Headlines for 12-02-07

Palestinian militant killed by Israeli artillery in Gaza: Hamas


Watching their flocks - Palestinian shepherds' livelihoods in jeopardy


Study: U.S., Israel should begin planning strike on Iran nuclear sites ** From Israel's perspective, Iran presents a potential existential threat, so its nuclear plans must be stopped at almost any price. In contrast, the U.S. is disturbed by the implications of nuclear weapons in Iran but does not see it as an existential threat. .....Freilich says Israel would prefer that the U.S. attack Iran


Olmert holds little hope for peace deal Mr Olmert wants the Jewish definition in order to strengthen Israel's case against re-admitting Palestinian refugees to homes they fled in 1948. Israel wants them absorbed in a Palestinian state. Mr Abbas is not prepared to concede the "right of return" before negotiations even begin.


Meridor warns Conservatives on Iran Israel's ambassador to the United States said the Iranian threat is among the worst Israel has ever faced.


Ex-security chief: Talk to Hamas Giora Eiland, a retired general who stepped down as national security adviser last year, in an op-ed Sunday described Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's policy of shunning the Palestinian Islamist group as counterproductive.


Palestinian refuse to receive fuel from Israel The union said the local petrol companies have refused to receive what Israel is sending "in order not to be partners in punishing the Palestinian people because these quantities are insufficient."


Israeli cabinet supports Annapolis agreement despite internal criticism Despite harsh criticism from right-wing ministers about the Annapolis peace summit, Israeli cabinet on Sunday decided to support the agreements reached regarding final-status negotiations with the Palestinians, local Yedioth Ahronoth said.


Palestinian opens fire at soldiers near Jerusalem; 1 lightly hurt A young Palestinian man opened fire at soldiers at the Qalandiya checkpoint north of Jerusalem Sunday afternoon, injuring one person.


Palestinian official claims agreement made with Israel to allow pilgrims to pass


Four Israeli soldiers lightly wounded from mortar Four Israeli army soldiers were lightly injured Sunday evening when a mortar shell fired from the Gaza Strip hit a building of an army base in southern Israel, local media reported.


Israel delays Palestinian prisoner release "The release of the prisoners has been put off until Monday morning," Yaron Zamir said on Saturday, adding that they will be freed from Kesiot prison in the Neguev Desert.




IDF arrests cell that murdered Israeli in West Bank According to army officials, the arrested men are Palestinian policemen from the nearby village of Qadum.


Palestinian Authority to request $5.5 bln in aid President Mahmoud Abbas's government will ask donors in Paris this month to provide $5.5 billion in aid to strengthen the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority, Palestinian officials said on Sunday.


Another quake shakes Israel, West Bank, Jordan The earthquake measured 4.0 on the Richter scale and was felt mostly in Jerusalem, Jericho and near the Dead Sea, said Israel's geophysics institute


Israel allows Palestinians from Gaza Strip into Egypt Most of the Palestinians either study or work abroad, they said, adding that it was the first time in several months that Israel had allowed people to cross into Egypt.


EU-trained women join Palestinian police The first class of Palestinian policewomen to complete a new European Union-sponsored training program graduated Sunday, part of a broader EU makeover of the demoralized and ill-equipped Palestinian law enforcement agencies.


Gaza petrol stations shut for lack of fuel


Olmert plays down peace deal chances by end of 2008


Syria reassures Iran on Mideast: official


Mideast peace conference is just a PR campaign: Experts


Santa's Ghetto Every year we assemble a loose collection of the great unwashed to hawk their artistic wares on the high street amongst the mindless sham and drudgery of the christmas season. This year we've moved out of Oxford Street into a former chicken shop on Manger Square in Bethlehem opposite the Church of the Nativity (where Santa Claus was actually born).


Rice gets history lessons from former Mideast players The senior Bush "had the clearest sense of strategy, which the administration pursued in a highly disciplined, committed and effective manner," Kurtzer and Lasensky write......they accuse the first Bush administration of failing to build a strong coalition at home to support its strategy abroad. They argue that its strength in standing firm against Jewish settlement expansion -- which bolstered Arab trust in the peace process -- was undermined by its failure to head off a debilitating clash with the pro-Israel lobby.



Israeli Arab, Jewish children learn coexistence through basketball


IDF may install sensors around Gaza


Let us spray: Banksy hits Bethlehem By taking the idea to the West Bank, the artist hoped to shine a light on the plight of Bethlehem. Less than three weeks before Christmas, its shops remain boarded up. Since construction of the security barrier began in 2002 tourism has plummeted. Officials estimate that more than half of the city?s population does not have a job....."You wouldn't worry about Christmas becoming too commercial in Bethlehem ? they couldn't afford it. There's more festive lights in the window of your local Woolworths than you?ll find in this entire town," Banksy, who hides his real identity, told The Times via a text message.


Guerrilla artist Banksy in Holy Land Banksy said: "Because of the troubles Bethlehem is no longer a top tourist destination, but it would be good if more people came to see the situation for themselves. "If it is safe enough for a bunch of sissy artists, then it is safe enough for anyone."



Iranian president: enemies can't damage ties with Syria Western Analysts said Syria's attendance and Iran's criticism over the meeting indicated there was slight tension between the two friendly countries on the issue.


Barak to promote compensation for West Bank evacuees This bill, which would allow West Bank residents to receive compensation for relocating within Green Line boundaries, was first conceived by left-wing activists as well as Labor party members prior to the parliamentary elections.