Abbas aide: Palestinian leader to meet with Obama

RAMALLAH, West Bank — An aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says he’ll meet with President Barack Obama in Washington on May 28.

World racism conference looks beyond Mideast to concerns economic crisis could fuel hatred

GENEVA — The world racism conference looked beyond the Middle East on Wednesday to concerns over the economic crisis, with speakers warning that increased joblessness could lead to greater intolerance of foreigners if governments fail to act.

Hamas leader to make unprecedented address to British lawmakers

LONDON — It promises to be one of the British Parliament’s more controversial question and answer sessions.

Sources: Feds may drop case against former pro-Israeli lobbyists accused of spying

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is considering dropping its case against two former pro-Israel lobbyists accused of illegally disclosing national defense secrets, government officials said Tuesday.

Former Intel panel member asks for release of transcripts in pro-Israel spy case

WASHINGTON — The former senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee asked the Justice Department on Tuesday to release all transcripts of her recorded conversations involving the treatment of two pro-Israel lobbyists accused of spying.

Obama invites Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian leaders for separate White House talks

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will invite the Israeli, Palestinian and Egyptian leaders to the White House in the coming weeks for separate talks on moving forward with the Middle East peace process, the White House said Tuesday.

Iran sends mixed signals to US: jailing American reporter and saying it wants warmer ties

TEHRAN, Iran — The Obama administration is reaching out to Iran. In return, Iran is — well, it’s complicated. The Islamic republic sentenced an American journalist to eight years in prison and launched a fervent new campaign to brand U.S. ally Israel as racist. And in the middle of all that, it said it was ready for a new beginning in relations with the U.S. after three decades of diplomatic stalemate.

Obama invites Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian leaders for separate White House talks

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will invite the Israeli, Palestinian and Egyptian leaders to the White House in the coming weeks for separate talks on moving forward with the Middle East peace process, the White House said Tuesday.

Israel to probe soldiers’ for using excessive force during Gaza operation

TEL AVIV - After repeatedly rebuffing charges of having committed war crimes in its recent war against Hamas in Gaza, a stunned Israel has changed track and instructed its military prosecutor to launch a criminal investigation into the alleged deliberate killing of women, children, and elderly non-combatants by Israeli soldiers.

Diplomacy against Iran must have a timeline: Israel

HERZLIA - Diplomatic efforts to persuade Iran to abandon its nuclear programme must be accompanied by a clear timeline, after which harsh sanctions could be imposed, accompanied by a willingness to act, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has said.