LATEST NEWS:

*Rocket fire from Gaza down 90 percent since Operation Cast Lead (Israel Radio)

*5 U.S. men arrested in Pakistan on suspicion of links to extremist groups (Reuters)

*Al-Qaida in Iraq claims responsibility for bombings that killed at least 120 (Army Radio)

*Ahmadinejad: The U.S. is trying to prevent the coming of the messiah (Haaretz)

*U.S. Marines launch first offensive in Afghanistan since Obama announced surge (AP)

*4 British citizens indicted for conspiring to hurt U.K soldiers in Afghanistan (Ch. 10)

*Report: Saddam Hussein ordered an attack on U.S. run broadcast in Prague (Reuters)

*Jordan rejects Israeli offer of partial settlement freeze (DPA)

*Hamas: Settlement freeze is `cosmetic step` aimed at restarting pointless talks (AP)

*IDF seizes, detonates 15-kilogram bomb found along Egypt border (Haaretz)

*Report: Israel to dispatch warship to join NATO naval force (AP)

*Abbas: Palestinian declaration of independence has become a reality (Army Radio)

*Hamas vows never to negotiate with `Zionist enemy` (Haaretz)

*Anti-Taliban mayor among 12 fatalities in suicide bombing in Pakistan market (AP)

*Iran TV: Lawmaker warns Russia over delay in delivery of missile defense system (AP)

*U.S. Army chief General Casey says more U.S. troops needed for Afghanistan war (Reuters)

*IAEA chief: We found nothing serious at Iran secret uranium enrichment site (Reuters)

*Egypt arrests 17 people charged with possessing bombs, planning attacks (Reuters)

*UN report finds no evidence of arms smuggling to Hezbollah (Haaretz)

*Report: Lebanon nabs man in alleget to be involved in attacks against Israel (Haaretz)

*Yemen court sentences eight Shi`ite rebels to death (AP)

*Iraq accuses Syria of involvement in Baghdad suicide blast this week (Israel Radio)

*Pentagon says withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq may be postponed (Israel Radio)

*Yemen seizes suspected arms smuggling ship, arrests Iranian sailors (AP)

*IDF fires artillery round at south Lebanon village in response to rocket (Haaretz)

*Gadhafi: Arab nations, Palestinians should be allowed to have nukes (Ch. 10)

*Shimon Peres: Unlike the Palestinians, we know how to protect our kids (Haaretz)

*Egypt: Muslims, Christians clash after murder of man involved in inter-faith affair (AP)

*Intel officials: Pakistan starts offensive in tribal area (AP)

*Israel, U.S. to hold maneuvers as Iran talks simmer (Reuters)

*Al-Qaida leader urges in online video to launch holy war against China (DPA)

*Goldstone says encourage by U.S. calls for investigation of Gaza war crimes (AP)

*Ahmadinejad: Israel won`t dare attack Iran (Reuters)

*Al Qaida release third online video calling German Muslims to `holy war`(AP)

*Yemen president: Shi`ite rebels funded by groups in Iran and Iraq (Reuters)

*Kuwait newspaper: Chemical weapons in Hezbollah arms-cache blast (Israel Radio)

*Al-Qaida deputy Zawahiri calls for jihad in Pakistan (Reuters)

*Philippines arrests rebel who planned terror attack on Israeli embassy (Reuters)

*Hezbollah: If Israel hits our response will make 2006 war look like a joke (Army Radio)

*Russia: New radar will detect launches anywhere in the Mideast (Army Radio)

*IDF reportedly training for pointed attack on Hezbollah (Haaretz)

*Hezbollah official: Our resistance stronger, more popular than in 2006 (Haaretz)

*Somalia Islamist rebels behead 7 people for being `Christians` and `spies` (Reuters)

*Syria threatens to recapture Golan by force if peace not reached (Army Radio)

*U.S. sees Syria as key player for Mideast peace (Haaretz)

*CIA director says he believes Bin Laden is in Pakistan (Reuters)

*Report: Iran deploys missile batteries in Persian Gulf (Haaretz)

*Obama says Bush-approved waterboarding was torture (Reuters)

*Barak: Hamas was severely beaten during Operation Cast Lead (Israel Radio)