Fresh Syria-Israel talks next month (Dawn)
ISTANBUL, July 30: Israel and Syria will hold their next indirect peace talks in Turkey in mid-August after failing to move on to face-to-face negotiations, a source close to the talks said on Wednesday.
Blasts in Gaza Stoke Tensions Between Factions
Hamas police officers in Gaza rounded up scores of supporters of Fatah and raided its offices after five Hamas militants and a girl were killed in a bomb blast.
Contractor: Losing immunity would hurt Iraq mission (CNN.com)
An American contractor said Thursday that the U.S. mission in Iraq will be undermined if the Iraqi government succeeds in revoking blanket legal immunity for American security contractors.
U.S. Military Says Soldiers Fired on Civilians
The American military admitted that a platoon of soldiers raked a car of Iraqi civilians with gunfire and that the military then issued a misleading news release.
Israel-Syria peace talks resume in Turkey (Deutsche Welle)
Israel and Syria are set to begin another round of indirect peace talks in the Turkish city of Istanbul. The Turkish-mediated negotiations began in May after an eight-year freeze.
Abbas Is Said to Release Supporters of Hamas
The Palestinian president ordered his security services on Thursday to release all pro-Hamas activists arrested in the occupied West Bank this week.
Israel s Political Situation Dims Hopes for Peace Deal
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert s decision to resign has hurt the chances of a peace deal between the Israelis and Palestinians this year, foreign policy experts say.
Syria, Israel to hold new talks next month: source (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Israel and Syria will hold their next indirect peace talks in Turkey in mid-August after failing to move on to face-to-face negotiations, a source close to the talks said on Wednesday.
Syrians See an Economic Side to Peace
A profoundly uncertain economic future has created additional incentives for peace with Israel, which could help lure foreign investment by ending Syria s pariah status in the West.
A combat troop withdrawal from Iraq? (Los Angeles Times)
A United States-Iraq security pact would set a goal — but no timetable — for the American units to leave, Iraqi officials say. Iraqi officials said Thursday that they were close to finalizing a new security arrangement that would set out the goal of withdrawing all U.S. combat troops from the country, while stopping short of establishing a strict timetable for their departure.
6 Are Killed in Sectarian Fighting in Northern Lebanon City
The clashes on Friday occurred as the government was struggling to draft a document outlining plans for its term in office amid disagreements with Hezbollah.
Sources: Israel encouraged by Syria moves (Moldova.org)
Syria is taking significant steps to show it is serious about its peace talks with Israel, sources say. Citing unnamed government sources, The Jerusalem Post reported Tuesday that Israeli leaders are encouraged that Syria is taking tangible confidence building measures. The Post said its sources weren’t clear if those measures included interdicting arms meant for Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon …
Iran, Iraq to hold art exhibition (Islamic Republic News Agency)
Iran – Iraq – Culture Iranian and Iraqi artists will hold a joint art exhibition in the near future. Concurrent with Iraq’s Cultural Week which is underway in Tehran, Iranian and Iraqi officials held talks on ties in the arts field in Hozkhaneh Talar of Saba Institute.
Israel-Syria peace talks to resume under Turkish mediation (AFP via Yahoo! News)
Israel and Syria will begin on Tuesday a fourth round of indirect peace talks under Turkish mediation, an Israeli official said.
Could peace break out for Israel and Syria? (International Herald Tribune)
President Bashar al-Assad of Syria is concerned about the survival of his regime. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel seeks to wrest Syria out of Iran’s orbit. After eight years of stalemate, peace may be possible.
Oil Exports From Northern Iraq Rise Sharply
An American agency monitoring reconstruction in Iraq cited a sharp drop in attacks on the pipeline and new infrastructure built to protect it.
Israel-Syria peace talks to resume under Turkish mediation (Middle East Times)
Israeli tanks on the Golan Heights. Israel and Syria will begin on Tuesday a fourth round of indirect peace talks under Turkish mediation, an Israeli official said.
4,000 U.S. Deaths, and a Handful of Images
Some journalists say the American military is making a growing effort to control graphic war images from Iraq.
