The Near Distance

The future may be nearer than we think!

Here is a selection of middle east news headlines from Israel, Iraq, Iran, Syria and other mid east countries:

Arab League chief: Abbas will not enter indirect peace talks 10 Mar 2010 | 8:25 pm Haaretz.com - News
Arab League chief Amr Moussa said on Wednesday that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told him he would not enter indirect talks with Israel. ...
Gov't to discuss Palestinian incitement 10 Mar 2010 | 8:12 pm JPost.com - Middle East News
PA reportedly cancels ceremony to name public square after terrorist.
European Parliament endorses Goldstone Gaza report 10 Mar 2010 | 4:12 pm Haaretz.com - News
The European Parliament on Wednesday urged its 27-member states to monitor the Israeli and Palestinian probes into alleged war crimes committed during last year's late-winter conflict in Gaza. ...
Israel supermarket uses parody film of Dubai assassins in advert 10 Mar 2010 | 4:05 pm BBC News | Middle East | World Edition
An Israeli supermarket chain uses spoof surveillance footage, parodying that of the alleged assassins of a Hamas commander in Dubai, in a TV advert.
MKs to Biden: Show kindness and mercy for Jonathan Pollard 10 Mar 2010 | 3:47 pm Haaretz.com - News
A group of Knesset faction chairmen on Wednesday sent a letter to U.S. Vice President Joe Biden requesting clemency for Jonathan Pollard, who is serving a life sentence in the U.S. after being convicted of spying for Israel. ...
Noam Shalit urges EU Parliament chief: Help secure Gilad's release 10 Mar 2010 | 1:49 pm Haaretz.com - News
Noam Shalit, father of captured IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, met Wednesday in Strasbourg, France, with European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek. ...
PA cancels commemoration for terrorist 10 Mar 2010 | 1:36 pm JPost.com - Middle East News
Sister of woman who led 1978 hijacking says decision came from "official channels."
Biden steps up pressure on Israel 10 Mar 2010 | 11:19 am BBC News | Middle East | World Edition
The US vice-president renews criticism of Israel over an East Jerusalem building project and urges bold steps to peace.
PA: J’lem plan ‘damaging’ talks 10 Mar 2010 | 8:43 am JPost.com - Middle East News
Ahead of Abbas-Biden meeting, Fayyad says R. Shlomo building poses “great challenge.”
Liberal or stooge? 10 Mar 2010 | 8:38 am BBC News | Middle East | World Edition
Sheikh Tantawi never shied away from controversy
Iran attacks US over Afghanistan 10 Mar 2010 | 7:33 am BBC News | Middle East | World Edition
Iranian President says it is the US, not Tehran, that is playing a "double game" in Afghanistan.
Israel sued over dead US activist 10 Mar 2010 | 7:02 am BBC News | Middle East | World Edition
A court case brought by the family of Rachel Corrie, a US protester killed by an Israeli army bulldozer in 2003, opens in Israel.
Top Sunni cleric dies of heart attack 10 Mar 2010 | 6:46 am JPost.com - Middle East News
Moderate Egyptian scholar Tantawi dies during Saudi Arabia visit.
Brazilian leader seeks peace in Mideast 10 Mar 2010 | 4:40 am JPost.com - Middle East News
Luiz da Silva says he'll visit region to push for peace and prevent possible conflict with Iran.
Egypt's top cleric dies aged 81 10 Mar 2010 | 4:34 am BBC News | Middle East | World Edition
Egypt's top Muslim cleric has died suddenly in Saudi Arabia at the age of 81.
Israel takes 77 Fatah men off wanted list as reward to PA 9 Mar 2010 | 7:35 pm JPost.com - Middle East News
Sources say none of the pardoned men were directly involved in murder.
US apology for Gaddafi comments 9 Mar 2010 | 2:24 pm BBC News | Middle East | World Edition
The US State Department apologises for comments by a spokesman on a call by Libya for holy war against Switzerland.
First vote 9 Mar 2010 | 11:58 am BBC News | Middle East | World Edition
The BBC meets some of Iraq's first-time voters
Israeli 'spymaster' dies aged 82 9 Mar 2010 | 11:11 am BBC News | Middle East | World Edition
A former Israeli spy who played a key role in Africa, the Middle East and the 1980s Iran-Contra scandal has died.
Israel and Syria in nuclear bids 9 Mar 2010 | 10:01 am BBC News | Middle East | World Edition
Israel and Syria both tell a conference in Paris they want to use nuclear power to generate electricity.
Syria wants to develop nuclear energy 9 Mar 2010 | 6:10 am JPost.com - Middle East News
Deputy FM Mekdad: "Peaceful application of nuclear energy should not be monopolized."
Fourth Australian named by Dubai 9 Mar 2010 | 5:00 am BBC News | Middle East | World Edition
A fourth Australian passport-holder has been named in connection with the murder of a Hamas commander in Dubai.
Iraq election voter turnout '62%' 9 Mar 2010 | 4:20 am BBC News | Middle East | World Edition
The voter turnout in Iraq's parliamentary election was 62%, officials say, despite attacks that killed 38 people.
Separation fear 9 Mar 2010 | 3:05 am BBC News | Middle East | World Edition
Families fight 'racist' Israeli marriage and citizenship law
Iraqi parties both claim to be ahead in election 8 Mar 2010 | 10:52 pm JPost.com - Middle East News
Top US commander says historic vote will let all but 50,000 American troops come home by end of summer.
Abbas appoints new anti-corruption panel 8 Mar 2010 | 9:43 pm JPost.com - Middle East News
Whistle-blower Shabaneh launches Web site revealing new cases on weekly basis.
Iranian efforts to escalate friction keeps region tense 8 Mar 2010 | 8:45 pm JPost.com - Middle East News
Despite Iranian influence and pressure on Assad, current assessments in Israel are that both Hizbullah and Syria are deterred from war, each for its own reasons.
An important precedent: Shifting Palestinian ‘red lines' 8 Mar 2010 | 8:42 pm JPost.com - Middle East News
Abbas’s agreement to proximity talks shows that he, too, will cave in if the pressure is high enough.
Abbas appoints new panel to probe corruption 8 Mar 2010 | 4:22 pm JPost.com - Middle East News
Whistle-blower Fahmi Shabaneh launches Web site, where he reveals corruption cases on an almost weekly basis.
Mitchell to broker indirect talks 8 Mar 2010 | 1:01 pm JPost.com - Middle East News
US pleased, but Abbas skeptical, says Beitar Illit buildings show Israel not serious.
US eases sanctions for freer web 8 Mar 2010 | 12:25 pm BBC News | Middle East | World Edition
The US eases sanctions on Iran, Cuba and Sudan to help further the use of internet services and support opposition groups.
Israel 'to build nuclear plant' 8 Mar 2010 | 10:54 am BBC News | Middle East | World Edition
Israel is to unveil this week plans to build a nuclear power plant, reports say.
Iranian poet handed 'travel ban' 8 Mar 2010 | 8:52 am BBC News | Middle East | World Edition
Iran's most celebrated female poet is banned from travelling out of the country by the government.
Lost Jews 'found in Zimbabwe' 8 Mar 2010 | 5:15 am BBC News | Middle East | World Edition
The Zimbabweans who trace their roots back to Israel
PA agrees to ‘proximity talks’ 7 Mar 2010 | 6:56 pm JPost.com - Middle East News
Ahead of Biden visit to Israel, Netanyahu to meet with Mitchell again.
PA to ban work in settlements 7 Mar 2010 | 3:32 pm JPost.com - Middle East News
Economics minister says Palestinian society must be consistent in its opposition.
Standing firm 7 Mar 2010 | 1:52 pm BBC News | Middle East | World Edition
Iraqi democracy stays strong amid bomb attacks
Egyptian blogger on military trial to be freed 7 Mar 2010 | 11:09 am JPost.com - Middle East News
Ahmed Mostafa has a week to issue apology for claiming army's military academy corrupt.
Gaza women denied inheritance rights 7 Mar 2010 | 10:45 am JPost.com - Middle East News
But many are not speaking out to tackle the problem.
PLO approves indirect talks with Israel 7 Mar 2010 | 10:15 am JPost.com - Middle East News
Arabs express skepticism, but say they want to give US mediation a chance.
Erdogan: Rachel's Tomb was never Jewish 7 Mar 2010 | 6:46 am JPost.com - Middle East News
speaking to Saudi paper, Turkish PM criticizes Israel's Heritage List.
Womens rights improve across the Middle East 7 Mar 2010 | 4:26 am JPost.com - Middle East News
Yemen, Iraq and the Palestinian territories see regression.
Audio slideshow 6 Mar 2010 | 7:37 pm BBC News | Middle East | World Edition
How Palestinians came to love the bagpipes
Surgery on Mubarak 'successful' 6 Mar 2010 | 8:27 am BBC News | Middle East | World Edition
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak undergoes successful surgery at a German clinic for an inflamed gall bladder, state media say.
How did U.S. groups react to Biden's condemnation of Israel? 31 Dec 1969 | 6:00 pm Haaretz.com - News
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's condemnation of Israel's plan to construct 1,600 new housing units in East Jerusalem was welcomed on Wednesday by advocacy groups and analysts who called for Israel to be held accountable for actions that undermine peace talks with the Palestinians. ...

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This website is here to provide a quick glimpse into our everchanging world that ordinary busy people may not get. We invite you to scan the headlines and use them as a tool to become aware of current world events. We hope to stir curiosity in our readers about our time and create space to unravel what all of these happenings may mean for each of us in the future.

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