UN warns 1 million Syrians going hungry due to conflict
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Wednesday it was unable to reach one million desperate and hungry Syrians because of the perilous security situation across the country after nearly two years of deadly conflict
*Iranian Captives Freed in Major Prisoner Exchange in Syria
ISTANBUL — More than 2,000 prisoners incarcerated by the Syrian authorities were being released on Wednesday in return for 48 Iranians freed by rebels after five months in captivity in what appeared to be the biggest prisoner swap since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began almost two years ago.
The exchange, brokered by Turkey and Qatar, came days after Mr. Assad warned on Sunday that he would not abandon the fight against armed adversaries pressing on the approaches to the Syrian capital, Damascus, and brushed aside calls for him to quit.
*Syria slams West for rejecting Assad peace plan
*Syria’s foreign minister calls for ‘unconditional’ dialogue with opposition
*Syria opposition group proposes transitional govt
*Russia Still Key to Syrian Transition
*The case of Egyptian detainees in the UAE is increasingly politicized
*Morsi, Egypt Face Economic Meltdown
*Hamas, Fatah leaders meet in Cairo for Palestinian unity talks
Gaza’s electricity sector remains deficient. Israel refuses to allow in the spare parts needed to rebuild the broken-down infrastructure. Limited amounts of fuel reach Gaza from Israel and Egypt - well below the bare minimum required
*Watch: Banned Ballad election ad has Israel’s racist politicians dancing to Arab rhythm
*Under pressure Maliki: protesters abusing freedom
*Maliki Calculates Early Elections
*Iraq closes border with Jordan amid ongoing demos
*Iraqis get $5 million over Abu Ghraib torture
*Turkey holds plane en route to Iran: customs official
*Iran behind spate of cyber-attacks against American banking sites: US says
*Tunisia’s ‘Committees to Defend Revolution’ Deny Violence
*Bahrain Convictions Prove No Desire For Reform
*Kuwait court keeps pro-opposition television off the air
Analysis/Opinion
Chuck Hagel Failure May Haunt Jewish Hawks
Obama May Be Emboldened To Take Own Path on Peace, Iran
*Shimon Peres on Obama, Iran and the Path to Peace
*A Senate debate on Mr Obama’s foreign policy
*The ‘Brotherhoodization’ of Egypt and its unions
AFP - Four people were killed in clashes pitting Toubou tribesmen against a brigade linked to the Libyan army in the southern town of Kufra, a military official told AFP on Wednesday.
“Four Toubou tribesmen were killed on Tuesday in clashes against Shield Libya,” an army force made up of former rebels, the official said.
JANUARY 10
*Syrian rebels fight at air base; missile detected
*Syria’s Battle for the Airports
*Terrorist group fills power vacuum among Syria rebels
*Syria conflict: Brahimi says Assad can’t be part of transition – live updates
*Syria conflict tops Egypt-Iran talks in Cairo
*Egypt’s ex-minister replaced for opposing rapprochement with Iran: report
*Egypt new student bylaw passed despite student opposition
*Car explosion in Israeli city of Tel Aviv
*Israel president warns of new Palestinian uprising
*Iran Top Backer of Palestinian Islamic Jihad
*Palestinians and IDF clash in West Bank flashpoints
*Ahmad Tibi: No Apologies For Being a ‘Palestinian Patriot’
*”My family is living through hell:” Samer Issawi speaks from jail (in Israel)
*Israeli elections have officially begun — from Wellington to San Francisco
*First Palestinian envoy since 1990 arrives in Kuwait
*Kurdish PKK co-founder Sakine Cansiz shot dead in Paris
*Erdoğan says Paris killings may be provocation to axe peace talks
*Why Now for Erdogan’s Initiative With PKK?
*Libya PM threatens force to protect oil sector
*8 Algerian ministers to Belkhadem: leave
*Deadly storms blanket parts of Mid-East in snow
*Brotherhood Approaches Salafists As Parliamentary Elections Near
*Iraq Protests Present Muslim Brotherhood With Opportunity
JANUARY 12
*Official: Syrian troops capture much of Daraya
*Russia rejects Assad exit as precondition for Syria deal
*Syrian Armed Groups Among Those Displaced in Lebanon
*UNHCR running out of registration space
BEIRUT: The number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon receiving aid from the United Nations is approaching 200,000, as the body’s aid agency warned it doesn’t have enough space to handle the refugees’ registration.
*Jordanian PM: We Cannot Receive Palestinian Refugees From Syria
*Vowing revenge, thousands rally in Paris over Kurd killings
*Ankara brushes off murder accusations: France urged to clarify Paris slayings
*Turkey’s Erdoğan demands Hollande explain meeting with killed terrorist
*Kurdistan Region MPs Challenge Barzani
*Pro- vs. anti-Maliki rallies: Demonstrations worsen political crisis in Iraq
*KRG Oil Sales to Turkey Inflame Tensions with Baghdad
*Palestinians Set Up Tents Where Israel Plans Homes
*As Israeli occupiers threaten forced expulsion, dozens more Palestinians join Bab Al Shams (Video)
*Israel moves to shut down E1 protest, activists vow to remain
*Court blocks IDF plan to evacuate Palestinian outpost
*The screenshots prove it: New York Times altered headline to remove words “Israeli-occupied”
*Olmert: ‘Netanyahu spent NIS 11 billion on adventurous fantasies’
*Iran Not a Priority For Most Israeli Voters
*Israel election: country prepares for next act in the great moving right show
*Egyptian court suspends Islamic TV show over libel
Egypt: Fear of Islamists Hobbles Secular Parties
*Egypt’s Salafi party says no alliance with Brotherhood next elections
*Iran May Not Be Behind Bank Cyberattacks, Experts Say
*Ennahda on road to failure: Frustration simmers again in Tunisia
*VIDEO: Egyptian man threatens suicide to protest Saudi employer abuse
*Libya looks to strengthen ties with US: Zeidan
Opinion/Analysis
*Jabhat al-Nusra’s Goals Extend Beyond Syria
*The Kurdish situation in Iran
*Greenwald: The US – alongside Saudi Arabia – fights for freedom and democracy in the Middle East
*Silenced in Saudi Arabia
*The Middle East needs to be a nuclear-weapons-free zone
After it was nominated for an Oscar, Israel is claiming 5 Broken Cameras as its own, despite its Palestinian origins.