Al-Khaleej (United Arab Emirates): Bush Bequeaths Israel Unprecedented Gifts – Israeli officials succeeded in obtaining important American gifts from the U.S. George W. Bush administration before its departure, including linking Israel, for the first time, with two early missile detection systems that would allow Israel free satellite access to monitor the entire region. In addition to the valuable military gifts, Israel received an even more important gift: a "memorandum of understanding" to submit to the United Nations the international recognition of the "Jewish identity of Israel."

Al-Quds (East Jerusalem): U.S. Gives Israel Missile Detecting System But Will Not Hit Iran – The United States agreed to link Israel with two advanced radar systems to detect a possible missile attack from a nuclear Iran, according to Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak at the end of his talks in Washington. But U.S. officials said while they are ready to help Israel defend itself from possible retaliatory missile attacks by Iran, they insist they will not take part in any Israeli attack against Iranian nuclear facilities.

Ash-Sharq al-Awsat (London; Saudi Arabia): Turkey: Justice Party Escapes Ban With Steep Penalty – Turkey's Constitutional Court turned down a prosecution request to ban the ruling Justice and Development Party and to forbid 71 of its leaders from party politics for five years. But the court sent a strong message to the party and imposed a penalty on it by cutting in half the state treasury's funding.

Al-Rayah (Qatar): Iraqi Women's Force to Face Female Suicide Bombers – U.S. military spokesman in Iraq, General David Perkins, announced yesterday the formation of a voluntary Iraqi women's force, called the "Daughters of Iraq," similar to the "Awakening" councils. He said this force would first be launched in Baghdad and Diyala, and is aimed at confronting the growing number of female suicide bombers in the country.

Tishreen (Syria): Shaaban Newly Presidential Adviser, Sweid for Expatriates – Syrian President Bashar Assad issued a decree appointing Minister of Expatriate Affairs Buthaina Shaaban as the presidential adviser for political and media affairs, and named State Minister Joseph Sweid as the Minister for Expatriates. The president received the two separately and issued his instructions, wishing them success in assuming their new responsibilities.