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Olmert to Congress: For a Lasting Peace, We Need a Partner Who Rejects Violence
by William Branigin
 At a joint meeting of Congress last week, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert urged the Palestinian Authority to meet his terms for peace talks or face a unilaterally imposed settlement in the West Bank, and he warned that a nuclear-armed Iran would constitute "an intolerable threat" that he said "cannot be permitted to materialize." A day after talks at the White House with President Bush, Olmert acknowledged Palestinians' "national aspirations" and asserted that Israel has no desire to rule or oppress them. He outlined a plan for unilateral "realignment" from the West Bank that would involve redrawing Israel's final borders to include major West Bank settlements and a "united Jerusalem" as the capital.(Washington Post)
See also View Video of Olmert's Speech to Congress (AP)
Israel Struck by Lebanese Rockets
The Israeli army says a soldier has been wounded after several rockets were fired into Israel from Lebanon on Sunday. The rockets landed in an army base near the town of Safed - further south than any missile from Lebanon is thought to have reached before. (BBC News)
Livni: Israel Concerned About Darfur Situation
by Herb Keinon
 Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni met with African ambassadors in Israel last week and said that Israel cannot be apathetic regarding the suffering in Darfur. "Israel is following with concern the situation in Darfur, especially the humanitarian ramifications that are affecting millions of innocent civilians. As a nation that suffered greatly in the past, Israel cannot be apathetic toward the suffering of others," she said. (Jerusalem Post)
Thousands of Academics Oppose Boycott of Israel
by Benjamin Joffe-Walt and Matthew Taylor
 The row surrounding the proposed boycott of Israeli lecturers who do not publicly oppose "Israeli apartheid policies" escalated after it emerged that thousands of international academics had signed a petition opposing the plans. Organized by the Israeli-led International Advisory Board for Academic Freedom, the online petition calls on the 69,000 members of the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education to reject the boycott motion when it goes before delegates at the union's annual conference, which began in Blackpool on Saturday. (Guardian-UK)
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Abbas Says He'd Put Peace Plan to a Vote
by Greg Myre
 Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday that he would call a referendum on a proposal for a Palestinian state that would recognize Israel, if the governing Hamas party failed to accept the plan within ten days. Abbas seems to be gambling that he can force his Fatah party and Hamas to agree on a broad framework for dealing with Israel, which Hamas now refuses to recognize. But he runs the risk of provoking a political showdown. In the past Israel has strongly rejected two of the plan's provisions: returning to pre-1967 borders and giving Palestinian refugees the right to return to lands they left in 1948. (New York Times)
Israeli Troops Arrest Top Hamas Fugitive
by Mohammed Daraghmeh
A top Hamas fugitive blamed for attacks that killed dozens of Israelis and five Americans surrendered to Israeli troops Tuesday after they ringed his West Bank hide-out and threatened to demolish it with him inside. Army Col. Amir Abulafiyeh, who oversaw the capture, described Hamed as "creative and cruel" in plotting attacks on a Jerusalem university, where the Americans were killed; an Israeli fuel depot; Israel's rail system; and a pool hall. (AP/Chron)
See also Mother Surprised by Arrest in Israel
 Linda Bennett got the call just before noon on Tuesday. The message: The reputed mastermind behind the terrorist bombing of Israel's Hebrew University cafeteria had just been caught. "I was very surprised," says Linda, whose 24-year-old daughter, Marla (pictured), was one of nine students killed that day. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Israeli Diplomats to Sue Ahmadinejad at International Court of Justice in The Hague
by Ronen Bergman
 A group of former Israeli diplomats plans to turn to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague and demand that it launch legal proceedings against Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for conspiring to commit crimes against humanity. The legal file against Ahmadinejad is almost ready for submission. (Ynet News)
Israel Agrees on Arms Transfer to Abbas' Presidential Guard
by Amos Harel
 Israel has agreed to the transfer of a limited amount of weapons and ammunition to the PA's presidential guard in light of growing threats to Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' life. Senior defense sources said Thursday that the arms will be delivered by either Egypt or Jordan. (Ha'aretz)
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