukkot holiday.

* China vows defence transparency China has agreed to start reporting its military spending to the UN and resume a practice of giving data about import and export of conventional weapons.

* Livni warns Rice: Summit could fail due to unreasonable goals Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has begun formulating “realistic” goals for the Washington Mideast summit scheduled for November.

* Iran replaces Revolutionary Guards chief Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Saturday replaced the head of the elite Revolutionary Guards force, in a surprise move at a time of mounting tension with the West.

* PA Chairman overhauls Palestinian election law Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday announced changes in the Palestinian election law aimed at bolstering his Fatah party against the rival Hamas group.

* Hezbollah video game targets Israel The Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has launched a new computer game with Israel as the enemy.

* Archaeologists Issue Urgent Warnings Against Temple Mount Dig Top Israeli archaeologists held an emergency press conference on Thursday, warning that a Second Temple courtyard wall is in danger of being destroyed by the Arab excavations there.

* Solana visits Middle East before key summits EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana went to Israel and the Palestinian territories on Saturday to discuss the latest developments in the region.

* US welcomes Iraq militia ‘freeze’ The US military says it is encouraged by a radical Iraqi cleric’s order that his Mehdi army militia should freeze operations for six months.

* Abdullah hopeful for int’l ME peace conference Jordan’s King Abdullah II urged Palestinians on Friday to overcome internal divisions to realize their goal of an independent state.

* Russia to send manned mission to the Moon by 2025 – space agency Russia plans to send cosmonauts to the Moon by 2025 and establish a permanent manned base there in 2027-2032.

* Analysis: Russia uses Syrian port to demonstrate its power in the Med Russia is expanding its military presence in Syria, developing an advanced naval port at Tartus and providing Syria with sophisticated missile technology.

* Libya marks Gaddafi anniversary Libya has pardoned over two thousand prisoners to mark the 38th anniversary of president Muammar Gaddafi’s seizure of power.

* Peres: Suspicion over Israeli nukes is good deterrent “I declare the Middle East free from the threat of (nuclear) destruction,” President Shimon Peres said.

* Stakes raised in looming Lebanese presidential poll Lebanon’s pro-Syrian president has raised the stakes in a looming presidential election.

* EU split over Kosovo independence would create ‘chaos’, EU envoy says The EU’s Kosovo envoy, Wolfgang Ischinger, has urged the bloc to work towards finding a common response to a possible failure of the final round of diplomacy on the fate of the province.

* Olmert Offers Judea, Samaria, Divides J’lem in Draft Accord Israel’s government has agreed, in writing, to hand over 6,250 square kilometers of land – the equivalent of its entire biblical and strategic heartland – to an Arab terror state.

* Archaeologists: Muslim dig damaged Temple wall A month-old Islamic dig on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount to replace faulty electrical cables has damaged an ancient wall that is likely a remnant of the Second Temple.

* Iraqi government appeals for calm The Iraqi government has called on other militant groups to follow the example of Moqtada Sadr’s Mehdi Army militia and freeze their activities.

* US peace summit may be at foreign minister level Contrary to widespread expectations, the US-sponsored international meeting scheduled for sometime this fall may not be held at the level of heads of government.

* UN summit: Boycott Israel A UN conference, held at the European Parliament in Brussels, heard an array of speakers call for a boycott against Israel.

* Indian PM backs nuclear future The Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh, has reiterated his commitment to the country’s nuclear energy program.

* Sheikh Salah: Israel wants to encroach on parts of Temple Mount Israel is conspiring to encroach on the Temple Mount to build a Jewish temple near the Al-Aqsa mosque.

* Thousands defy Hamas in Gaza prayer More than 10,000 Palestinians defied Hamas Friday, to pray outside in the biggest protest in the Gaza Strip since the radical Islamist movement captured control of the territory two months ago.

* EU must unite over Kosovo if talks fail — envoy The chances of an agreement on Kosovo between Serbs and Albanians are slim.

* Brown and Sarkozy warn Sudan Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy have joined forces to warn Sudan that it faces sanctions if it attempts to block Western efforts to end the conflict in Darfur.

* Abbas wants Orient House reopened Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has appointed a special adviser on Jerusalem affairs.

* Iraq welcomes Mehdi Army ‘freeze’ The Iraqi government has welcomed the move by radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr to freeze the activities of his Mehdi Army militia for six months.

* Army denies reducing level of forces in the Golan Contrary to various news reports, senior defense officials said Wednesday that the IDF had not reduced its level of forces on the Golan Heights.

* Gul approves pro-EU Turkey cabinet Turkey’s new president has approved a cabinet with a mix of AK party and secular members.

* PA chairman urges US to map out peace plan Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas warned Wednesday that a US-sponsored international peace conference planned for November could fail.

* EU resumes treaty wrangling as political issues remain As the deadline for political agreement on the new European treaty draws closer, EU officials believe that while the treaty outline is relatively tight, up to seven remaining issues are political.

* ‘Russia caused tensions between Israel, Syria’ Russia was partly responsible for the heightened tension between Israel and Syria at the beginning of the summer.

* New book challenges US support for Israel An upcoming book that challenges whether diplomatic and military support for Israel is in the United States’ best interests is set to spark fresh debate on Washington’s role in the Middle East.

* U.S. coordinator plans 5 new Palestinian battalions in W. Bank A new plan by the U.S. security coordinator in the territories, General Keith Dayton, calls for the deployment of five new Palestinian battalions throughout the West Bank.

* Gul receives cold reception from Turkey military Ex-Islamist Abdullah Gul’s first encounter as president with the staunchly-secularist Turkish army got off to a shaky start.

* IDF moves large-scale training from Golan Heights to South The IDF has decided that war with Syria is unlikely and is moving training forces out of the Golan Heights after months of cross-border tension.

* Turks elect ex-Islamist president Turkey’s controversial Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has been sworn in as the country’s new president.

* ‘Hamas offers Abbas renewal of unity government’ Hamas was prepared to cede to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas control of PA institutions and bases in the Gaza Strip.

* Sadr set to ‘rebuild’ Mehdi Army The radical Iraqi Shia cleric, Moqtada Sadr, has announced the “rebuilding” of his Mehdi Army militia over a maximum period of six months.

* EU officials holding talks with Hamas EU security officials have been conducting secret talks with Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip over the past few weeks.

* Policeman Assaulted Trying to Stop Illegal Temple Mount Dig A policeman trying to stop an Arab tractor engaged in illegal Temple Mount excavations was assaulted.

* Sarkozy seeks to give EU greater world role President Nicolas Sarkozy has indicated he wants to turn the 27-nation bloc into a decisive player in the global arena.

* UN Chief to Visit Darfur, Chad and Libya U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced Tuesday that he will visit Sudan, Chad and Libya next week.

* Beit Horon refuses to host refusenik ceremony The municipality of Beit Horon said Wednesday that it would not allow the ceremony to take place in its community center.

* Iran Ready to Fill Any Vacuum in Iraq Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad boldly declared Tuesday that U.S. political influence in Iraq is “collapsing rapidly”.

By: Hillel Fendel – Israel National News

Amidst continuing diplomatic efforts to form a Palestinian state, former IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Yaalon weighs in with words of warning against the initiative. President Shimon Peres, as well, foresaw the dangers of such a state nearly 30 years ago.

Read more….

* Israel offers Palestinians control of Ramallah, Nablus and Jenin The teams of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas met in Jerusalem Tuesday, ahead of a private meeting between the two leaders.

* Turkish army issues new warning Turkey’s powerful armed forces chief has warned that “centres of evil” are trying to undermine the secular state.

* Archeologists slam authorities over Muslim dig A group of Israeli archeologists on Monday renewed their blistering condemnation of the Antiquities Authority for authorizing Muslim officials to carry out a dig on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount.

* France’s Sarkozy raises prospect of Iran airstrikes French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Monday a diplomatic push by the world’s powers to rein in Tehran’s nuclear program was the only alternative to “an Iranian bomb or the bombing of Iran.”

* J’lem worried by Iranian owned anti-ship missile The recent delivery of an advanced Russian-made anti-ship missile to Iran has defense officials concerned it will be transferred to Syria and Hizbullah.

* France eases stance on EU Turkey talks In a softening of his stance towards Turkey, French president Nicolas Sarkozy has said he will not obstruct EU negotiations with ankara.

* Turkey set to elect new president Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is expected to be elected as president amid warnings from the military against undermining the secular constitution.

* “We Are Going to Get Hit Again” Al Qaeda has an active plot to hit the West. The United States knows about it but doesn’t have enough tactical detail to issue a precise warning.

* The Future of the Workplace: No Office, Headquarters in Cyberspace Imagine a work world with no commute, no corporate headquarters and perhaps not even an office in the physical world at all.

* Yaalon, Peres (1978) Weigh in Against Palestinian State Amidst continuing diplomatic efforts to form a Palestinian state, former IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Yaalon weighs in with words of warning against the initiative.