* Mid-East group debates Blair role The Quartet of Middle East mediators is considering naming Tony Blair for a top peacemaking post, diplomats say.

* Olmert agrees to free Palestinians The Israeli prime minister has announced he is prepared to release 250 Palestinian prisoners as a show of support for Mahmoud Abbas.

* Russia presses Nato over shield Russia has urged Nato to avoid any steps that could undermine Russia’s security, at the start of discussions on several thorny issues in Moscow.

* Netanyahu: Prisoner release a ‘mistake’ “This is a wrong, harmful message that will not strengthen the Palestinian Authority. It will only weaken it,” Likud Chairman Binyamin Netanyahu said.

* Turkey unhappy at EU talks delay Turkey has said it is not satisfied with the EU’s reasons for not opening membership talks in the area of economic and monetary policy.

* Pope restores office dealing with Muslims Pope Benedict XVI on Monday restored an office that specializes in relations with Muslims.

* Germany bans Cruise film shoot from military sites Germany has barred the makers of a movie about a plot to kill Adolf Hitler from filming at German military sites because its star Tom Cruise is a Scientologist.

* Yadlin Warns What Happened In Gaza Will Happen in Judea, Samaria General Amos Yadlin, Chief of Military Intelligence told participants at a Jewish Agency conference in Jerusalem Tuesday that Israel should not withdraw from Judea and Samaria.

* Analysis: The anti-Hamas alliance gathers in Sharm The four leaders who met at this Red Sea resort on Monday all have one common enemy: Hamas.

* Mideast Quartet envoys meet in Jerusalem The four powers sponsoring the stagnant Middle East peace process met Tuesday for the first time since Hamas seized Gaza.

* Mid-East summit begins in Egypt Arab and Israeli leaders have begun a summit in Egypt in a show of support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after the Hamas takeover in Gaza.

* Settler heads slam plans to boost Fatah Yesha heads call on government to reverse decision to arm Fatah gunmen loyal to Abbas after Hamas takeover of Gaza.

* ‘Hamas coup was coordinated with Iran’ The Palestinian Authority intelligence chief on Sunday accused Iran of close involvement in Hamas’ violent takeover of Gaza, saying Teheran funded the group and trained hundreds of their gunmen.

* Lebanon seeks help to stem violence The Lebanese government has called the car bombing of UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon “a challenge to the international community”.

* Al-Zawahri urges Sharia law in Gaza Al-Qaida’s deputy leader called on Muslims around the world to back Hamas with weapons, money and attacks on US and Israeli interests in a Web audiotape Monday, urging the Palestinian militant group to unite with al-Qaida’s “holy warriors” after its takeover of Gaza.

* ‘Chemical Ali’ sentenced to hang A cousin of the late Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has been sentenced to death by an Iraqi court for the murder of some 180,000 Kurds in 1988.

* Abbas to demand release of Barghouti Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is expected to demand the release of hundreds of Fatah prisoners from Israeli jails during Monday’s summit in Sharm e-Sheikh, PA officials said.

* Iran: We’ll launch nuclear plant in Oct. Iran’s energy minister said Monday the country would launch its first nuclear power plant in October, state-run television reported.

* EU chiefs ‘satisfied’ with treaty EU leaders have expressed measured approval of a draft treaty to reform EU systems agreed at a summit in Brussels.

* World Leaders Meet to Discuss Darfur “Silence is killing,” stated French President Nicholas Sarkozy at a meeting on the Monday about the humanitarian crisis that is occurring in Darfur.

* EU leaders agree on reform treaty European Union leaders have reached agreement in Brussels on an outline of new rules to govern the 27-member bloc.

* Zahar: Hamas will go after ‘Israeli spies’ in Gaza Hamas will go after “Israeli spies” in Gaza and might use bombs in its struggle with Fatah in the West Bank.

* Pakistan ‘building new reactor’ Satellite images show that Pakistan is building a nuclear reactor that could be used to produce weapons-grade plutonium, a US watchdog says.

* Lieberman slams planned Abbas aid Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman opposes Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s plan to transfer an assistance package to the Palestinians.

* Soldiers die in Lebanon camp battle Three Lebanese soldiers have been killed after a booby-trap set by Fatah al-Islam fighters exploded in the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp.

* Israel to appeal to Egypt on smuggling Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will ask Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to intensify his country’s efforts to stop the smuggling of weapons.

* Blair meets Pope to stoke conversion speculation Prime Minister Tony Blair held private talks with Pope Benedict on Saturday.

* Major Clan War Feared in Kismayo, Somalia After days of skirmishes between Marehan and Majerteen sub-clan militias in the country’s third-largest city, residents of Kismayo say heavy fighting erupted on Friday.

* Hamas chief Haniyeh calls for fresh Hamas-Fatah talks Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, prime minister of the Palestinian government dismissed by Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah last weekend, called for renewed talks on Saturday between the factions.

* Mideast summit to show support for Abbas Middle East leaders are to meet in Egypt Monday in a bid to bolster Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

By: Michael Freund – The Jerusalem Post

Talk about a twist of fate. Watching the frightening scenes on television the other day as the green flag of Hamas was raised triumphantly over Gaza, I couldn’t help but think back to the Israeli elections that took place 15 years ago this week.

Read more….

* Poland pressed on EU treaty deal Germany’s chancellor is stepping up efforts to broker a compromise with Poland over a draft treaty to replace the failed EU Constitution.

* Lebanon army starts camp ‘clean-up’ Sporadic gunfire and explosions could still be heard around a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon on Friday.

* Lieberman slams Olmert’s plan to aid Fatah, Abbas Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman opposes Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s plan to transfer an assistance package to the Palestinians.

* Israel: Quartet Plans Jerusalem Meeting Envoys from the United States, European Union, Russia and the U.N. will meet Tuesday in Jerusalem for the first time since Hamas militants seized control of the Gaza Strip.

* Report: IAF preparing for Iran strike The Israeli Air Force (IAF) has been training on long-range flights in preparation for potential strikes against Iranian nuclear targets.

* Hamas: Abbas won’t be able to wipe out Hamas’ sovereignty Hamas spokesman Salah Bardawil on Friday denounced the summit planned for Monday between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

* Iran enriches 100 kg. of uranium Iran has produced 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of enriched uranium, the country’s interior minister was quoted Friday as saying.

* ‘Mile-wide UFO’ spotted by British airline pilot One of the largest UFOs ever seen has been observed by the crew and passengers of an airliner over the Channel Islands.

* Gays celebrate ‘victory’ in Jerusalem Members of gay and lesbian community say fact pride parade was successfully held in capital despite protests and petitions against it.

* Take back Gaza now For far too long, Israel has been trying to run away from the Gaza problem, and that has gotten us nowhere.

* Blair in Europe: a false messiah? As Tony Blair prepares to attend his last European Union summit as prime minister, William Horsley, a long-time observer of Europe’s political scene, says Mr Blair made powerful enemies.

* PM to attend 4-way summit in Egypt Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will travel next week to Sharm e-Sheikh to meet with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, Jordanian King Abdullah II, and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

* EU leaders to discuss new treaty EU leaders are preparing to meet in Brussels to discuss a treaty to help the union work more effectively.

* 75% of Palestinians favor elections Seventy-five percent of Palestinians support holding early elections.

* Abbas accuses Hamas of coup plot Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has accused Hamas of trying to establish its own state in Gaza.

* Oil likely to top China-Iraq talks Jalal Talabani, the Iraqi president, is in Beijing for talks with his Chinese counterpart which are expected to focus on Iraq’s vast oil resources.

* Iraqi politicians agree deal on sharing oil, says Kurd minister Iraq’s Kurdish leaders said last night they had struck an important deal with the central government in Baghdad.

* Right-wing activists plan to rebuild Homesh Right-wing activists plan to rebuild the evacuated West Bank settlement of Homesh.

* Jerusalem braced for gay parade A controversial Gay Pride parade is to march through Jerusalem later today with an expected 5,000 participants.

* Syria ready for peace, FM says Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid Moallem reiterated his country’s interest in renewing peace talks with Israel without preconditions.

By: Arnaud de Borchgrave – The Washington Times

The law of unintended consequences continues to throw up more consequences that were not intended.

Read more….

* Hamas calls for PA gov’t of technocrats A senior exiled Hamas leader on Wednesday called for the formation of a new Palestinian Authority goverment made up of independent technocrats.

* Warning to EU members over treaty European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has told EU members not to block progress towards an EU treaty.

* Blair may become Quartet’s envoy Tony Blair could soon be appointed the Middle East Quartet’s envoy.

* Palestinian mediators bring hope of ceasefire to Lebanon The end may be in sight for “Lebanon’s worst internal violence since the 1975-1990 civil war.”

* Wheel of misfortune The law of unintended consequences continues to throw up more consequences that were not intended.

* Anti-Pride Parade Protests Take a Turn Leading hareidi-religious rabbis say that anti-Gay Pride Parade protests should be put on a low burner.

* Abbas calls Hamas ‘murderous terrorists’ Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, addressing his people on TV Wednesday, harshly criticized the Islamic Hamas.

* Dichter: ‘Kadima ready to replace PM’ Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s comrade in Kadima, Public Security Minister Avi Dichter, said Kadima must be prepared to move on without him if necessary.

* ‘New PA situation makes two-state solution possible’ Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was upbeat Tuesday evening after a lengthy three-hour meeting with US President George W. Bush in the White House.

* Up to 20 Sudanese reach Israel daily The pace of refugees seeking asylum in Israel has doubled in the past six months.

* Bush to Olmert: ‘All options are on the table’ regarding Iran “All options are still on the table regarding Iran,” US President George W. Bush said before a meeting Tuesday with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at the Oval Office.

* ‘Christians must accept Islamic rule’ Christians can only continue living safely in the Gaza Strip if they accept Islamic law.

* Carter: Stop favoring Fatah over Hamas The United States, Israel and the European Union must end their policy of favoring Fatah over Hamas, or they will doom the Palestinian people to deepening conflict between the rival movements.

* Food convoy finally enters Gaza The first food aid delivery for eight days has arrived in Gaza from Israel, following last week’s fighting.

* Hamas official wants dialogue with Fatah Facing growing international isolation, the Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip on Tuesday called for a “national dialogue” with their vanquished Fatah foes.

* EU officials, leaders make last-ditch effort to reach treaty deal EU officials are to make a last-ditch bid later today to narrow differences over a European treaty of reforms.

* Car bomb kills 75 in crowded Baghdad square A truck bomb ripped through a crowded square in the capital Tuesday, killing at least 75 people and wounding 204 others.

* The world will end in 2060, according to Newton His famously analytical mind worked out the laws of gravity and unravelled the motion of the planets.

* Millions of shekels transferred from Saudi to Hamas According to two indectments served Monday, millions of shekels have been transferred from a Saudi organization to Hamas operatives in Jerusalem.

* Syria denies secret talks, calls for new negotiations with Israel Syria’s ambassador to the United Nations on Monday dismissed rumors of secret Syrian-Israeli talks.

* Key powers back Abbas government Key international powers have publicly backed the new Palestinian Authority government, offering aid and support to an administration without Hamas.

* Lebanese forces battle militants The Lebanese army has resumed shelling a besieged Palestinian refugee camp, a day after it said important militant positions had been destroyed.

* U.S. and Iraqi Troops Begin Big Offensive American and Iraqi troops began major military operations north and south of Baghdad today, while deep in the south near the Iranian border, a ferocious battle between American troops and Shiite militants left at least 20 dead and wounded scores more, Iraqi and American officials.

* Barak sworn in as defense minister; Peretz says goodbye Newly-appointed Defense Minister Ehud Barak was sworn in at the Knesset Monday evening, taking the reins from outgoing Amir Peretz.

* Abbas to Bush: Now is time to resume peace talks Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas told U.S. President George W. Bush in a phone call Monday that now is the time to resume Middle East peace talks, Abbas’ spokesman said.

* Push for Blair as new EU president Tony Blair, the British prime minister, could end up swapping Downing Street for a job as the first full-time European Union president, under a plan being actively touted by Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president.

* EU to resume Palestinian aid The EU is to resume direct aid to the new Palestinian emergency government, said Javier Solana, the EU’s foreign policy chief, ending its 15-month aid embargo following Hamas’s election victory.

* Jerusalem Police Stand Firm on Gay Parade for Thursday Protestors hurled rocks at an Egged bus Monday morning in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramot, damaging the vehicle. No one was injured.

* We must unite against Hamas, Livni tells Arab paper In optimistic article published in Arab world’s leading newspaper, foreign minister writes, ‘Israel has a strong interest to find a stable and prosperous Palestinian partner’; says Israel was wrong for not cooperating sufficiently with regional elements ‘in order to help us build Israeli-Palestinian peace’.

* EU treaty rifts remain after deal on name and symbols EU foreign ministers have agreed on how the new EU treaty should be presented – it should not be called a constitution, and not contain symbols such as an EU flag – but key divisions on the substance of the text remain unresolved.