Iran will complete all nuclear research and development by March

Iran will complete all nuclear research and development by March, so stated, Ali Largiani, the secretary of Iran's national security council. The statement was made as the five regular members of the security council and Germany meet to discuss the possibility of imposing sanctions on Iran due to its nuclear program.
Iran claims that it intends to use its nuclear program for civilian causes only, yet it is feared that a nuclear weapon in the hands of Iran will make the world a much riskier place, because of the Iranian's regime unstable nature and ideaology.
Iran's support of terrorism in Lebanon and the Palestinian Territories and its threats to destory Israel lend credence to the fear of its antagonists.
Iran has so far rejected all international requests to halt its nuclear program.

Maps with the Green Line in Israeli schools

The decision of Minister of Education, Yuli Tamir, of the Labor party, has sent shock waves throughout the Israeli political system. Tamir directed that Israeli school book maps shall include the Green Line.

The Green Line was the border line of Israel up to the Six Days War in 1967 when Israel took over the Golan Heights, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Israeli schoo books containe maps without any distinction between Israeli territory in 1948 and that taken in 1967.

Tamir claims that to erase the Green Line from maps is to change history. History should be taught as it was. That is the only way to educate Israeli children and to encourage them to debate the issue of the territories Israel conquered in 1967.

Right wing politicians denounced the decision and stated that Tamir is injecting her political views into the Israeli educational system. Certain attacks have been particulary vituperative.

It is an issue that promises to remain "hot" in the coming days and weeks.