As if Netanyahu's disturbing right-wing goverment of war-loving hakws was not already doing enough damage by refusing to freeze settlement expansion and refusing to even speak of a possibl palestinian state, now this new PM and his government are attempting to make dissent a crime!

Sunday morning in Jordan's capital Amman Pope Benedict 16th celebrated open air mass. Roman Catholics from across the Middle East attended the service. He is now ending his trip to Jordan and moving on to Israel and to the Palestinian territories.

The governor of the Bank of Israel, Stanley Fischer says that the country's economy was hard hit in 2008 but that it is dealing with the current crisis relatively well.

The United States news network CBS is reporting that in January 2009 the Israeli Air Force carried out an attack in Sudan on a convoy of trucks heading towards Egypt.

Prime Minister-designate Binyamin Netanyhau says his government will seek a peace agreement with the Palestinians. The comments appeared to be aimed at easing concerns that he will try to freeze past peace efforts once he takes office.

In what is surely bad news for the world Benjamin Netanyahu, with the support of Israel's religious right, is set to assume the position of Prime Minister.

Top Israeli newspaper Haaretz is reporting that after meeting Livny and Netanyahu the president of Israel Shimon Peres proposed Benjamin Netanyahu to form the next Israeli cabinet and be the next Prime Minister of Israel. According to the newspaper Netanyahu accepted the invitation to form the next government.

Have you ever wanted to travel to Israel, but aren't willing to cough up the big bucks? A flight can cost over $1,000. Add in a hotel, food, and other expenses, and you will have to pay a pretty penny to travel to Israel. Fortunately, you can remove those concerns from your mind, because there is a way to fly to the Holy Land free of charge with Birthright Israel.

Depending on which source you look the information about the Israeli elections is conflicting. The results of early exit polls show to Tzipi Livni may be the winner, but but Kadima and Likud claim an election victory in Israel. We just have to wait and see the the full results of the election. It is hardly possible to identify the winner with only the results of the early exit polls when the votes are so close.

President Barack Obama faced down with the Grand Dame of White House Press Correspondents, taking his first question from Helen Thomas, calling it "an inaugural moment."