* Mashaal in Russia: Hamas not ready to recognize Israel Hamas’s political leader said Tuesday that the militant group is not ready to recognize Israel.

* Israeli Official: “Syria, Hizbullah Will Attack if Iran is Hit” Israeli security officials said if any war breaks out involving Iran, they expect Syria, Hizbullah and terrorist groups in Judea, Samaria and Gaza to join the fray and attack Israel.

* UN plans new resolution on Iran UN Security Council members, meeting in London to discuss Iran’s nuclear programme, have agreed to begin work on a new UN resolution on Iran.

* Breakthrough in Iraq oil standoff Iraq’s cabinet has approved a draft oil law which aims to equitably share revenues from its oil revenues among the country’s ethnic groups.

* U.S. Finds Major Weapons Cache in Iraq U.S. officers said Monday they had discovered a factory for assembling sophisticated roadside bombs from Iranian-made components.

* Afghan base hit as Cheney visits At least nine people have died in a suicide bombing near the main US base in Afghanistan during US Vice-President Dick Cheney’s stay, US officials say.

* Hamas chief praises Russian support Khaled Meshaal, the political leader of Hamas, has praised the Russian government.

* Court names Darfur war suspects Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court have named a minister and a militia leader who they suspect of war crimes in Sudan’s Darfur region.

* Synagogues now terror firing zone The ruins of two large synagogues in Gush Katif, the evacuated Jewish communities of the Gaza Strip, have been transformed into a military base used by Palestinian groups.

* European research goes for gold Europe has a new flagship agency to fund the brightest ideas in science.

* Olmert: Prepare for war with Syria While chances for all-out war with Syria in 2007 are deemed low by Israel’s top intelligence officials.

* US body ‘to plan attacks on Iran’ The US Pentagon has set up a special planning group to co-ordinate possible attacks on Iran.

* Report: Hizbullah building buffer zone Hizbullah is building up reinforcements north of the Litani river in anticipation of another potential war with Israel.

* Iraq vice president hurt in blast Violence continues to sweep Baghdad where an Iraqi vice president has escaped an apparent assassination attempt.

* ‘Jesus, Magdalene & son in Talpiot tomb’ The Discovery TV Channel has released new details of the “Lost Tomb of Jesus” documentary that is to be officially launched at a New York press conference on Monday.

* Iran builds tension with rocket launch Iran has warned it is ready “even for war” as it launched a rocket believed to have reached the edge of orbit.

* Court clears Serbia of genocide The UN’s highest court has cleared Serbia of direct responsibility for genocide during the 1990s Bosnian war.

* Mideast Quartet to meet in late March – Russian envoy A ministerial meeting of the Quartet of international mediators on the Middle East will be held in the region in late March.

* Hamas chief in Moscow for Palestinian government talks Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal arrived in Moscow on Monday for talks aimed at capitalizing on differences among the Quartet of Middle East negotiators over how to deal with the Palestinian government.

* Veto problem on EU-Russia treaty getting bigger Poland and Lithuania are becoming more deeply entrenched in a blockade on launching EU talks on a new treaty with Russia.

* Sneh: Israel not planning to attack Iran Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh denied that Israel was negotiating with the United States for permission to use Iraqi air space in an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

* American armada prepares to take on Iran It is four and a half acres of American power in the middle of the Arabian Sea but the influence of USS Dwight D Eisenhower stretches for hundreds of miles.

* Israel gripped by Syria war fears A reported Syrian troop build-up near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights has fueled speculation in Israel about a future conflict.

* Abbas says PA must recognize Israel Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the EU agreed that the incoming Palestinian national unity government must recognize Israel’s right to exist and forswear violence.

* Jordan’s Abdullah: PA gov’t must adhere to Quartet conditions Jordan’s King Abdullah there is broad Arab agreement that a Palestinian unity government must adhere to the demands of the Quartet of Middle East mediators.

* UNESCO to inspect dig near Temple Mount World body to send four experts to Jerusalem to assess impact of construction works on the Temple Mount

* Turkey to reform further despite negative EU ‘climate’ Turkish foreign minister Abdullah Gul pledged that Ankara will continue reforms even if the “climate” in the EU towards Ankara’s membership bid is currently not optimal.

* ‘Time running out for Israeli-Palestinian peace deal’ Time to clinch an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal is running out, Jordan’s King Abdullah II cautioned.

* Uganda Promises to Aid, Protect Somalia Uganda’s top military officials promised to help train a national army for Somalia and help provide security for its government.

* Iran: World’s allegations are baseless Iran accused the United States, Britain and Israel of “baseless allegations” about its nuclear ambitions.

* World-Wide Blitz against Israel The United Nations, Russia, Arab states and the media have escalated an international broadside against Israel while touting the Hamas-Fatah coalition.

* Merkel urges Israel recognition German Chancellor Angela Merkel has stressed the European Union’s insistence that any new Palestinian government must recognise Israel.

* Further Iran sanctions challenged Miguel Angel Moratinos, Spain’s foreign minister, has called for continuation of diplomatic efforts to solve Iran’s nuclear issue.

* Cheney warns on Chinese build-up US Vice-President Dick Cheney has expressed concern over China’s military policies, saying they were at odds with the country’s stated peaceful aims.

* Embattled DM Peretz Charging Ahead with Outpost Evacuation Even as the majority of the country believes Labor Chairman Amir Peretz is unfit to run the defense portfolio, the embattled Minister of Defense is trying to improve his standing.

* US ‘hunted al-Qaeda’ in Somalia Details have emerged of a US military campaign against suspected al-Qaeda leaders in Somalia with the assistance of Ethiopia.

* Taliban threatens ‘bloodiest year’ as UK boosts troops The Taliban today threatened the deadliest year yet for foreign troops in Afghanistan.

* Iran complains of nuclear bullying Critics of Iran’s nuclear program are “bullying” Iran, its current president and a former president declared Friday.

* US poll: Israel alone named ‘vital friend’ A Gallup poll surveying US opinion on geopolitics singles out Israel as only foreign nation Americans feel favorably toward.

* Germany’s EU constitutional task increasingly difficult As the half-way mark of the German presidency looms, even the most basic parameter-setting agreement on the EU constitution looks difficult.

* Quartet demands new PA gov’t recognize Israel Revived Quartet of Middle East peace negotiators underscore demand that any Palestinian government must recognize Israel.

* Temple Mount Re-Opened to Jews Israeli excavation works at the Rambam (Mughrabi) Gate ramp – leading from the Western Wall plaza to the Temple Mount – evoked Arab rioting and criticism of Israel by Arab leaders.

* Poll: 75 percent of Israelis want to be in EU A full 75 percent of Israelis would like Israel to be part of the European Union, and 11 percent said they would leave Israel if they were granted EU citizenship.

* UN Training PLO Forces in Gaza to Amass Along Israel Border According to the British Daily Telegraph, the UN training operation is being kept far away from the media.

* Peretz urges Israel to avoid verbal escalation with Syria Responding to a Haaretz report that Syria is boosting its army and moving troops closer to its border with Israel.

* Poland to push for ‘dark’ side to EU birthday text Poland wants the EU’s upcoming 50th birthday declaration to mention the “dark” side of recent European history.

* Sheikh Raed Salah to be investigated for incitement Islamic Movement Northern Front leader Sheikh Raed Salah was placed under criminal investigation by the head of the Special Tasks Division in the State Attorney’s Office.

* World Powers Await IAEA Report on Iran Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday that the U.S. and its allies would use the U.N. Security Council and other “available channels” to bring Tehran back to negotiations over its nuclear program.

* Toxic gas latest insurgent weapon in Iraq Deadly and debilitating chlorine gas has been added to the arsenal of weapons fueling the explosive insurgency in Iraq.

* ‘Most J’lem kids will be Arab by 2020’ The majority of Jerusalem’s children will be Arab by 2020 if current trends continue.

* Quartet meets on unity government Representatives of the United States, the United Nations, Russia and the European Union are in Germany to discuss the agreement between rival Palestinian factions to form a unity government.

* Russia, France call for unity on Iran, openness to dialogue Russia and France called Thursday for unity in the standoff with Iran over its nuclear program.

* Ashkenazi: IDF may have to confront Hezbollah to halt rearming Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi said Wednesday that Israel may have to confront Hezbollah.

* Settlers’ birth rate three times higher than other Israelis Some 268,000 settlers lived in the West Bank during 2006, marking a five percent increase from the previous year.

* Rise In Western Aliyah In 2006 Immigration to Israel from several key countries increased in 2006 as compared to 2005.

* Study: By 2035 equal number of Jews, Arabs in Jerusalem If there is no change in the reproduction rate among Jerusalem residents, by 2035 there will be an equal number of Arabs and Jews residing in the capital.

* Russia: Sides should open talks on ‘political horizon of Palestine’ Israel and the Palestinians should open direct negotiations over “the political horizon of Palestine,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

* Blair announces Iraq troops cut Prime Minister Tony Blair has told MPs that 1,600 British troops will return from Iraq within the next few months.

* Rome concerned over Blair’s exit impact for EU constitution talks Italian and Spanish leaders have voiced their full support for salvaging the EU constitution.

* Olmert urges tougher sanctions on Iran Prime Minister Ehud Olmert urged the international community on Wednesday to increase its pressure on Iran.

* IDF: Arms being smuggled to Hizbullah on weekly basis Arms are being smuggled to Hizbullah from Syria on a weekly basis, usually at night, in an attempt to evade the eight UNIFIL battalions deployed between Syria and Lebanon.

* Rice seeks ‘Arab Quartet’ backing for peace moves U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice sought on Tuesday to get Arab support for U.S. efforts to revive a peace process.

* US ‘Iran attack plans’ revealed US contingency plans for air strikes on Iran extend beyond nuclear sites and include most of the country’s military infrastructure.

* Rice, Abbas meet with Jordan’s Abdullah US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas huddled separately in Jordan.

* Gay ultimatum for Anglicans in US Anglican leaders have issued an ultimatum to the US Church by demanding an end to the appointment of gay clergy and the blessing of same-sex couples.

* Mughrabi dig prompts rise in Muslim antisemitism Opposition to the excavation at the Mughrabi Gate near the Temple Mount has sparked an increase in anti-Israel and anti-Semitic rhetoric in the Muslim world.

* Iran Sets Condition to Halt Nuke Program President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday that Iran would only halt its uranium enrichment program and return to negotiations if other Western nations do the same.

* Following the Christian money trail Evangelical Christians donate USD 37 million in 2006, most to Israel but some to Jews in the former Soviet Union.

* MEPs divided over controversial Kosovo report The European Parliament – striving to enter the diplomatic arena – is indicating it may take a clear pro-independence stance.

* Mobile phones to fuel Internet growth Google vice-president and chief Internet evangelist Vinton G. Cerf predicted Tuesday that mobile phones, not personal computers, will fuel growth of the worldwide Web.

* Trilateral summit ends with few signs of progress Talks between US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the Israeli and Palestinian leaders ended Monday with little progress other than a commitment to meet again.

* Intelligence Chief: Hizbullah is Stronger than Before War Gen. Yossi Beiditz, head of the IDF’s Intelligence Wing Research Division, told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that Hizbullah has “returned to its pre-war capabilities.

* Al Qaeda Chiefs Are Seen to Regain Power Senior leaders of Al Qaeda operating from Pakistan have re-established significant control over their once-battered worldwide terror network.

* Iran: US will lose in the Middle East Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Sunday the United States will not achieve its goals in the region.

* Sheikh Salah: Western Wall belongs to Muslims Leader of the Islamic Movement in Israel says Jews invented history with their holiest site.

* UN anti-racism panel questions Israel over non-Jewish holy sites A United Nations anti-racism panel is scheduled to hold a hearing later this week over Israel’s attitude toward sites considered holy by its Arab population.

* Czech Republic May Host Missile System Poland and Czech Republic are in favor of hosting a proposed U.S. missile defense system, the Czech premier said.

* Iran launches war games with missile tests Iran’s ideological army, the elite Revolutionary Guards, launched three days of war games Monday.

* PM vows to continue talks with Abbas Prime Minister Ehud Olmert vowed on Monday to continue to speak regularly to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

* Russia Confirms Intention to Help Gulf Countries Develop Peaceful Nuclear Program Director of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Mikhail Dmitriev said on Monday, Feb. 19, that Russia is ready to help the Gulf countries in developing a “peaceful” nuclear energy program.

* Abbas: World has no choice but to accept unity gov’t Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas delivered a defiant message to a senior US envoy on Saturday, saying that the world would simply have to learn to live with a new coalition.

* Rice reviews Iraq security plan US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said Iraq’s leaders are “off to a good start” with a new security plan intended to cut violence.

* Syrian president arrives in Iran Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, has arrived in the Iranian capital Tehran to discuss instability in Iraq and Lebanon.

* ‘Outposts’ Thriving in the West Bank With its playgrounds, identical houses and manicured flower beds, Bruchin looks like any placid Israeli suburb. Except that Bruchin is not supposed to exist.

* Haniya begins unity talks The Palestinian prime minister has begun coalition talks to establish a unity government.

* Raed Salah reaffirms former statements Arab-Israeli Islamic leader denies allegations of anti-Semitic incitement.

* Ahmadinejad: Iran and Lebanon are two parts of the same body Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Saturday that Lebanon and Hezbollah have his complete support in their struggle against Israel and the United States.

* Rice denies decision not to deal with unity government US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has denied that the United States told Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas it would refuse to deal with the future unity government.

* EU anti-hate law sparks debate on Nazi and Soviet crimes With Germany reviving its proposal on EU-wide minimum sentences for incitement to racial hatred and genocide denial, some EU states are taking a firm anti-communist stance.

* Action plan for killer asteroids A draft UN treaty to determine what would have to be done if a giant asteroid was on a collision course with Earth is to be drawn up this year.