News
More Durban II Doubts
A number of leading democratic states, including the US and Australia, are seriously considering a withdrawal from the UN's Durban II anti-racism conference in 2009 because of concerns that the event will be marred by antisemitism.
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Mumbai Terror Escalates Regional Tensions
As Indian commandos battle terrorists at hotels and a Jewish center in Mumbai, a war of words between India and Pakistan is escalating (VOA here; Z Word blog here and here and here.)
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Terror in Mumbai
As the death toll continues to rise from the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, Indian police are preparing to storm a Jewish center where Israelis are being held hostage.
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UN General Assembly President: Treat Israel Like Apartheid South Africa
The President of the UN General Assembly, Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, has endorsed a "campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions to pressure Israel."
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Iran Rounds Up "Israeli Spy Network"
Just days after Iran hanged a salesman on dubious charges of spying for Israel, state radio says an alleged espionage network with links to Israel's Mossad agency has been dismantled.
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New Flashpoint in Hebron
A house in Hebron could become the site of a new clash between the IDF and settler extremists if a Supreme Court decision to evict the settlers is carried out.
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Iran Executes Man Accused of Israel Espionage
Iran has hanged a telecoms salesman convicted of spying for
Israel, warning that a
"more serious intelligence war" has begun with Israel.
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US Report Predicts Al Qaeda Decline
A new study of the global future by U.S. intelligence agencies suggests that Al Qaeda may be on the decline - and that US global dominance is also waning.
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Antisemitic Incidents Surge in Europe
Jewish leaders say the global economic downturn may be fostering a rise in antisemitic incidents in Germany and elsewhere in Central Europe.
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Israel to Boycott Durban II
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has announced Israel's decision to boycott the United Nations "Durban
II" conference on racism in 2009, fearing it would be used
once again as a forum for anti-Israeli sentiment.
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Palestinians Launch Further Rocket Attacks
Palestinian terrorists have fired a barrage of rockets into southern Israel, causing no injuries but casting a
shadow over a meeting between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
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Canadian Professor Arrested for 1980 Paris Synagogue Attack
A Canadian professor, Hassan Diab, has been arrested on charges that he was involved
in the October 3, 1980 bombing of the rue Copernic Synagogue in Paris.
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Gaza Plunged into Darkness as Ceasefire Crumbles
Gaza loses much of its electricity as Israel squeezes access routes into the Strip following renewed missile attacks by terrorists.
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Bin Laden Plans New Atttack, Says Arab Newspaper
Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda are planning an attack against the United States that will "outdo by far" September 11, an Arab newspaper in London has reported.
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AJC Considers Legal Action Over Neo-Nazi Obama Slurs
The American Jewish Committee is reviewing legal options against a German neo-Nazi party for
"racist" remarks describing Barack Obama's election as a "declaration of war"
on non-white America.
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Gaza Boat Activists Fail to Provoke Israel
Pro-Palestinian activists sailing boats from Cyprus to Gaza have been actively seeking a confrontation with Israel, hoping for a PR coup.
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Merkel Calls for Action Against Racism at Kristallnacht Event
As Germany marks the 70th anniversary of the
Kristallnacht antisemitic riots, Chancellor Angela Merkel has said all
Germans must act against racism. At a ceremony at Berlin's largest synagogue, she said Germans "cannot be silent" in the face of anti-Semitism.
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Gaza Terrorists Target Israel
Four rockets fired by Palestinian terrorists slam into southern Israel, threatening to unravel an already fragile truce.
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Israel Responds to Gaza Attacks
Israel carries out an airstrike in northern Gaza after terrorists launch a barrage of rockets against nearby towns in Israel, including Ashkelon.
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Israel Prepares for Obama Presidency
With their own government in limbo until February's elections, Israeli politicians and analysts are debating the implication of Barack Obama's victory in the US presidential election for the Middle East.
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Israel Toughens on Settler Extremists
The Israeli government has announced a series of measures in response to a rise in violence by extremist Jewish settlers in the West Bank, including a halt to government financing of illegal outposts.
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US General Warns of Iranian Attack Capability
Lt. Gen. Henry A. Obering III says that Iran is not far from attaining the means to deliver missiles against Europe and the US in five to
six years.
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TV interview with Rabin assassin shakes Israel
Israelis from across the political spectrum have slammed a
decision to air the first ever television interview with Yigal Amir, the assassin of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
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Israeli Arabs Seek Party Unity
Israeli Arab politicians are seeking to
establish a new party that would represent all members of their
fragmented community in the upcoming general elections. The group
has proposed that current government minister Ghaleb Majadele
head the party.
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Israel Elections Set for February 10
Israel's political parties have decided to hold early elections
on February 10, a decision that will leave US-backed Middle East peace
talks in limbo for at least three more months.
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Israeli Police to Investigate Settler Extremists
Israel's Deputy State Prosecutor has
ordered the police to open a criminal investigation following the
attacks by Hebron settlers upon Israeli soldiers on Saturday night.
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Israel Heading for the Polls
Israeli Prime Minister-designate Tzipi Livni has abandoned her efforts to
form a new coalition government and is recommedning early
parliamentary elections.
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Shas Won't Join Livni Coalition
The Israeli ultra-orthodox Shas party has decided not to join a
coalition led by premier-designate Tzipi Livni, making early elections almost inevitable.
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Iran Refuses Argentinian Extradition Request
Iran has refused an Argentinian extradition request for a number of its citizens, including former President Rafsanjani, wanted in connection with the terrorist bombing of the Jewish AMIA Center in Buenos Aires in 1994.
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US Bans Dealing with Iran Export Bank
The US Treasury Department has named the Export Development Bank of Iran as a
proliferator of weapons of mass destruction and banned
Americans from any dealings with it.
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Iran Threatens Strike Against Israel
Senior Tehran officials are recommending a preemptive
strike against Israel to prevent an Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear
reactors, a senior Islamic Republic official told foreign diplomats two
weeks ago in London.
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Barak Slams Settler "Hooligans"
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has condemned "assaults by
hooligans" disrupting Palestinian olive picking in the West
Bank; meanwhile, Israeli soldiers chased away dozens of settlers who
attacked olive harvesters near the West Bank town of Qalqilya.
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Austrian Leaders Praise Haider
Austrian leaders including Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer have issued warm tributes to Jorg Haider, the far-right leader and Nazi admirer killed in a car crash last week after driving at high speed while drunk.
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Gay Palestinian Man Seeks Refuge in Israel
A 33 year old gay Palestinian man has asked the Israeli High Court for permanent residency, fearing that his life is in danger in the West Bank because of his sexual orientation.
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Hamas in Control of Gaza, Peace Outlook Bleak
Hamas is in virtual control of the Gaza Strip with the consequent chances for peace looking remote.
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UN Chief Demands Hezbollah Disband
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has warned that Lebanon
will not be a fully sovereign state until Hezbullah and other militia
groups are disbanded.
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UCU Members to Sue Over Boycott
The UK's academic union is facing a court challenge over its recent motion encouraging members to boycott Israeli academic institutions.
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Jesse Jackson: "Zionists Control US Policy"
The Rev. Jesse Jackson has been widely criticized for a remark to a journalist that "Zionists" are in control of US policy.
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Livni Closes in on PM's Job
Tzipi Livni has moved one step closer to becoming the next prime
minister of Israel after she secured a pledge from her party's
biggest coalition ally to stay in the government and support her bid
for the leadership.
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Playing the Blame Game in Acre
As violence in Acre subsides, Jewish and Arab leaders are blaming each other for violence widely regarded as a warning of the fragility of communal relations in Israel.
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Olmert: Acre "Hostage" to Extremists
Outgoing Israeli PM Ehud Olmert has said that the city of Acre is being held hostage by extremists as more violence between Jewish and Arab residents is reported.
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Israeli Hospital Treats Iranian Boy With Cancer
A 12 year old Iranian boy with cancer is being treated by doctors in Israel after undergoing unsuccessful procedures in Iran and Turkey.
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Violence in Acre
On the Z Word blog, a round-up of press coverage and an initial assessment of the Yom Kippur clashes between Arabs and Jews in the Israeli city of Acre - meanwhile, tensions there remain high.
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The Hummus Trade War
The Association of Lebanese Industrialists wants the
European Union to declare hummus and other culinary specialties
as traditional Lebanese dishes, challenging Israeli companies making similar products.
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Israel Challenges Russia Over Iran, Syria
Outgoing PM Ehud Olmert is expected to discuss with the Kremlin the
proposed sale of S-300 antiaircraft missiles to Syria
and Iran, which Israel fears would severely limit its freedom in the
air.
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Canada's Liberals Sack Candidate Over Antisemitic Remarks
Canadian Liberal parliamentary candidate Lesley Hughes was asked to forfeit her place on the party's election roster because of an article she wrote claiming that Israeli businesses were told to vacate the twin towers before the 9/11 atrocities.
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Israel Wary of US Radar Deployment
Israel is wary of the deployment of the new US high-powered radar facility in the Negev which will enable the Americans to keep a close watch on its skies.
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Settler Violence Increasing, Says Top Israeli General
Hundreds of Jewish settlers are engaged in violence against Palestinians and Israeli soldiers who get in their way, says Major General Gadi Shamni, Israel's top commander in the West Bank.
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Olmert Urges Radical Steps on Withdrawal
"I am saying what no previous Israeli
leader has ever said: we should withdraw from almost all of the
territories, including in east Jerusalem and in the Golan Heights," the outgoing Israeli PM tells Yediot Ahronot.
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Far Right Parties Surge in Austria Poll
Austria's far-right parties have won almost a third of the vote in
parliamentary elections, and could be included in a new goverment
coalition
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U.S. Missile Radar to Shield Israel Against Iran
Israel has received an
advanced U.S.-made radar, staffed by American personnel, as part
of preparations to fend off any future ballistic missile attack
by Iran.
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UN General Assembly President an "Israel Hater"
Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Gabriela
Shalev, has called the President of the UN General Assembly,
Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, an "Israel hater" after he embraced Iranian
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
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Extremist Settlers Resort to Violence
The attempted murder of leading Israeli left-wing Professor Ze'ev Sternhell may be the latest indication that elements of the Jewish settler movement are resorting to extremist tactics.
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So Much for "Never Again"
Kadima's new leader Tzipi Livni says that a viciously antisemitic speech delivered by Iran's President to the UN General Assembly makes a mockery of thr world body's commitment to the slogan of "Never Again."
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Ahmadinejad's Socialism of Fools
Iran's President declares that the "Zionist regime" is "carrying out crimes...that fill the pockets of capitalists, for which the American people pay."
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Olmert Resigns
New Kadima leader Tzipi Livni has 42 days to form a coalition - but her goal is to
present a new government to the Knesset by October 27.
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Iran's Supreme Leader Lashes Israel
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the ultimate authority in the Tehran regime, declares that "we are on a collision course with the occupiers of Palestine and the occupiers are the Zionist regime."
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Protest Ahmadinejad at the UN
Visit the Z Word blog for details of the September 22nd demonstration in New York against the Iranian President.
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Livni Tipped as Next Israeli PM
After her win in the Kadima party's primary election, Tzipi Livni has now firmly set her sights on becoming Israel's next Prime Minister.
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Kadima Heads for Leadership Primary
Israel's ruling Kadima party will try on Wednesday to elect a new leader to succeed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert - independent polls show Tzipi Livni with a 15-point lead.
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US to Sell Power Bombs to Israel
The U.S. has agreed to sell 1,000 bunker-buster bombs to Israel, in a
deal that could significantly improve Israel's ability to strike at
Iran's nuclear facilities - though there is no word on a date for delivery.
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Olmert: Greater Israel is "Over"
Ehud Olmert closes a meeting of the Israeli cabinet by saying that "the notion of a Greater Israel
no longer exists, and anyone who still believes in it is deluding themselves."
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McCartney Resists Boycott Pressure
Paul McCartney will go ahead with a much anticipated Tel Aviv concert, despite appeals for cancellation from pro-boycott groups.
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Iran Can't Take Moral High Ground, Says Israel
Israel's new UN ambassador, Gabriela Shalev, says that "it is absurd that Iran preaches morality to Israel."
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Israeli Cabinet Discusses Settler Compensation
For the first time, Israel's Cabinet has discussed a
plan to compensate Jewish settlers in the West Bank if they leave their
homes voluntarily.
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Israel Police Seek Olmert Indictment
An Israeli police statement seeks the indictment of PM Ehud Olmert in affairs that
include receiving tens of thousands of dollars from a U.S. businessman
and double-billing Jewish groups for trips abroad.
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Iran Dismisses Sarkozy Warning
Iran has dismissed a warning by France's president that the Tehran regime is risking an Israeli military strike because of its nuclear program.
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Sudanese Army in Deadly Assault on Darfur Towns
Sudanese government troops have launched a brutal assault on the towns of Disa and Birmaza in northern Darfur.
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Iran to Press for Oil Output Cut
The Iranian regime's representative to OPEC is urging measures to keep oil from falling below $100 per barrel and for a cut in output.
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Syria-Israel Talks on Hold
Indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria have been postponed due to the resignation of a senior Israeli mediator, according to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.
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Ramon Warns Hamas on Shalit
Israeli Vice Premier Haim Ramon has warned Hamas that
its refusal to reduce its demands may doom a deal to swap Palestinian
prisoners for captive soldier Gilad Shalit.
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UN Official Courts US and Israel On Durban II
Navi Pillay, the UN's new human rights chief, says she
hopes to persuade the United States and Israel to drop their opposition
to the UN's follow-up to the notorious Durban anti-racism conference of
2001.
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Iran Confirms Centrifuge Operations
Iran is using 4,000 centrifuges to enrich uranium and plans to install an
additional 3,000 of the devices, Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Reza
Sheikh Attar has said.
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Hamas Purges Gaza School System
Hamas has replaced hundreds of striking teachers with its own
supporters, purging schools of political rivals and deepening
its political control of Gaza.
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Iraq Adviser Quit to Speak Against Iran
A former security adviser to Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Wafiq al-Samarraie, has said that he resigned his job in order to
speak freely about the Iranian threat to the Middle East.
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Anti-Choice Activists Invoke Holocaust
A fundamentalist group opposed to abortion rights has displayed placards bearing the legend "American Holocaust" at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
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Ahmadinejad Poised for New Term
Iran's President appears to have won approval for a second four-year term from the regime's "Supreme Leader," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
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Rice Pushes Israel Over Settlements
With hopes for a peace deal on the wane, the US Secretary of State reiterates that Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank is "not helpful."
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Israel Releases 200 Palestinian Prisoners
Almost 200 Palestinian prisoners are heading home after being released by Israel in a goodwill gesture towards President Mahmoud Abbas.
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Activists Arrive in Gaza
Despite loud predictions of a confrontation with the Israeli Navy, two boats carrying international "peace activists" have arrived in Gaza. See the Z Word blog for comment.
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Ahmadinejad 's Latest Conspiracy Theory
"About 2,000 organised Zionists and 7,000 to 8,000 agents of Zionism have dragged the world into turmoil," the Iranian President tells a rally.
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Hezbollah Threatens "Shocking" Revenge
A leading Hezbollah figure has said that the terrorist group will soon take revenge against Israel for the killing of Imad Mughniyeh.
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Terror Victims Sue Bank of China
More than 100 victims of terrorism in Israel have filed a lawsuit against one of China's largest banks, demanding that it stop
transferring money to terrorist groups like Hamas.
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Activists Pledge to Carry Out Gaza Stunt
Two ships organized by the "Free Gaza Movement" are preparing to leave Cyprus for Gaza, determined to provoke a response from the Israeli Navy. See the Z Word blog for comment.
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Assad Heads to Moscow
Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad is heading for Moscow - purchasing weapons from Russia is his main priority.
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Iran Row Over "Friendship" Comment Continues
A top Iranian cleric has chastised a leading Iranian politician over his controversial remarks that Iranians are "friends
with Israelis" - "how could we speak of friendship with them?" asked Grand Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi.
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Iran Dispute with UAE Heightens
The ongoing sovereignty dispute between the United Arab Emirates and Iran over the status of three islands is heightening tensions between regional Sunni states and the Tehran regime.
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Another Lebanon War?
On the second anniversary of the war on Israel's northern border, some Israelis sense that another clash with Hezbollah is inevitable.
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Israel Releases 200 Palestinian Prisoners
Israel's cabinet has approved the release of some 200 Palestinian
prisoners as a goodwill gesture to the government of Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas.
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Israel Slams UN Lebanon Mission
Israel has protested before Claudio
Graziano, head of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL),
for refusing to admit to the rearmament of Hizbullah in southern
Lebanon, in violation of Resolution 1701.
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Iranians Training Iraqi Death Squads
According to intelligence seen by the Associated Press news agency, Iraqi Shiite assassination teams are being trained in Iran by members of the elite Quds force as well as Hezbollah.
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Iran Legislators Slam Minister's "Israeli Friends" Remark
Iran's parliament has deplored remarks by a minister who said that Iranians could be friends "even with Israelis," declaring that the Islamist regime "cannot recognize a nation called Israel."
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Palestinians Reject New Peace Proposal
The Palestinian Authority has rejected a peace proposal aired in the Hebrew press under which Israel would withdraw from 93 per cent of the West Bank.
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US Treasury Imposes New Iran Sanctions
The US Treasury has imposed sanctions against five more
Iranian entities it says have provided support or materials to Iran's
nuclear and missile programs.
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Iran and EU Agree to New Nuclear Talks
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and EU foreign policy
chief Javier Solana have agreed to continue what Iran called "talks
in a constructive atmosphere" over Tehran's nuclear program.
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No Talks on Gilad, Says Hamas
Hamas is not interested in renewing talks to free abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, a senior official of the Islamist faction has said.
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Hamas Trains Teens for Terror
Around 200 teenagers have received military training at what Hamas describes as a summer camp.
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Iran Uneasy with Syria-Israel Talks
A leading Arab newspaper says that Bashar al-Assad's recent visit to Tehran was marked by unease over Syria's indirect negotiations with Israel.
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Syria Blocks Nuclear Watchdog
Syria has blocked a new visit by International Atomic Energy Agency
experts seeking to follow up on intelligence that Damascus built a
secret nuclear program built with the help of North Korea.
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EU Introduces New Iran Sanctions
European Union nations have introduced fresh sanctions against Iran
over its nuclear program, including restrictions on public loans and
tougher cargo inspections.
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Israel Builds Strike Capability
Israel is building up its strike capabilities with new fighter aircraft and submarines amid growing anxiety over Iran's nuclear ambitions.
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Hamas Threatens West Bank Civil War
A senior Hamas official, Sami Abu Zuhri, has warned that the Islamist group could also overrun the West Bank, currently under the control of its rival, Fatah.
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Israeli Arab Charged With Hezbollah Espionage
Khaled Kashkush, a 29 year old Israeli Arab, has been indicted on the charge of supplying sensitive information to a Hezbollah handler in Germany.
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Iranian Letter Avoids Mention of Nuclear Freeze
Iran's letter to world powers about its nuclear programme does
not mention a freeze in nuclear activity demanded by Western capitals
to avert further UN sanctions.
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West Africa's "Hezbollah States"
Israeli businessmen in West Africa say that Hezbollah enjoys strong support among Lebanese diamond merchants in the region.
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Gaza: Hamas's Revolution is Complete
As a result of last week's clashes, Fatah - until a few years ago, the main Palestinian organization in Gaza - has been ejected by Hamas.
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Iran Still Defiant on Nuclear Program
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said Iran will not back down “one iota” from its
right to develop nuclear power, voicing defiance on the day of an
informal deadline for a deal aimed at freezing uranium
enrichment.
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Fatah Supporters Flee Hamas, Enter Israel
More than 180 Fatah supporters have fled into Israel from the Gaza Strip
after a dramatic escape from a Hamas
crackdown.
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Iran Heading for Nuclear Breakthrough, Says Mofaz
"Iran is continuing to advance toward a military nuclear capability and
is heading towards a major breakthrough," says Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz.
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Hamas Arrests Gaza Fatah Leaders
Hamas security forces have arrested Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's top Fatah representatives in Gaza.
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Antisemitic Incidents Rise in UK
According to the Community Security Trust, there was a 9 per cent rise in antisemitic incidents in the UK in the first half of
2008 compared with the same period in 2007.
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Netanyahu Urges Election
Israeli opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu has called for snap elections following Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's decision to stand down.
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Olmert to Quit
Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said he will step down after a
September party leadership vote.
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Strike on Iran Still an Option, US Says
Bush Administration officials have told visiting Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak that the option of attacking Iran over its nuclear program remains on the table.
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Abbas Threatens to Dismantle PA
President Mahmoud Abbas has threatened to dismantle the Palestinian Authority if Israel releases Hamas prisoners in exchange for kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit.
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Torture Routine Among Palestinian Factions
A Palestinian human rights group says that both Hamas and Fatah have tortured large numbers of detainees.
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Olmert Casts Doubt on Peace Deal for 2008
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said that Israel and the
Palestinians won't be able to achieve their declared goal of forging a
peace deal by the end of the year, citing conflicting claims to
Jerusalem as the main obstacle.
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Lebanese Politicians Slam Iranian Vice-President
Several leading Lebanese political and religious figures have slammed Iran's Vice-President for remarks he made linking western acceptance of Tehran's nuclear program with peace in Lebanon.
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Hamas Actively Rearming
As a fresh round of strife continues between Fatah and Hamas, Israel's intelligence chief says that the Islamist rulers of Gaza have taken advantage of the ceasefire to rearm.
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Fear of Sectarian Violence Follows Indian Bombings
As a little known Islamist group takes responsiblity for bombings in Ahmedabad which killed at least 45 people, Indian leaders urge calm between Hindus and Muslims.
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Toll Rises in Lebanon Fighting
At least six people have been killed and many more wounded in heavy clashes between
rival factions in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli.
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Iran Announces More Uranium Centrifuges
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says that Iran now possesses
6,000 centrifuges - a significant increase in the number of
uranium-enriching machines in its nuclear program.
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Israel Scales Back Nablus Operations
Israel will restrict its activities in Nablus to the
"necessary minimum", in order not to undermine efforts to establish an
effective Palestinian police force in the city.
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Obama Pledges to Foil Iran Nukes
On a visit to Israel, presidential hopeful Barack Obama tells the Jerusalem Post he will do "everything in my power" to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
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Ahmadinejad: No Nuclear Surrender
Iran's President has reiterated that Tehran will not back down in the face of growing pressure over its nuclear program.
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AJC Welcomes Karadzic Arrest
The American Jewish Committee says that the arrest of Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic "sends a powerful message that suspected war criminals involved in genocide will
be pursued as long as required and brought to justice."
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New Bulldozer Terror Attack in Jerusalem
For the second time in a month, a large construction vehicle has plowed into traffic
on a busy Jerusalem street, mangling cars and injuring at least 24
people before the driver was shot dead.
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Highly Critical US Report on Israel Anticipated
Israeli and US officials expect a report by James Jones, the American security coordinator with a remit for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, to sharply critical of Israeli policies.
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Hamas Threatens More Kidnappings
As rumors circulate of a fresh initiative to free Gilad Shalit, a Hamas spokesman says the terror group is keeping the option of "kidnapping Zionist soldiers open."
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Brown Pledges to Fight Academic Boycott
In an address to the Knesset, the first by a British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown underlines the UK's support for Israel and condemns the academic boycott.
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Nuclear Deadline for Iran
Iran is facing a two-week deadline to give a final answer to
world powers seeking a breakthrough in the nuclear crisis, after talks attended by the US ended in stalemate.
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Arab League Backs Sudan Tyrant
Foreign Ministers of the Arab League have declared their support for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who has been charged with genocide by the International Criminal Court.
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Iran: No Nuclear Freeze
As direct talks with Iran which include the US begin in Geneva over its nuclear program, the Tehran regime rules out a suspension of uranium enrichment work.
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Dignity and Sorrow Across Israel
Thousands of Israelis express grief and sorrow as the two soldiers murdered in Lebanon, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, are finally laid to rest.
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Antisemitism Think-Tank Launches
The European Institute for the Study of Contemporary Anti-Semitism (EISCA) has been launched at the House of Commons in London with a pledge from Winston Pickett, its director, to provide "clear thinking" on the issue.
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Spain Overturns Bomber Convictions
Spain's supreme court has overturned the convictions of four of 21
people sentenced over the Madrid train bombings that killed
191 people in 2004.
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Israeli Heroes: Remembering Ehud and Eldad
Shlomo Goldwasser - father of fallen Israeli soldier Ehud, whose remains, along with those of Eldad Regev, were released by the Hezbollah terror group as part of its prisoner swap with Israel - says that he and his wife want to remember their son as he was, "not a body."
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Prisoner Swap Brings Painful Memories
As Israel and Hezbollah swap prisoners, some Israelis recall the murderous rampage of Samir Kantar, one of the terrorists released.
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Sudanese Dictator Charged with Genocide
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has formally requested an arrest warrant for Sudanese dictator Omar Hassan al-Bashir, on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur; Arab League ministers are to meet in Cairo to discuss their response.
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Israel-Hezbollah Prisoner Exchange Set for Wednesday
Two Israeli soldiers, their condition unknown, will be exchanged for five Hezbollah fighters.
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Syria Will Open Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon an Embassy in Damascus
Surprise move appears to indicate Syrian acceptance of Lebanese sovereignty.
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Syria Says Peace with Israel "Unavoidable"
Syrian regime thinks next American administration will help finalize details of any agreement.
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Israel to Free Prisoners, Olmert Says Peace Close
PM Olmert says peace with the Palestinians is within reach.
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Unity Government Formed in Lebanon
Lebanese government formed, provides Hezbollah with veto power.
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Syrian President Visits France
French President Sarkozy discusses Syria-Israel peace with Syrian President Bashar Assad.
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Russia Argues Missile Shield Not Needed
Foreign Minister Lavrov says Iran’s recent missile tests show that Iranian weapons have limited range, shield not necessary.
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Secretary Rice: US Will Defend Allies
Secretary of State's comments intended to dissuade Iran from attacking Israel, on eve of Islamic Republic's war games.
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Israeli Officials: Security Council Resolution 1701 Not Working
Israeli officials believe that Hezbollah’s successful rearming requires immediate diplomatic action at the United Nations.
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Iran Tests Long-Range Missiles
Shahab-3 rockets launched by Iran are capable of striking Israel.
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Attack on US Consulate in Turkey
US Ambassador calls attack on American consulate “an act of terrorism”.
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Iran Demonstrates Its Might
Coinciding with US and Israeli military exercises in the region, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard conducts war games to sharpen its combat readiness.
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Prisoner Swap Deal Signed
Israel agrees to return Hezbollah prisoners and bodies of dead fighters in exchange for captured soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev.
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Abbas in Damascus to Discuss Palestinian Unity
Mahmoud Abbas visits with Syrian officials to dialogue on Fatah-Hamas unity, but decides not to meet Hamas leader Khalid Meshal.
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New Global Poll: US Government Shouldn't Take Sides in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Survey finds that 71 percent of Americans think their own government shouldn't favor one side in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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US Officials Fear Any Israeli Strike on Iran Won't Fully Destroy Nuclear Sites
US intelligence appears to differ from Israeli sources on the potential success of an Israeli strike against Iranian nuclear facilities.
more
Israel and Syria Agree to Fourth Round of Talks
Turkey will host another round of talks in late July, as the parties discuss the future of the Golan Heights, among other bilateral issues.
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Israeli Official Argues for New Separation Barrier Route
In response to the recent bulldozer attack on Israeli citizens in Jerusalem, Deputy Prime Minister Haim Ramon suggests altering the route of Israel’s separation barrier to isolate Arab districts in Jerusalem.
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Iran's Position on Nuclear Issue "Unchanged"
Iran dismisses package of incentives, intended to entice the Islamic Republic to halt its nuclear enrichment.
more
Israeli Architects Face Expulsion from World Body
Israel faces expulsion from The International Architects Union because
of claims over the involvement of Israeli architects in constructing
West Bank settlements.
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Hamas Halts Talks for Schalit
Terror group suspends negotiations for the release of IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, claiming that Israel has violated cease-fire.
more
Iran Responds to Incentives Package
Iran submits written response to six world powers’ offer regarding suspension of nuclear program.
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US Israel Envoy Plays Down Iran Attack
The US Ambassador to Israel, Richard Jones, denied that an attack on
Iran's nuclear installations was imminent, adding that sanctions would
take their course.
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Bulldozer Rampage in Jerusalem
Three people are killed and dozens more are wounded after a Palestinian rams a bulldozer into a bus and other vehicles on Jerusalem's busy Jaffa Road.
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Shavit: Israel Has One Year to Stop Iran
Shabtai Shavit, the former director of Mossad, warns that Israel has only one year to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
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UK Academics Ignore Boycott
British academics are enthusiastically taking up offers of joint seminars with their Israeli colleagues, says the director of the Academic Study Group on Israel and the Middle East.
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Israeli Cabinet Approves Prisoner Deal
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has won his cabinet's approval on Sunday
for a prisoner swap with Hezbollah under which two soldiers held by the Islamist terror group, and believed to be dead, would be recovered.
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Teaching the Holocaust in Balata
An Israeli Arab teaches residents of the Balata refugee camp about the Holocaust, arguing that if Palestinians are to be successful they need to "know their enemy."
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Presbyterians Mull Israel Divestment
The Presbyterian Church in the US is considering a range of anti-Israel proposals, including divestment and a call to end US military aid.
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Push for Strike on Iranian Nuclear Facilities Grows
As the former US Ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, predicts an Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear facilities before President Bush leaves office, a senior Israeli analyst tells CBS News the job can only be done with American assistance.
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Israel Closes Gaza Cargo Crossings
The IDF closes Gaza’s cargo crossings in response to Qassams fired by Islamic Jihad.
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Hamas Violates Truce
Islamic Jihad claims responsibility for three Qassam rockets against Sderot launched from Hamas-controlled Gaza, in violation of the truce.
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EU Sanctions Won't Affect Nuclear Program, Says Iran
Iran's "pursuit to realize its nuclear rights" will continue despite a new raft of EU sanctions against the Tehran regime, a foreign ministry spokesman says.
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War of Words Over Iran Escalates
As European Union finance ministers freeze the assets of Bank Melli, Iran's biggest bank, within the EU, the Tehran regime claims that Israel does not have the capacity to launch an attack on its nuclear facilities.
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Barbarism in Paris
A Jewish teenager has been beaten into a coma following a vicious antisemitic attack on the streets of the French capital.
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Israel Increases Goods Flow into Gaza
As badly-needed goods are driven into Gaza following the ceasefire with Hamas, the family of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit criticize the Israeli government for not making his release part of the deal.
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Iran Must "Read the Writing on the Wall"
An Israeli official says last month's ambitious long-range military exercise is a clear signal to Iran that an attack on its nuclear facilities is a very real option.
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Complaints Close Israel Exhibit in Chicago
A controversial exhibition on Israel at Chicago's Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies closes early after complaints about its content.
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US Says Israeli Military Exercise is Iran Rehearsal
A major military exercise carried out by Israel may be a rehearsal for an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, say American officials.
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Canadian Jews Play Down Report of Hezbollah Threat
Following an ABC report that Hezbollah "sleeper cells" are poised to attack Jewish targets in Canada, a top Jewish official says that there is no imminent threat.
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Hezbollah: Armed Presence Will Remain After Deal
Hezbollah says that its armed presence in Lebanon will remain even after Israel evacuates the disputed Shebaa Farms area.
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Gaza Truce Takes Shaky Hold
A truce between Israel and Hamas-ruled Gaza has gone into effect just hours after southern Israel was subjected to a barrage of mortar and rocket fire. Doubt that the truce will last is widespread.
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Business as Usual in the Tunnels into Gaza
Cigarettes, clothing, viagra and weapons are among the items being smuggled through tunnels from Egypt into Gaza, resulting in handsome profits for both the smugglers and their Hamas rulers.
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Israel Confirms Gaza Ceasefire
Israel confirms a ceasefire with Hamas-ruled Gaza, following talks brokered by Egypt. Israelis are now hoping for an end to rocket attacks on Sderot and other towns in the south.
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Israel and Hamas Agree Truce
Reports of a truce between Israel and Hamas are spreading across the media, along with rumors of renewed negotiations over the fate of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
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Falk Wants to "Insulate" HRC
Richard Falk, the UN Human Rights Council's new special investigator on Israel - infamous for comparing Israel to the Nazis - says he wants to "insulate" the discredited body from "partisan politics."
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Oil Price Fears Grow
As oil surges towards $140 per barrel, some analysts predict that the price could hit $150 as early as next week.
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UCU Executive Dithers on Academic Boycott
Perhaps alarmed by the unlawful nature of the academic boycott, the UCU national executive has deferred a decision on whether it can be implemented to its Strategy and Finance Committee.
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Fears Over Iran Nuclear Blueprints
As George Bush and Gordon Brown reiterate a tough line on Iran, a former U.N. weapons inspector has revealed that blueprints for nuclear devices
were found two years ago on computers connected to an international nuclear
smuggling ring with links to Iran and North Korea.
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Hamas Consolidates One Year On
One year after its violent seizure of Gaza, Hamas is growing stronger even as living conditions in the tiny strip deteriorate.
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France and US Rally Over Iran
Meeting French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris, George Bush restates their joint determination to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
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Rice Warns Israel on Settlements
The US Secretary of State says that construction projects in east Jerusalem and the West Bank could "imperil" peace efforts.
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Artists Flock to Israel
Calls on rock musicians to abide by the boycott campaign have made little impression, as rapper Snoop Dogg, French electronica duo Air and even a revived Blondie announce concerts in Israel.
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UK to Host Antisemitism Parley
London will be the venue for a February 2009 conference on antisemitism bringing together parliamentarians from across the globe.
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Saudi Hate School on US Shores
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has highlighted a Saudi-run school in Virginia which teaches hatred of Jews, Shi'a Muslims and others.
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The Israel Lobby at the Hebrew University
In Israel to speak at a forum organized by the far-left Gush Shalom group, "Israel Lobby" authors Mearsheimer and Walt have delivered a lecture, arranged at their own request, at the Hebrew University.
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Rice: World Losing Patience with Iran
The US Secretary of State says that Iran will not be allowed to use a renewed diplomatic overture to to stall concerns over its nuclear program.
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EU Cool on Israel Upgrade
EU diplomats say that there is unlikely to be an upgrade of ties with Israel, "given the uncertainty of the situation on the ground in Israel and its immediate
neighbourhood."
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Qaddafi in Race Slur Against Obama
The Libyan dictator claims that Barack Obama's support for Israel stems from an "inferiority complex" over his African origins.
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Al-Qaeda Active in Hamastan
In Hamas-ruled Gaza, Al Qaeda groups are active - and their impatience is growing.
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Israelis Debate Gaza Operation
As terrorists bombard southern Israel with mortar rounds, Israeli leaders discuss whether to mount a military operation against Hamas.
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Gilad's Family Receives Letter
Two years after he was kidnapped, the family of captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit has received a letter in his handwriting in which he pleas for his life.
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Diplomatic Solution Emerging for Shebaa Farms
British and French diplomacy may result in an imminent diplomatic solution of the conflict over Shebaa Farms, which involves Israel, Lebanon and Syria.
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US to Limit Contact with "Pathetic" UN Rights Council
The United States has confirmed plans to scale back its participation in the United Nations Human Rights Council, which obsessively criticizes Israel while ignoring massive human rights abuses elsewhere.
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Mofaz Iran Comments Spark Anger
Several Israeli commentators and politicians have rounded on Deputy PM Shaul Mofaz, saying his comments on attacking Iran are designed to further his political ambitions.
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