Al-Qaeda calls for Palestine jihad The occupied Palestinian territories will be liberated through jihad, not elections, according to a senior al-Qaeda leader.

New U.S. defense chief visits Baghdad New U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived Wednesday in Baghdad on an unannounced visit to meet with military leaders and other officials.

Blair labels Iran as main foe British Prime Minister Tony Blair wrapped up a Middle East tour Wednesday with a stark speech.

Ahmadinejad: What would Jesus do today? Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has sent a greeting to the world’s Christians for the coming New Year.

Iran acts over Israeli nukes Iran has called for the UN Security Council to compel Israel to give up its nuclear weapons.

Olmert: Syrian peace overtures not genuine Prime Minister Ehud Olmert renewed his opposition to peace talks with Syria

Heavy fighting erupts in Somalia Heavy fighting has broken out close to the base of the weak Somali interim government in Baidoa.

Ahmadinejad: Iran now nuclear power Iran is now a “nuclear power,” its President, Mahmoud Ahamdinejad, delcared Wednesday.

Syria in Bush’s Crosshairs The Bush Administration has been quietly nurturing individuals and parties opposed to the Syrian government.

Terror leader: Arms race developing Recent US shipments of weapons to bolster activists from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah organization have prompted an arms race with rival Hamas.

Schools shut amid Gaza ‘anarchy’ Schools have been closed in Gaza amid what officials say is a state of anarchy caused by fighting between Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah.

Olmert and Abdullah hold surprise meeting in Amman Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made a surprise visit to Jordan Tuesday for talks with King Abdullah II on ways to revive the Middle East peace process.

Bush delays moving US embassy to Jerusalem United States President George W. Bush has delayed for another six months moving the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.

US defence chief warns over Iraq New US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has warned that failure in Iraq would be a “calamity” that would haunt the United States for many years.

Report: US to boost Persian Gulf force The United States is planning a major naval build up in and around the Persian Gulf as a warning to Iran, CBS News reported late Monday.

Iraq attacks reach record levels Attacks on US and Iraqi troops and civilians reached their highest level since Iraqi sovereignty was restored in June 2004, a Pentagon report has said.

Bibi: World must prevent another Shoah Opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu convened more than 50 ambassadors and diplomats on Tuesday.

Israeli housing to expand in Golan Israel is to speed up development on land it occupies in the Golan Heights.

Russia Concerned Over Middle East Turmoil, Pledges Support, Putin Assures Syria’s al-Assad Russian President Vladimir Putin has voiced concern at the turmoil in the Middle East and stressed Moscow’s desire for a diplomatic role in the region.

Aliyah 2006: 25 percent increase in British immigrants Lower immigration figures for 2006 attributed to war in Lebanon, massive jump in aliyah from Britain.

Palestinian factions ‘agree deal’ Rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah say they have reached a deal to end violence in the Gaza Strip.

Blair pledges support for Abbas British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Monday praised Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ call for new Palestinian elections.

EU to Israel: Stop violating int’l law The European Council called on Monday for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to meet in the near future.

Iran reformist regains influence Iran’s moderate former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has won election to Iran’s powerful clerical body, the Assembly of Experts.

PM: Israel hesitant on Syria due to US Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made it clear to the cabinet on Sunday that one reason Israel is not embracing recent overtures for negotiations from Syria is American opposition.

Report: Saudi study finds Iranian Shiite ‘state’ in Iraq According to Washington Times, report commissioned by Saudi government says Iran established Shiite ‘state within a state’ in Iraq.

Nuclear Pact Will Make India Client State Of US, Says Opposition The Indian parliament saw a spirited debate on the India-US civilian nuclear deal Monday.

Iran to replace dollar with euro The Iranian central bank is to convert the state’s foreign dollar assets into euros and use the euro for foreign transactions.

Report: Rise in European ‘Islamophobia’ Muslims across Europe are confronting a rise in “Islamophobia” ranging from violent attacks to discrimination in the job and housing markets.

US church splits over sexuality Two church congregations in the US have voted to break away from the Episcopal Church because of its decision three years ago to consecrate a gay bishop.

By: Caroline Glick – THE JERUSALEM POST

There is something terribly confusing about Iran’s penchant for denying the Holocaust. Given Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s stated desire to see Israel wiped off the map, it would seem more reasonable for Iran to be celebrating the Holocaust than denying it.

But Ahmadinejad is slicker than that. He embraces not the Holocaust but the nation that pulled it off. In his August missive to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, he referred to the German nation as ‘a great contributor to progress in science, philosophy, literature, the arts and politics’ who have had a ‘positive influence in international relations and the promotion of peace.’ These lines of course are open to interpretation. He could be referring to Goethe and Schiller and he could be referring to Heidegger and Goebbels.

So why is the guy who is gunning for a new Holocaust belittling the last one?

Read more…

32 wounded during Hamas-Fatah clashes in Ramallah Thirty-two people were wounded on Friday as Hamas and Fatah-allied gunmen exchanged fire in Gaza City and Ramallah.

Iranians go to the polls Iran is to hold elections for its municipal councils as well as the Assembly of Experts.

EU backs strict expansion rules European Union leaders have agreed that aspiring members must meet its tight entry criteria but said there should be no new obstacles to future expansion.

Siniora seeks Moscow’s help Fouad Siniora, the Lebanese prime minister, has arrived in Russia to meet Vladimir Putin.

Assad: Europe has a Holocaust complex “Europe has a Holocaust complex, we don’t because we didn’t do it,” Syrian President Bashar Assad was quoted as saying on Friday by the Italian newspaper.

Ban Ki-moon sworn in as UN chief South Korea’s Ban Ki-moon has been sworn in as the next UN secretary general at a ceremony in New York.

Somali militants target Ethiopian troops Islamists in Somalia today distributed sermons calling for holy war amid fears the country is descending into a new cycle of violence.

Iran destabilises Mideast – EU The European Union accused Iran on Friday of destabilising the Middle East with its nuclear program and threats towards Israel.

Praying for New Chanukah Miracles Jews begin the eight-day Chanukah festival Friday night.

Rice hints Baker report to be snubbed US secretary of state tells Washington Post that US will not ‘trade away’ Lebanon to Syria nor allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons.

Lebanon pins hopes on Arab solution to crisis Lebanon was pinning its hopes Thursday on an Arab solution aimed at ending two weeks of Hezbollah-led street protests against the government.

New Forecast: Severe Space Storm Headed to Earth Space weather forecasters revised their predictions for storminess after a major flare erupted on the Sun overnight threatening damage to communication systems.

Haniya back in Gaza as unrest grows Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of Hamas cut short a foreign trip to return to Gaza Thursday.

High Court: International law does not forbid targeted killings The High Court of Justice ruled Thursday that the Israel Defense Forces policy of targeted killings of militants does not categorically violate international law.

Make Oil clinches lucrative deal to build refinery in Iraqi Kurdistan Lebanon’s Make Oil Company is expected to start building a $3 billion oil refinery in Iraqi Kurdistan within one month.

EU leaders ponder the future On Monday, foreign ministers surprisingly agreed on how to punish Turkey for refusing to open its ports and airports to traffic from Cyprus.

EU tells Israel to clarify Olmert’s remarks on nuclear weapons The European Union on Wednesday called on Israel to clarify remarks made by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert earlier this week.

Iranian elections ‘immensely important’ Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is “very ill,” and thus elections being held in Iran on Friday to choose a new “Assembly of Experts” are immensely important.

Study in Africa: Circumcision may prevent AIDS Two recent studies that were conducted in Africa revealed that circumcision cuts the chance of catching the HIV virus in half.

EU Parliament charter asks Muslims to reject extremism A new initiative that challenges Muslim communities living in the West on their attitudes to integration in the face of fundamentalism and extremism in their communities was launched at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.

By: Mark Mardell – BBC Europe editor

One seasoned, laconic, diplomat observed: ‘I can’t see any fireworks, it’s not a crisis or last-ditch summit.’

This is because the subject most likely to get Europe’s presidents and prime ministers spitting and hissing when they meet on Thursday and Friday has been sorted out by their juniors.

Read more…

Saudis Say They Might Back Sunnis if U.S. Leaves Iraq Saudi Arabia has told the Bush administration that it might provide financial backing to Iraqi Sunnis in any war against Iraq’s Shiites.

‘PM’s comments may prove harmful’ Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s apparent inclusion of Israel in the nuclear club and confirmation that the country has nuclear weapons could prove disastrous.

Iran: Israel ‘will end like USSR’ Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has told a conference in Tehran questioning the Holocaust that Israel’s days are numbered.

Annan urges Middle East peace push Kofi Annan, the outgoing UN chief, has pleaded for “a new and urgent push for peace” between Israelis and Palestinians.

PM to pope: Tell Christians to protest Holocaust conference Prime Minister Ehud Olmert asked Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday afternoon to call on Christians in his next homily to protest the Holocaust denial conference.

Turkey criticises EU ‘injustice’ The Turkish prime minister has accused the EU of acting unfairly towards Turkey by deciding to slow down its membership talks.

Haniyeh: Sudan to give PA gov’t $10m Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said Wednesday that the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir had pledged $10 million to the Palestinian government and people.

Somalia: Ethiopia to React Harshly If Attacked Ethiopian information minister Zemhon Tikelli has accused the Union of Islamic Courts trying to create agitations in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa.

Olmert willing to meet Abbas ‘anywhere, anytime’ Prime Minister Ehud Olmert arrived in Rome Wednesday morning for a day of meetings with top Italian officials.

Bush delays fresh Iraq strategy President George W Bush will delay his announcement of possible changes to US policy in Iraq until after the new year, the White House has confirmed.

By: The Jerusalem Post

The organizers of a conference that opened yesterday in Teheran to “study” the Holocaust claim that their aim is “neither to deny or prove” that the Holocaust took place. How generous – and true. Indeed, Iranian leaders could care less about parsing European history.

The real purpose of the conference was succinctly expressed by Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki: “If the official version of the Holocaust is thrown into doubt, then the identity and nature of Israel will be thrown into doubt. And if, during this review, it is proved that the Holocaust was a historical reality, then what is the reason for the Muslim people of the region and the Palestinians having to pay the cost of the Nazis’ crimes?”

While Holocaust denial is in most places either illegal or the province of quacks, the claim and belief that the Palestinians are paying the price for Western Holocaust guilt is much more widespread. Though coming from the exact opposite angle, Israel constantly reinforces the linkage between our existence and the Holocaust, in that we inculcate in everyone from foreign leaders to IDF officers the notion that if Israel had existed earlier, the Holocaust would not have happened.

Israel, in other words, often portrays itself as the answer and antidote to the Holocaust.

Read more…

Israeli PM in nuclear arms hint Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert appears to have come close to admitting that his country has nuclear weapons.

Germany’s Merkel condemns Iranian Holocaust conference German Chancellor Angela Merkel strongly condemned an Iranian-hosted conference debating whether the Holocaust occurred.

Annan chides US in final speech Kofi Annan has made his final speech as UN secretary general, calling on the US not to lose sight of its core principles in its fight on terror.

Sixty killed in Baghdad suicide truck bombing A suicide bomber targeting laborers killed 60 people Tuesday in Baghdad and wounded 220 others.

Gaza rivals lurch toward civil war as children are killed in school run ‘hit’ Rival factions of the Palestinian movement seemed set for a bloody confrontation last night after the drive-by shooting of three Palestinian children.

Arab League hopes for Beirut deal The Arab League is trying to broker an agreement between the pro-Syrian and pro-Western camps in Lebanon to try to form a government of national unity.

Iran conference attendee: Holocaust an enormous lie Iran staged a conference on Monday to debate the Holocaust and question whether Nazi Germany used gas chambers.

Ethiopia deadline to quit Somalia Somalia’s powerful Islamist group has given Ethiopian troops a week to leave the country or face a “major attack”.

Cyprus veto still looms over EU-Turkey talks Turkey’s EU accession talks remain highly fragile despite Monday’s foreign ministers’ decision to continue the bulk of chapters in Ankara’s negotiating book.

Why are Jews at the ‘Holocaust denial’ conference? Why are Jews attending a conference on the Holocaust in Tehran at which star guests include deniers of the genocide?