Shorts: Mideast

Jordan warms up to Israel again

amman (jta) | Jordan plans to send a new ambassador to Israel after a yearlong hiatus.

According to a report in the London-based Arabic newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat, the post will be filled by Ali Ayed, a veteran diplomat.

The previous envoy in Tel Aviv, Mahruf al-Bahit, was withdrawn last year in a move widely perceived as a reaction to Israel's actions against the Palestinians.




Peres, Livni meet with Abbas

jerusalem (jta) | Ehud Olmert's top two deputies met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni held a half an hour of talks Sunday, May 21 with Abbas on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, the highest-level public talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in months.

While the discussion focused on ideas for alleviating Palestinian humanitarian problems, both sides said it could lead to a first Olmert-Abbas summit.




Terrorist plot to down El Al jet foiled

jerusalem (jps) | A terrorist plot to blow up an El Al jet at the Geneva airport with an RPG missile in December was uncovered by the Swiss and French intelligence agencies.

Yediot Achronot reported that a secret agent working undercover in an Islamic terror cell in the city discovered the plan after three immigrants of Arabic origin boasted of their attempts to smuggle weapons from Russia with the goal of shooting down an Israeli plane.

When the matter was reported to Israeli security, El Al changed the flight paths of all its Geneva-bound planes, landing them at Zurich Airport the following week.

Swiss officials reported than no arrests were made following the discovery since the plan had yet to reach its final operational stages.




Microsoft buys Israeli technology firm

tel aviv (ynet) | Software giant Microsoft has purchased Israeli tech company Whale Communications in a deal estimated at $70 to $80 million.

The purchase of Whale, which specializes in secure remote access for networks, is one in a series of strategic moves by Microsoft to turn its Israel branch into a research and development center.

The announcement came on the heels of Warren Buffett's recent purchase of $4 billion worth of stock in Israeli tool company Iscar Metalworks.




Terrorist: 35 Jews volunteered for suicide attacks

tehran (ynet) | Thirty-five Jews volunteered to carry out suicide attacks against Israel in the service of an Islamic terrorist organization, the head of an Iranian terrorist organization claimed.

Members of the organization said that they planned to send the terrorists to Israel via Britain.

The Mahar news agency quoted terror chief Faruz Rajai-Far as saying that the organization's Web site registered 55,000 volunteers from all over the world to carry out suicide bombings. The volunteers, he claimed, included 35 Jews who don't live in Iran.




Israelis to sue Ahmadinejad

new york (jta) | Israeli officials are preparing to sue Iran's president at the International Court of Justice.

The lawsuit would accuse Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of conspiring to commit crimes against humanity because of his repeated threats to destroy Israel.

Among those developing the lawsuit are Meir Rosen, Israel's former ambassador to the United States and France, and former Cabinet Minister Dan Naveh.




Israelis, Palestinians agree: peace unlikely

jerusalem (jta) | Almost two out of three Israelis and Palestinians do not anticipate a peace accord in the near future, a survey found.

According to polls commissioned by the grassroots group One Voice and released this week, 65 percent of Israelis and Palestinians believe peace will not be possible within the next four years.

On both sides, approximately 45 percent believe the media give more — perhaps too much — attention to extremist voices.




Chief rabbi tightens divorce standards

jerusalem (ap) | Israel's chief rabbi for the Sephardic community has decided to recognize the divorce decrees and conversions to Judaism of just 50 Orthodox rabbis abroad.

The remainder will be forced to undergo tests in Israel before their documents will be accepted, a rabbinical official said.

Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar's ruling has angered some rabbis abroad, but most have accepted it, said Rabbi Yigal Crystal, Amar's chief of staff. Amar made the ruling a year ago, and at least six rabbis from the U.S. have undergone the tests since then, he added.