al-Quds al-Arabi (London): America continues to flirt with Iran and compliments it for reining in Sadr militia – U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker has praised Iran for helping it contain Shiite militia violence in Iraq, using the nicest terms Washington has ever used toward its archenemy. Crocker said Washington believes Iran may have been responsible for Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's truce and that Tehran helped in producing other ceasefires in areas where it enjoys influence in Iraq.

Ash-Sharq al-Awsat (London): Officials: 'Awakening' could reach 100,000 in Iraq – U.S. military officials in Iraq said the "Awakening councils" of mostly volunteer Sunni tribes have become a fundamental part of the U.S. strategy to restore stability in Iraq. They said members of the awakening forces currently number 80,000 and could reach 100,000. But the Iraqi government fears they could be a prelude to a civil war with Shiite militias.

Al-Hayat al-Jadeeda (West Bank): Senior source speaks of a comprehensive deal between Israel and Hamas – A senior official said final touches are being made on a deal between Israel and Hamas that includes releasing Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in return for 500 Palestinian prisoners and detained members of the Palestinian Legislative Council. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added the deal also includes a halt to firing rockets on Israel from Gaza and for inter-Palestinian dialog to start after three months in order to form a new government and hold new elections.

As-Safir (Lebanon): Israel expands settlements in Jerusalem and West Bank … A real war on Gaza to topple Hamas regime – Israel vowed to continue its "real war" on Gaza by land, sea, and air, revealing that its strategic aim is to topple the Hamas regime in the strip. Israel also dealt a new blow to the Palestinian Authority on the eve of the Palestinian-Israeli final status negotiations by announcing its plan to build 740 new housing units in East Jerusalem.

Okaz (Saudi Arabia): Arrest of 28 deviant elements in the kingdom – The Saudi authorities have arrested 28 criminal elements, 27 of them Saudis, plotting to carry out attacks on vital installations across the kingdom. Officials told Okaz the terror suspects, who did not resist arrest, are linked to terrorist organizations in three other countries, including Afghanistan and Iraq.