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U.S. Finds Iran Halted Its Nuclear Arms Effort in 2003
by Mark Mazzetti
A new National Intelligence Estimate released last week concludes that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003 and that the program remains frozen. The assessment, the consensus view of all 16 American spy agencies, states that Tehran is likely to keep its options open with respect to building a weapon, but that intelligence agencies "do not know whether it currently intends to develop nuclear weapons." Iran is continuing to produce enriched uranium, a program that could provide Iran with enough raw material to produce a nuclear weapon sometime by the middle of the next decade. But the new report essentially disavows a judgment that the intelligence agencies issued in 2005, which concluded that Iran had an active secret arms program intended to transform the raw material into a nuclear weapon. Administration officials said the intelligence findings would not lessen White House concern about the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran. The fact that Iran continues to refine its abilities to enrich uranium, they said, could lead Iran to a bomb in relatively short order. (New York Times)
See also Israel Unconvinced Iran Has Dropped Nuclear Plans by Steven Erlanger and Graham Bowley (New York Times)
Israeli Cabinet Approves Annapolis Declaration
 Tempered optimism marked a unanimous decision by the cabinet last week to approve the joint declaration drafted by the Palestinian Authority and Israel at the Middle East summit in Annapolis, Maryland. "The most important component of the joint declaration which was achieved in Annapolis was that all future agreements would be bound to the Road Map," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said at the beginning of the meeting. He added that "every effort will be made to conduct quick negotiations with the hope of [reaching a final settlement] by the end of 2008, but there is definitely no obligation to a strict time frame for negotiations." (Jerusalem Post)
See also PM Olmert and FM Livni Report to the Cabinet on the Annapolis Conference (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Olmert: Israel Was Right to Accept Partition 60 Years Ago
  "Ben-Gurion was right," declared Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at a parliament session marking 60 years since the UN approved partitioning mandatory Palestine, endorsing the legendary Israeli founder's decision to accept the plan. Olmert said that division of the land into a Jewish and an Arab state is essential now as well. "There is no other alternative," he said. In the gallery at the special session of parliament were relatives of the ambassadors who voted for the partition at the tense UN General Assembly session on November 29, 1947. Olmert said Israel "deserves credit from the world" for accepting the partition, while the Arab world rejected it, setting off a two-year war after Israel declared its independence six months later. (AP/Jerusalem Post)
See also Olmert: Israel Must Assure Security for Its Citizens, Even If This Requires Considerable Time (Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Sapir College: Hillel to "Light a Candle with Sderot"
  In an effort to raise worldwide awareness of the challenges faced by the residents of Sderot and other Israeli communities under attack near the Gaza border, Hillel Israel will launch a special project during Chanukah called "Light a Candle with Sderot." On Friday Dec. 7, the fourth night of Chanukah, students and others are asked to light their Chanukah candles in an act of solidarity with the people of Sderot and surrounding communities who have been subjected to 6,000 kassam rocket attacks since April 2001. "By dedicating one night of Chanukah to light a candle with Sderot, we can show our support, help boost morale, and demonstrate the unity of the Jewish people," said Yossi Goldman, president of Hillel Israel. As part of Light a Candle with Sderot, the new Hillel center at Sapir College in Sderot, along with Hillel Israel, will be assembling online information packets that include reports about the rocket attacks on Sderot; personal stories about life under the threat of attack; a brief video; and inspirational readings for the fourth night of Chanukah. (Hillel)
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Bush To Visit Middle East Next Month
 President Bush will visit the Middle East in early January as he presses the Israelis and Palestinians to restart moribund peace talks, the White House said last week. White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe would not release details of Bush's itinerary, but an Israeli television station said the president would visit Israel. Other Israeli media outlets reported Mr. Bush's visit would take place Jan. 9. Israeli government officials refused to comment. (CBS News)
Israel Releases 429 Palestinian Prisoners to Help Abbas
by Oren Alt
Israel last week began releasing 429 Palestinian prisoners in a gesture meant to strengthen Mahmoud Abbas. (AP/Washington Post)
The released prisoners signed a declaration committing to refrain from terror activities. Including the prisoners released last week, about 770 Palestinians will have been freed since July. (Ha'aretz)
See also Report: Palestinian Prisoners Released by Israel Killed 177 Israelis - Nadav Shragai (Ha'aretz)
PA Police Murdered Israeli in West Bank on Nov. 19
by Yuval Azoulay and Nadav Shragai
 The Israel Defense Forces has arrested the Palestinians believed responsible for the shooting incident in which Ido Zoldan, 29, was killed on Nov. 19 in the West Bank. Zoldan, a resident of Shavei Shomron, was driving toward Karnei Shomron when gunmen in a passing vehicle opened fire, critically wounding him. According to information released for publication last week, the attack was carried out by three Palestinians, members of the Palestinian National Security force. Two are brothers, Dafer and Abdullah Birham, members of Fatah and serving in National Security in Ramallah. The two said Fadi Jama', also in the National Security force, gave them the weapons they used in the attack. (Ha'aretz)
Study: U.S., Israel Should Begin Planning Strike on Iran Nuclear Sites
by Aluf Benn
  Israel and the United States should begin an intense dialogue on ways to deal with Iran's nuclear plans and should examine ways to attack Iran's nuclear facilities, according to a new study published by an influential Washington think tank. The report, by a former deputy head of Israel's National Security Council, Chuck Freilich, says Israel and the U.S. should discuss nuclear-crisis scenarios between Israel and Iran. The report, entitled "Speaking About the Unspeakable," was released over last week by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. (Ha'aretz)
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