1. RICE BEGINS MIDEAST ROAD TRIP…United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in the Middle East once again, this time in a bid to win support for Washington’s positions on Iran’s nuclear program, Hamas’ rise to power in the Palestinian areas and possible sanctions against Syria. Rice will stop in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. One thing unlikely to be pushed by Rice during her talks in Cairo is a free-trade agreement with Egypt. Washington is unhappy with what it sees as anti-democratic moves, including the postponement of local elections by two years.
2. IRAN’S FM IN BRUSSELS TALKS…As a team of Iranian nuclear experts begins talks in Moscow today, Tehran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki is beginning parallel negotiations with representatives of the European Union, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. The Moscow session is aimed at investigating the possibility of conducting Iran’s uranium-enrichment program in Russia. Meanwhile, Mottaki is working the diplomatic channel. Iran could well face sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council if it fails to work out its differences with the international community over its nuclear program.
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3. HAMAS: WE CAN LIVE WITHOUT WESTERN HELP…The Palestinian Authority can function without Israeli and Western help, Hamas’ candidate for prime minister Isma’il Haniyya has told the BBC in an interview from Gaza. On Sunday Israel decided to cut virtually all ties with the Palestinians, but agreed to allow the supply of water, electricity and emergency aid. Meanwhile, the United States has already requested the Palestinian Authority return $50 million, which it does not want to fall into Hamas’ hands. Haniyya says the Palestinians can survive on their own means and with help from the Muslim world.
4. U.S. BLOCKS ASSETS OF ‘HAMAS-LINKED’ NGO…The United States Treasury Department has frozen the assets of the Toledo, Ohio-based NGO KindHearts. The Treasury is accusing KindHearts of being the next generation of two organizations closed down because of what Washington said was their links to Hamas. The U.S. says KindHearts has been coordinating with Hamas officials in Lebanon and contributing to Hamas-affiliated organizations.
5. ISRAEL SEIZES CONTAINERS BOUND FOR GAZA…Israeli customs officials have seized 31 containers, which they say were bound for a Hamas-affiliated company in Gaza. The goods are said to be worth millions of dollars. They were bound for the Fayiz Abu ‘Ammar firm, which Israel maintains has been laundering money for Hamas and Islamic Jihad.