TomG

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly on Monday. The following is the full text of his address: - TomG

Gaza would not be able to stand two days of heavy rains, Ashur noted, adding that the most dangerous area is in Jabaliya in northern Gaza. - TomG

In a conference held in Namibia over the weekend, Boaz Hirsch, chief of the international operations division in the Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry, took on the role as the head of the process. - TomG

"The possibility is there," US House of Representatives Minority Whip Eric Cantor told The Jerusalem Post, speaking about the prospect that Congress's support for Israel could be ebbing. "There have been incidences of late that do indicate that we have challenges on that front, and I'm very committed to doing everything I can to make sure that Congress remains Israel's strongest ally in the quest for what it needs in terms of its security." - TomG

"It is permissable to kill the Righteous among Nations even if they are not responsible for the threatening situation," he wrote, adding: "If we kill a Gentile who has sinned or has violated one of the seven commandments - because we care about the commandments - there is nothing wrong with the murder." - TomG

If Arabs efforts to enforce a construction freeze in settlements do not come into fruition as a condition for renewed negotiations, said Abdullah, then the Americans and international community must intervene. - TomG

The secret talks were meant to pressure the minister and get him to seriously consider retiring from the government and joining the new political body that MKs Ophir Pines, Eitan Cabel, Yuli Tamir and Amir Peretz, also known as the 'group of four' have been working to form for some time now. According to information obtained by Ynet, Herzog did not completely reject the offer. Bodies close to the minister confirmed that secret talks were held with sources from the group, but said, "He was presented with concepts that are not completely clear for the time being, the issue is complex." - TomG

Monday morning, in a joint IDF, Red Cross and Interior Ministry operation, the women crossed back into Syria. A 50-year-old woman joined the sisters to visit her son who was sent to Damascus for an emergency operation. - TomG

Diplomats from an Arab country arrived in Jerusalem on Thursday in an attempt to come up with a creative solution which would allow a Muslim delegation to tour the area. A third party is now trying to mediate between the Foundation and the diplomats in a bid to organize such a delegation, which will be comprised of representatives from Arab countries. - TomG

It is up to American Jewish communities to add Iran to their list of causes, Oren told the conference. Next to the banners by synagogues and Jewish groups protesting the genocide in Darfur and the hunger in Africa, he said, there should also be banners calling for sanctions on Iran, and to "stop the Iranian bomb." - TomG

Earlier a source affiliated with the negotiations for Shalit's release told Ynet that Hamas is expected to take a more positive stance in talks in an attempt to reach a successful deal while Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas admitted failure by retiring from politics. - TomG

"Everyone upset Abbas, including Israel and the Americans. That is why he is angry. We must resume negotiations immediately, to keep us in the picture," Peres told Ynet Saturday night during a ceremony in Tel Aviv marking the 14th anniversary of prime minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassination. - TomG

Hamas legislator Mushir al-Masri told Ynet in response to Mofaz's plan, "This is a very important step, but we are interested in its translation from talk into action." "Obviously, such comments carry a lot of weight when they come from someone of Mofaz's stature – a man who went to war against Hamas and the resistance and is familiar with the issue's political and security-related aspects," said al-Masri. - TomG

One example of the support Barkat found for his position on Jerusalem can be found in the Senate, where a group of seven senators are working on legislation that will support maintaining a united Jerusalem. The proposal will also include a decision to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, by circumventing the US president's authority to hinder the decision. Barkat discussed the matter with two of the senators behind the proposal, Joe Lieberman and Jon Kyl. The US House of Representatives presents an even more extreme version, which is being backed by Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, along with her colleague Dan Burton. - TomG

Upon creation of the demilitarized state, Mofaz said that permanent, defensible borders will be negotiated while evacuation-compensation bills for Israeli resident of the West Bank are enacted. After the negotiations and the implementation of understandings, the two states would implement agreements on core issues like refugees, Jerusalem, and borders. - TomG

Frigaard said Norway "must show great care" when deciding whether to investigate alleged war crimes committed by individuals with no connection to Norway. A 2008 law allows foreigners to face charges in Norway for war crimes committed anywhere in the world. - TomG

U.S. officials said that the President will meet with Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu in a last-minute meeting on Monday, before heading to Texas for the memorial ceremony. - TomG

Over the weekend, Abbas instructed the Palestinian Central Elections Committee to continue preparations for holding presidential and parliamentary elections on January 24. He met in Ramallah with the heads of the committee, Hanna Naser and Rami Hamdallah, and instructed them to take all measures to ensure that the vote is held on time in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and Jerusalem, according to a statement released by Abbas's office. - TomG

But some Israeli officials told Haaretz that alongside the clauses reported in the media - which are similar to elements of Netanyahu's call for "economic peace" between Israel and the Palestinians - Fayyad's plan also contains a classified, unreleased portion stipulating a unilateral declaration of independence. The plan specifies that at the end of a designated period for bolstering national institutions the PA, in conjunction with the Arab League, would file a "claim of sovereignty" to the UN Security Council and General Assembly over the borders of June 4, 1967 (before the outbreak of the Six-Day War, during which Israel took control of the West Bank and Gaza). Fayyad is also seeking a new Security Council resolution to replace Resolutions 242 and 338 in the hope of winning the international community's support for the borders of a Palestinian state and applying stronger pressure on Israel to withdraw from the West Bank. - TomG

"I believe that responsible leaders sit down with such elements," he continued. "I know that Hamas continues to fire and amass long-range missiles and prepare for conflict with Israel, and I want to tell Hamas leaders that if they continue on this path, their fate will be decided." - TomG

Fitch said that Israel is one of only four A-rated countries that will emerge from the recession in 2009. It said that the Israeli economy survived the global economic crisis in better shape than many similar economies. Israel's recession was easier than in similar European and Asian countries, and it was most felt in lower tax revenues. - TomG

Lebanese media reported on Saturday that it was Iran's approval which paved the way for Hezbollah to join Hariri' cabinet, one which Tehran had refused to give in past talks. - TomG

They all wonder whether to blame Mitchell or Clinton or Dennis Ross or National Security Adviser Jim Jones or the State Department's Near East bureau, and each individual Israeli and Palestinian has a favorite target. But the answers to their questions seem obvious: It is the president's policy, and no, he does not seem to be aware that it has already failed. While he has backed off from the early targets, he has not changed his attitude toward -Israel's government, nor altered his basic approach: to push for negotiations over "core issues" as soon as possible. - TomG

As of press time, the Prime Minister's Office said no formal meeting had been scheduled with US President Barack Obama during the visit, which could last through the week. No departure date has been set. - TomG

Gaza – Ma’an – The first of four cohorts of 300 Gazans bound for Mecca left the Strip via Rafah crossing at 6am Friday, head of communications at the border Jaser Al-Mashukhy confirmed. - TomG

"He reiterated his personal commitment to do whatever he can to achieve a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ... I look forward to working with President Abbas in any new capacity," she added. - TomG

In a statement on its website on Wednesday, the group said Saudi warplanes and helicopters had dropped phosphorus bombs on its fighters in the areas of al-Malahaid, Jabal al-Mamdud, al-Husama and al-Mujdaa. - TomG

"Unfortunately there are official pirates disrupting the movement of goods between Iran and Syria," he told reporters on a visit to Teheran. "I stress, the ship was not carrying Iranian arms bound for Syria, nor was it carrying material for manufacturing weapons in Syria. It was carrying [commercial] goods from Syria to Iran." - TomG