David Bedein

A group of Israeli members of Israel's Knesset Parliament spent the last number of days preparing the Israeli response to the boycott of Israel by the British University and College Union: a package of sanctions against the U.K. that the MKs intend to begin to promote today.

Countdown to the conversation: The focus of Olmert's expected talks will be the Palestinian issue, against a backdrop of rising frustration in Washington over the fact that all of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's attempts to promote a dialogue between Olmert and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on the core issues of the conflict remain deadlocked.

In a May 25 briefing, Kilcullen, based in Iraq, outlined al-Qaida's methods. He said al-Qaida relies on intimidation of Sunni communities and attacks on neighboring Shiite areas to ensure a cycle of violence.

--Imad Shabana, a senior commander in Hamas's Izzedin Kassam military wing, died late on Saturday after being targeted by a low flying Israel Air Force fighter-jet as he was walking through Gaza City--Missiles Fired From Apartment Buildings Expected To Cause Massive Casualties--Arab NPO?To Recruit Volunteers To National Service

Barak ran a campaign by taking no stands on issues, with his PR people repeating over and over that "there is a new Barak" - not the Barak who was voted out of office in a special election in February 2001 - after only 17 months of office.

-- Israeli security officials have confirmed to the Middle East Newsline that Palestinian armed forces have been extending the range of their missiles to achieve a missile range of 25 kilometers, which would enable Palestinian strikes against major cities in Israel in an effort to strike much of southern Israel. Hamas and Islamic Jihad were improving their indigenous missiles in cooperation with Iran and Hezbollah--DF Arrests Top Hamas Leaders--U.S. 'Concerned' By Arrests

Israel is reflexively reacting to Hamas and is basically following the latter's script, without any policy or goals of its own.Also detailed:-U.S. Endorses Abbas-Hamas Vows To Target Ashkelon-Israel Government Wanton Neglect Of Shelters In South

It can now be revealed that Hamas demanded that Israel release dozens of Israeli Arab convicts who are imprisoned for security offenses in exchange for the release of Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit, who was captured last June by Palestinians. Israel summarily rejected the demand to release Israeli Arab security convicts.