* Israel sees rapid exit from Iraq endangering Jordanian regime Israel is worried a hasty American withdrawal from Iraq could topple the Hashemite regime in Jordan.

* Ahmadinejad says Iran will stick to atomic work Iran said on Friday no amount of U.N. pressure would deter it from its nuclear program.

* Palestinian PM unveils unity team Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya has unveiled a national unity cabinet after months of negotiations between his Hamas movement and Fatah.

* Analysis: Strategically crafted ambiguity The political program of the new Palestinian Authority unity government, which constitutes a compromise between the relatively pragmatist policies of Fatah and the radical ideology of Hamas.

* UN probes Lebanon-Israel border row Israel has accused Hezbollah of smuggling arms across the Lebanese-Syrian border.

* China: ‘World should not fear military rise’ The world should not fear China’s military rise, premier Wen Jiabao said Friday.

* Report: Iraq Commander Wants More Troops he commander of U.S. forces in Iraq has asked for an additional 2,500 to 3,000 troops to be sent to Iraq.

* Rice: Arab League plan is a position, not a basis for talks Amid the reemergence of the 2002 Saudi peace initiative ahead of the Arab League meeting at the end of this month, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice characterized the document as putting forward the Arab position.

* Turkish entrepreneurs court Europe Turkey is a land of mosques and malls — a unique blend of East and West.

* Critics: Olmert Unpopular Because He is a Failure Knesset Members pounced on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s speech to Kadima leaders Thursday night.

* Iran defiant on nuclear plan as UN gears up for fresh sanctions Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday a United Nations Security Council resolution could not stop the Islamic state from obtaining nuclear technology.

* Ethiopians can look back in pride, says Olmert “The Ethiopian immigrants did not find a rose paradise here,” Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Wednesday.

* Palestinian PM unveils unity team Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya has unveiled a national unity cabinet after months of negotiations between his Hamas movement and Fatah.

* Hamas TV: Disengagement Key to Israel’s Destruction Hamas-controlled television is broadcasting a statement by the group’s late leader Ahmad Yassin several times a day.

* Israeli officials slam Solana remarks Israeli officials expressed disappointment Wednesday that EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana backed a full Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights.

* China to expand “Great Internet Firewall” China will tighten controls on Internet blogs and webcasts in a response to new technologies that have allowed cyber citizens to avoid government censorship efforts.

* Pope sets out ‘non-negotiable values’ in key document Pope Benedict XVI Tuesday set out “non-negotiable values” as he urged Catholic lawmakers to oppose laws favoring divorce, abortion, and euthanasia.

* The general and the sheikh – can they save Iraq? When the American general met the Arab sheikh for the first time they greeted each other with undisguised enthusiasm.

* Israel, PA agree on Japan-backed plan A recent Japan-backed agreement to promote economic cooperation and development in the Middle East must run parallel to concrete steps to stem violence there.

* Russia clinches Balkan oil deal Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a deal in Athens to ship Russian oil to the EU via a pipeline bypassing the busy Bosphorus.

* Hamas faces split over Mecca accords The national unity agreement that was reached last month in Mecca has triggered a behind-the-scenes power struggle in Hamas.

* Saudis spurn Israeli talks stance Saudi Arabia has rejected calls by Israel for changes to be made to a Saudi-led plan for Middle East peace.

* UNESCO: Dig not harming Temple Mt. The UNESCO report on the controversial Antiquities Authority excavation near the Temple Mount has concluded that it is not damaging the holy site.

* Top general: Remarks on gays were ‘personal moral views’ The top U.S. military officer, Gen. Peter Pace, said Tuesday he should have focused more on military policy and less on his own opinion.

* Rice to visit Saudis before Israel US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice may make a stopover in Saudi Arabia before the Arab League summit starts there on March 28.

* EU reopens dialogue with Syrians The European Union’s foreign policy chief has held talks with Syrian leaders in Damascus – the last stop on his three-day tour of the region.

* Israel, Palestinians laud Japanese plan Senior Israeli and Palestinian officials applauded a Japanese plan to promote economic cooperation and development in their region Wednesday.

* World stocks tumble on US fears European stocks have joined a global sell-off, after concerns about the US economy and mortgage industry hurt markets in Asia and dented Wall Street.

* Lieberman slams European hesitation on Iran sanctions Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman lashed out at European leaders on Wednesday for refusing to impose economic sanctions on Iran.

* Shas Proposes Expanded Bill to Outlaw Missionary Activity A record number of Jews converting to Islam last year prompted the Shas Knesset faction Tuesday to propose a bill that would jail missionaries who proselytize to individuals in Israel.

By: Anshel Pfeffer – The Jerusalem Post

Much has changed in the five years since the Saudi initiative first emerged, but two principles have remained sacrosanct. The Palestinians, backed by the Arab leaders, have adamantly refused to back down from the demand for the “right of return” of Palestinian refugees. All Israeli governments continue to oppose any concession on the issue, reflecting the consensus that allowing the refugees back would amount to suicide of the Jewish state.

So how was Prime Minister Ehud Olmert suddenly saying to the cabinet that he was ready to “treat seriously” the taboo initiative, already rejected out of hand by his predecessor and patron, Ariel Sharon? And how was such a statement greeted with barely a peep from the other ministers, or even from the opposition?

Olmert’s announcement was preceded by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni’s interview with an Arab newspaper, in which she said parts of the Saudi initiative were acceptable, but not the “right of return.”

Read more…

By: George Conger – The Jerusalem Post

Israel should pursue a strategy of “open nuclear deterrence” towards Iran if international attempts to curtail Teheran’s nuclear ambitions fail, a London think tank argues in a report to be released Monday.

Openly declaring its nuclear weapons stockpile and laying out the conditions of their use in the event of an Iranian attack is an option worth considering, a report published by the Royal Institute for International Affairs (Chatham House) stated, “if it is conceded that diplomatic efforts are doomed to fail, yet the price of war is too high.”

Of all the options available to Israel to counter the Iranian nuclear threat, “the military option is the least desirable” as a strike against Iran “might push an already volatile Middle East into further hostilities, uniting anti-Western groups worldwide” against Israel and the US while “isolating moderate Muslim forces,” the report states.

Read more…

* UN to open permanent probe on Israel The United Nation’s Human Rights Council is expected to place Israel under permanent investigation for its “violations” of international law in the territories.

* Shin Bet chief warns of record Gaza arms build-up Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin on Tuesday warned of the dangers of an unprecedented arms build-up in the Gaza Strip.

* Iranian FM: ‘Israel is a nuclear threat’ Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Tuesday accused Israel and the United States of posing the main threats to the security of the Middle East.

* Catholic politicians must oppose gay marriage: Pope The Church’s opposition to gay marriage is “non-negotiable” and Catholic politicians have a moral duty to oppose it, as well as laws on abortion and euthanasia, Pope Benedict said.

* Olmert urges US to stand firm on Iraq Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned at an AIPAC gala dinner Monday night about the danger “premature” withdrawal from the country would pose for Israel.

* New poll shows 68.4% of Israeli Jews fear Israeli Arab uprising 68.4 percent of Israeli Jews fear a civil uprising on behalf of Israeli Arabs and 63.3 percent say they won’t enter Arab towns in Israel.

* Putin in landmark Vatican visit Russian President Vladimir Putin is beginning an official visit to Rome, during which he will see both the Pope and the Italian prime minister.

* EU’s blueprint for Kosovo takeover revealed The European Union is reportedly well-advanced in planning to replace the UN authority in Kosovo.

* Libya ‘may sign US nuclear deal’ A report coming out of Libya says a nuclear power agreement with the United States will be signed shortly.

* Pro-Kremlin Parties Set to Win in Russian Regional Polls Pro-Kremlin parties on Monday looked set to win all 14 regional elections contested Sunday.

* Gov’t pushes Peres ‘Peace Valley’ plan The government on Sunday gave a bureaucratic push to a joint Israeli-Jordanian-Palestinian project.

* Syria, Iran discuss military links Syrian President Bashar Assad met Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Najjar on Sunday.

* Israel urged to end nuclear ambiguity Israel should pursue a strategy of “open nuclear deterrence” towards Iran if international attempts to curtail Teheran’s nuclear ambitions fail.

* Olmert asks Abbas to concede right of return Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agreed Sunday that the Saudi initiative could serve as a basis for promoting a diplomatic process.

* PM: Israel ‘serious’ about Saudi plan Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday said he was ready to “treat seriously” a dormant Saudi initiative calling for a comprehensive peace agreement between Israel and the Arab world.

* Al-Zawahri slams Hamas for agreeing to unity gov’t Al-Qaeda’s number two leader criticized the Palestinian Hamas for agreeing to form a national unity government.

* Livni: Don’t drop demands on Hamas Israel is hinting at stopping talks with Palestinian moderates over a “political horizon” if the European Union drops its insistence that the Palestinian Authority government recognize Israel.

* Chirac’s departure marks end of EU era French president Jacques Chirac has confirmed he will not stand as a candidate in France’s upcoming presidential elections.

* Analysis: The Saudi fig leaf Much has changed in the five years since the Saudi initiative first emerged.

* Report condemns Sudan over Darfur UN investigators have accused Sudan’s government of “orchestrating and participating” in crimes in Darfur that include murder, mass rape, and kidnap.

* Iraq plea to help tackle violence Iraq’s prime minister has appealed to neighbouring states to co-operate in tackling the insurgency which has left tens of thousands dead since 2003.

* Israeli Diplomat: “Abu Mazen Lied to Us Thrice” PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah has broken three explicit promises he made to Israel regarding diplomatic matters, and “cannot be depended upon.”

* UN chief announces Middle East visit Ban Ki-moon says solving Israeli-Palestinian conflict would pave way for resolution of other issues in Middle East

* No deal on UN sanctions for Iran Russia and China have said they have reservations about some of the proposed UN Security Council sanctions to punish Iran for continuing to enrich uranium.

* Osama bin Laden turns 50 Osama Bin Laden, if he is alive, is turning 50 – most probably as a free man.

* UN panel tells Israel to stop settler violence Human rights watchdog group asks Israel to recalibrate security solutions to avoid discrimination against Palestinians, Arab Israelis.

* EU plans to restart high-level contacts with Syria The European Union plans to restart high-level contacts with Syria by sending foreign policy chief Javier Solana to Damascus for talks on Lebanon and Middle East peace.

* EU likely to affirm support for PA gov’t Leaders of European Union nations were expected to adopt a summit declaration Friday expressing support for a Palestinian unity government

* Fatah and Hamas clash despite talks Fatah gunmen have shot at the convoy of a minister from the Hamas movement in the occupied West Bank, the first factional violence since Palestinian unity talks began a month ago.

* Final Kosovo talks end deadlocked A final round of talks between top Serbian and ethnic Albanian leaders on the future of Kosovo has ended without agreement in Vienna.

* Hamas Builds Up War Machine in Gaza The IDF Southern Command Chief, speaking with foreign diplomats and reporters in Jerusalem on Wednesday, painted a grim picture of the war threats from Gaza.

* Hizbullah: Olmert confirmed what we knew “Prime Minister Ehud Olmert admitted that it was decided to open the July war four months before the operation to kidnap the two Israeli soldiers.

* UNIFIL wants ability to fight Hizbullah UNIFIL would like a more aggressive mandate for its forces to engage Hizbullah on their own.

* Egypt forbids 2,000 pilgrims from visiting Israel Some 2,000 Coptic and Greek Orthodox Christians in Egypt have been forbidden from making a pilgrimage to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in east Jerusalem this coming Easter.

* UNESCO Mughrabi report due in days A week after a group of UNESCO officials toured the contested Israeli archaeological dig under way outside Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, the organization has still not published its findings.

* Olmert’s political fortunes sink to new lows Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s political fortunes crashed to new lows Thursday.

* Shi’ite leaders squabble with Arabs over Baghdad conference The Iraqi government and Arab countries have broken into bitter squabbling ahead of a Baghdad conference on Saturday.

* Merkel tables outline for citizen-friendly EU birthday text Enlargement has emerged as a topic of controversy surrounding the EU’s 50th anniversary declaration.

* Sudanese seek refuge in Israel from Darfur Collective farms that for decades formed the Zionist backbone of Israel today shelter scores of Muslim refugees from Sudan who walked into the Jewish state to flee persecution.

* Petraeus: Force will not solve Iraq The new US military commander in Iraq has admitted that military might alone cannot solve the ongoing violence in the country.