U.S. military helicopters struck a network of foreign fighters in Syria, a U.S. military official said Sunday, killing eight people and earning recrimination from Damascus, which condemned the raid as "serious aggression."
The official, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said the special forces action within Syrian territory close to the Iraqi border, was meant to send a message. The Americans have been unable to shut the network down in the area because Syria was out of the military's reach.
"We are taking matters into our own hands," the official said.
During funerals on Monday, angry residents shouted anti-American slogans and carried banners reading: "Down with Bush and the American enemy."
The attack came just days after the commander of U.S. forces in western Iraq said American troops were redoubling efforts to secure the Syrian border, which he called an "uncontrolled" gateway for fighters entering Iraq.
Ninety percent of foreign fighters enter Iraq through Syria, according to U.S. intelligence estimates. Foreign fighters often enter Iraq in order to bring cash to Al Qaeda in Iraq's chief. They also are deadly — trained in bomb-making and willing to sacrifice themselves in suicide attacks.
A senior U.S. military intelligence ...   more »

Kadima chairwoman's failure to form new government leaves prime minister four months to propel diplomatic, financial feats in form of progress in peace talks with Palestinians and Syria, stabilizing economy amid global crisis
Roni Sofer
The beneficiary: Prime Minister Ehud Olmert seems to be one of the people who stand to benefit from Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni's decision to call for general elections.  
Livni decided to opt for calling for elections on Saturday, after her attempts to form a new government, and the intense coalition negotiation which accompanied them, appeared to be deadlocked.  
She is expected to notify President Shimon Peres of her decision later Sunday.Decisions  
Some things cannot be granted, says Livni  / Attila Somfalvi  Kadima chairwoman tells Ynet she is at peace with her decision to call elections and is convinced she will win. According to foreign minister, billions of shekels and a commitment not to discuss Jerusalem's status are things 'which the State cannot be sold for'    Olmert now stands to preside as the prime minister over a transitional government for the remaining 111 days left until the elections, and is most likely to try and use the time to propel political moves, as ...   more »

Shelly Paz
Declaring that she had exhausted all alternatives, Kadima leader Tzipi Livni on Sunday handed back the mandate President Shimon Peres gave her last month to form a government.
During their meeting at Beit Hanassi, Livni informed Peres of her decision: General elections as soon as possible.
According to the Basic Law: Government, the president now begins a process that will likely lead to elections being set for Tuesday,
"Since I was appointed to form a government, I made it clear that I would look into all options to form a stable government before deciding on going to general elections," Livni told reporters following her meeting with Peres.
"I have exhausted the process. I could have stood here today and presented a government. I was willing to pay a certain price to form a government, but I wasn't willing to mortgage the economic and the political future of the State of Israel and sacrifice the hope for a better future and different politics."
Original Source
   more »

by Joel Padowitz
The Sukkah generates such intense spiritual energy that the souls of the seven shepherds of Israel leave Gan Eden to partake in the divine light of the earthly Sukkot.
What is the Garden of Eden? This is the place where worthy souls, having passed from this world, enjoy the light of the divine presence as they await entrance to the World to Come -- i.e. the post-Messianic age (Talmud - Shabbat 152b; Derech Hashem 1:3:11).
The Zohar, the foremost book of Jewish mysticism, explains that the Sukkah generates such an intense concentration of spiritual energy, that the divine presence actually manifests itself there in a similar way to Eden. During Sukkot the souls of the seven shepherds of Israel -- Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph, and King David -- actually leave Gan Eden to partake in the divine light of the earthly Sukkot (Zohar - Emor 103a).
Each day of Sukkot, all seven souls are present, but each takes his turn to lead the other six. Collectively these transcendent guests are known as Ushpizin, the Aramaic word meaning "guests." To welcome these illustrious souls, many have the custom to recite a lengthy mystical invitation upon entering ...   more »

Border Guard officers operating checkpoint near religious site overpower 16-year old Palestinian resident of Hebron attempting to carry out stabbing attack on worshippers in cave
Efrat Weiss
A stabbing attack at the Cave of the Patriarchs near Hebron was foiled Friday, when Border Guard officers stationed at the scene succeeded in preventing a 16-year old Palestinian resident of the city from assaulting worshippers in the cave with a knife.  
The incident occurred at 3:30 pm, when a Palestinian boy arrived at the Border Guard checkpoint near the religious site. The boy arrived from the Kasbah, and the officers began to suspect him of wrongdoing when they noticed a strange bulge in his sock.  
The officers called on the boy to halt a number of times, but their cries were not heeded. The boy then knelt, drew a knife from his sock, and began to advance on the officers. After one of the officers cocked his weapon the boy threw down the knife and began to retreat, at which point the troops overpowered him.
Original Source
   more »