* Gaddafi not targeted by strikes Coalition forces carrying out operations against Libyan government forces say Colonel Gaddafi himself is not a target, despite a strike on his compound.

* IDF to track foreign anti-Israel groups New section in Military Intelligence Directorate to collect data, passively probe groups aiming to delegitimize Israel

* Fresh clashes in Syria as thousands protest Assad regime Syrian army deploys troops in site of protests in effort to calm anti-government demonstrations.

* EU refuseniks justify staying out of Libya action Germany and Malta over the weekend gave fresh reasons for staying out of the EU-US-Arab attack on Colonel Gaddafi.

* Japan nuclear crisis will be overcome, says IAEA The situation at Japan’s quake-damaged nuclear plant remains very serious, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog said.

* Medvedev rejects Putin “crusade” remark over Libya Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev has said Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s description of the UN resolution on Libya is “unacceptable”.

* No doubt Egyptian army will honor peace with Israel Egyptian political player Tarek Heggy states that “Israel is not the cause of our problems”; says leader like Yitzhak Rabin needed in ME conflict.

* Palin at Kotel tunnel: Israel too apologetic Despite informal, private visit, likely US presidential candidate and husband to have dinner with Netanyahu.

* Arab League chief: We respect UN resolution on Libya military action Amr Moussa reiterates support for international enforcement of no-fly zone over Libya despite earlier comments suggesting concern by actions taken by Western powers.

* Egypt proved to Palestinians that revolution has a point In their attempts to suppress youth demonstrations in Gaza and Ramallah, the two rival Palestinian ruling parties appear to be remarkably in tune

* French military jets over Libya French military jets are preventing forces loyal to Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi from attacking the rebel-held city of Benghazi, French President Nicolas Sarkozy says.

* Power hopes rise at Japan plant Workers are close to restoring power to cooling systems at a quake-hit Japanese nuclear power plant, officials say.

* Israel strikes Gaza after massive mortar barrage on south Hamas claims responsibility for 10 of the more than 50 mortars fired on southern Israel earlier in day; Gaza medics say five Hamas officers and boy injured in Israeli air strike.

* World leaders meet to discuss coordinated military action in Libya Clinton, Cameron, Sarkozy meet Arab leaders, EU officials to discuss preparing rapid UN-mandated action; sources say strikes could start straight after the meeting.

* Libya: Gaddafi forces attacking rebel-held Benghazi Pro-Gaddafi forces have attacked the Libyan rebel stronghold of Benghazi and their tanks have entered the city, a BBC journalist witnessed

* Tensions high as Egyptians vote in first post-Mubarak referendum Polls open on Saturday for the some 40 millions Egyptians who are eligible to vote on a bulk of constitutional amendments.

* Radical Islam on the move in U.S. but multicultural elites say it’s no one’s business Radical Islam threatens American democracy. It is slowly subverting America from within and without.

* Ahmadinejad: God has chosen my successor Iranian president tells council heads in Tehran, ‘Future has already been determined. God knows who will come after me’.

* EU unlikely to call on Bahrain regime to step down An escalation in the government crack-down on pro-democracy protesters in Bahrain and the incursion of 1000 Saudi troops on the island, has spooked European capitals, which had not expected the tiny but geostrategically important state to be destabilised in the wake of the ongoing regional uprisings.

* Netanyahu: Only fear of possible strike could stop Iran’s nuclear progress In wide-ranging CNN interview, Prime Minister says Palestinian unity government with Hamas would kill off Mideast peace chances.

* Libya to halt military action The Libyan government has announced an immediate ceasefire in its offensive against rebels who have seized large areas of the country.

* Japan raises nuclear alert level Japan has raised the alert level at its quake-damaged nuclear plant from four to five on a seven-point international scale of atomic incidents.

* Purim Begins Saturday Night; Sunday Night in Jerusalem The very festive holiday of Purim will begin on Saturday night – not, as in most years, directly after the Fast of Esther, which was commemorated on Thursday.

* UN clears France and UK to strike Gaddafi The UN Security Council has given France and the UK a broad mandate for military strikes against Colonel Gaddafi despite German warnings of “great risks” and a “protracted conflict.”

* Democracy and political Islam can’t coexist President of US Islamic Forum for Democracy tells ‘Post’ American Islamic groups refuse to engage on “separation of mosque and state.”

* Saudi king warns against unrest while boosting benefits Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah has warned that threats to the nation’s security and stability will not be tolerated.

* Egypt’s New Rulers Friendly with Assad Egypt’s temporary military rulers sent a delegation to Syria on Thursday to meet with President Bashar al-Assad.

* Hamas breaks up pro-reconciliation rally in Gaza Protesters lock themselves in UN school compound, say they will not leave until Fatah and Hamas meet with them and pledge to end their bitter rivalry.

* Muslim World: Revolution! (for Muslim Arabs only) As minorities in the region seek equality, the true test will be whether the new religious and political systems recognize all peoples.

* Victoria served as first test of Iranian infrastructure Weapons aboard ‘Victoria’ were supposed to be unloaded at the Egyptian port of Alexandria and transferred into the Gaza Strip.

* Gadhafi could return to terrorism and violent extremism In a sharp change of tone, US has begun to advocate for no-fly zone in Libya.

* Gaddafi forces bomb rebel-held Benghazi Forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi have launched their first bombing raids on the main rebel-held city of Benghazi.

* Japan steps up cooling operation Japan says it is stepping up efforts to cool overheating fuel at the tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

* Bahrain unrest: UN rights chief criticizes crackdown The UN human rights chief has condemned the “shocking” use of force by security forces against protesters in Bahrain.

* US backing for world currency stuns markets US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner shocked global markets by revealing that Washington is “quite open” to Chinese proposals for the gradual development of a global reserve currency run by the International Monetary Fund.

* Shi’ites, supplied by Iran, control most of Bahrain, ‘shooting back’ at Saudi forces The Shi’ite opposition has taken over most of Bahrain.

* Scientists Build Tool to Spot Ancient Earthquakes Scientists at Tel Aviv University have created a new tool to help understand the patterns of ancient earthquakes.

* Diplomats: Iran weapons material seized UN sources say Singapore, South Korea intercepted nuclear, weapon materials bound for Tehran

* EU predicts certain plants will fail nuclear ‘stress tests’ EU energy commissioner Guenther Oettinger has suggested a number of Europe’s nuclear energy plants are likely to fail upcoming safety ‘stress tests’, announced this week and scheduled for later this year.

* Peres: Victoria shows Syria providing Hamas arms President calls on people of Lebanon to free themselves of Hezbollah and Iranian influence and “return to be free people in the new world.”

* PM: ‘We have to confront the axis of terror’ Netanyahu says seized arms ship “Victoria” justifies naval blockade on Gaza; cargo includes shells made in Israel, sold to Iran in 1970s.

* IAEA Chief Heads to Japan to Assess Nuclear Crisis The head of the IAEA says he will travel to Japan to gather firsthand information about the crisis at an earthquake-damaged nuclear power plant.

* Rebels battle to hold city under Gadhafi siege Libyan rebels battled to hold a strategic eastern city against a punishing offensive by forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi on Wednesday, voicing anger and frustration at the West for not coming to their aid.

* UN’s Ban calls for immediate ceasefire in Libya Ban Ki-moon “gravely concerned” over signs of forthcoming gov’t assault on Benghazi; US, UK, France urge UNSC to approve Libyan no-fly zone.

* Iranian plane departs Turkey after forced landing Aircraft continues on to Syria; authorities forced landing on suspicious cargo; Ankara says “nothing illegal” found on plane.

* Jihadi Cosmo To Give Beauty Tips, Bombing Advice Single Islamic Girl Seeking Harem Good Looks and Slick Bombing Techniques.

* Former UK air chief wary of Libya air strikes Lord Stirrup, a former British air chief, has warned that the UK and France need a clear objective on what to do with Colonel Gaddafi before launching air strikes on Libya.

* Israel’s shadow war against Iran The seizure of the ‘Victoria’ cargo ship is just another chapter in the larger covert war that Israel is waging against Iran.

* Anger over Japan nuclear exodus The governor of the region at the centre of Japan’s nuclear crisis has criticised official handling of the evacuation of the area around the stricken Fukushima Daiichi power plant.

* Abbas: I won’t seek re-election in next Palestinian polls Palestinian president says he is willing to travel to Gaza to promote reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas and form a united government.

* Japan quake: Radiation rises at Fukushima nuclear plant Radiation from Japan’s quake-stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has reached harmful levels, the government says.

* IDF Navy Seizes Ship Filled With Arms on way from Syria to Egypt The IDF announced that the Victoria, a German owned, French operated and Liberian flagged vessel, was apprehended 200 miles off the Israeli coast by the IDF Navy.

* Bahrain king declares state of emergency after protests The king of Bahrain has declared a three-month state of emergency, following weeks of pro-democracy protests in the kingdom.

* Palestinians protest for Hamas-Fatah unity Thousands of people are demonstrating across the Palestinian territories, calling for political unity between their rival governments.

* Netanyahu: Arms on seized ship came from Iran via Syria Israel Navy seized ship which IDF said contained tons of concealed weapons destined for “use of terror organization operating in Gaza Strip.”

* Israel Defense Ministry looking to boost ties with South Korea Ministry in talks with Seoul about Iron Dome; Rafael, S. Korean companies considering establishment of joint ventures.

* Japan Searches for Survivors; Food, Water Supplies Low There is not much left on the shelves in northern Japan, four days after an earthquake and horrific tsunami.

* G8 worried over Gulf troops entering Bahrain: Italy Group of Eight powers are greatly concerned about the sending of Gulf country armed forces into Bahrain.

* S. Korea leader warns of possible surprise attack President Lee Myung-Bak said South Korea must be ready for a surprise North Korean attack, as well as deadly natural and nuclear disasters.

* Lieberman: Palestinian statehood declaration a ‘red line’ FM says West should resolve Kashmir conflict before trying here; Hamas more powerful than Fatah, waiting to seize power from it in W. Bank.

* Meltdown alert at Japan reactor Technicians are battling to stabilise a third reactor at a quake-stricken Japanese nuclear plant, which has been rocked by a second blast in three days.

* Jerusalem will never be divided, says Barkat “There is not one good example of a split city that works,” the capital’s mayor says.

* Saudis send troops to Bahrain; Shi’ites call it war Soldiers part of Gulf Cooperation Council sent to protect Sunni ruling family after weeks of Shi’ite majority protests.

* Arab decision boosts prospect of EU military action in Libya The Arab League has given the green light for Western powers to impose a no-fly zone in Libya, prompting France to step up its campaign for military action.

* Japan earthquake poses questions about EU nuclear safety Nuclear experts from EU member states will gather in Brussels this week to discuss the damage caused to Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant.

* Itamar Massacre Fails to Change Obama’s Anti-Settlement Policy The Netanyahu government’s decision to build 500 new homes in Judea and Samaria as a response to Arab terror does not move the United States, which still insists that “settlements are illegitimate.”

* Netanyahu: Palestinian public must hear Abbas condemn Itamar attack Prime Minister cites ‘great importance’ to Palestinian president’s declaration on Israel Radio that murder of family was despicable, immoral and inhuman, but says such expression of condemnation cannot be heard by Israelis alone.

* UAE, Saudis, Egypt, Algeria Top ME arms buyers Middle East accounted for 1/6 of the world’s arms imports while having just 1/15th of the world’s population in 2010, study finds.

* Europeans say they are tolerant, but oppose immigration Europeans like to think of themselves as being liberal and tolerant, but at the same time oppose immigration, particularly from countries outside the EU.

* Pro-Qaddafi Forces Press Rebels East and West of Tripoli Military forces loyal to Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi cranked up military and psychological pressure against rebels on two fronts on Monday.