Al-Rai (Kuwait): Israel vows to 'settle scores' with Hamas – Israel vowed to strike back at Hamas following a commando operation from the Gaza Strip that killed two Israelis, but it refused to completely cut off the strip from fuel supplies. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told his Kadima Party last night that Hamas was responsible for what was happening in the south, adding: "I promise that the response will be such that Hamas will no longer be able to act in the same way as it does today."

Al-Bayan (United Arab Emirates): UNIFIL sets up barbed wires on Lebanon-Israel border – The U.N. peacekeeping forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) yesterday set up barbed wires along the border with Israel to prevent breaches of the Blue Line and drug smuggling in the area. While UNIFIL commander General Claudio Graziano promised to continue protecting the residents of south Lebanon, the force's spokeswoman said troops erected 150 of 350 meters-long barbed wires along the border with Israel.

As-Safir (Lebanon): Kouchner retracts and welcomes House speaker – French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner yesterday telephoned Lebanese House speaker Nabih Berri to assure him that "France's doors are always open to him any time to visit," and affirmed his support for "continuous support for dialogue among the Lebanese," after contrary comments made by Kouchner against Berri. Meanwhile, Arab League chief Amr Moussa told As-Safir he plans to visit Damascus next week to discuss the resolutions of the Arab summit related to Lebanon.

Al-Thawra (Syria): Official: U.S. uses international tribunal as political pressure tool – In response to statements by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Congress, a [Syrian] Foreign Ministry official said her testimony jumps ahead of the results of the international investigation that is still ongoing. This provides additional evidence that the United States uses the tribunal as a political pressure tool against Syria, he said.

Al-Hayat (London): Bush gave Iran choice between cooperation or confrontation in Iraq – U.S. President George W. Bush announced yesterday a suspension of additional withdrawal from Iraq after July, vowing that his country would protect its interests in Iraq against "Iranian threats." He said Iran has two choices in Iraq: to either live peacefully with its Iraq neighbor by establishing strong economic, cultural and religious relations, and thus receive U.S. support, or "continue to arm, train and finance armed groups," in which case, the U.S. would move to protect its interests and the interests of its Iraqi partners.