US SECRETARY of State Hillary Clinton yesterday urged Israel to make “difficult but necessary choices” for Middle East peace as she warned that Jewish settlements undermine fresh negotiations.

RELATIONS between Israel and the United States have hit a 35-year low, Israel’s ambassador in Washington said, amid simmering tensions between the two allies.

Israel’s prime minister outlined a “triple track” approach to peace with the Palestinians, a strategy that emphasises political, economic and security planks to resolve the decades-long conflict.

The trouble is because Obama has set himself up as no mere politician, his willingness to make a casual promise he cannot keep makes voters doubt all his other promises.

Barack Obama won the support of some of the biggest backers of his former rival Hillary Clinton today as she finally signalled that the end of her bid for the Democratic nomination was near.

The battle against Hillary Clinton won, Barack Obama switched to election mode in his first speech as the Democratic presidential candidate today.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon pledged co-operation today with newly elected Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas “so long as we do not risk our security”. He promised to release more Palestinian prisoners, but demanded that Abbas quickly crack down on militants.

The FBI arrested a Defence Department analyst today on charges that he illegally passed classified information about potential Iranian-backed attacks against US forces in Iraq to employees of a pro-Israel group.

US PRESIDENT George Bush yesterday told a cheering Jewish audience that Israel has "has every right to defend itself from terror" and that Palestinians must renounce terror and their failed leaders.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told his Cabinet today that he is preparing a new plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told his Cabinet today he has called off a trip to the United States.

BEARING a package of goodwill offerings toward the Palestinians, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon yesterday prepared for talks with President George Bush aimed at finding an elusive peace.

SYRIA said yesterday it had chosen to support the Iraqi people against the “illegal” US-British invasion of Iraq, following a new warning against Damascus from US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell today reaffirmed the Bush administration’s determination to oust Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.