David Bedein

Several weeks ago, Israeli intelligence sources revealed that the Syrians had decided to shorten the army's training year and to move up the large annual exercises in order to be prepared for a confrontation in the summer. Meanwhile, Israel continues intensive training in the Golan Heights, as part of the IDF's preparations for the possibility of another armed round in the north in the coming summer.

Known as The Sanders Peace Plan, written by Michael S. Sanders, Director of Expeditions and Research at the Ancient Cultures Research Foundation, the proposal suggests a new paradigm for a comprehensive peace solution in the Middle East.

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