General Hassan Turkmany was speaking at a naval force graduation ceremony. The speech, his third in a week, echoed similar charges made by Syrian officials since Israel attacked what it said was a Palestinian base deep in Syria on October 5.

'Day after day the world is further convinced that Israel doesn't want peace. Syria is capable of creating a balance that would deter Israel and put an end to its aggressive adventures,' the official Syrian Arab News Agency quoted Turkmany as saying.

'Syria has restrained itself and lodged a complaint with the UN Security Council to give way for international legality, but not this was not out of inability to respond,' he said.

The Israeli air attack on a camp Syria says was long-abandoned came a day after a suicide bombing by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group killed 20 people in Haifa, Israel.

'What encouraged Israel to be stubborn and continue its aggressive course is the unlimited financial, military and political support offered by the U.S. President George Bush and his administration's rightist staff,' Turkmany said.

Turkmany also reiterated his earlier urging for the armed forces to be ready to confront any new attacks by the Jewish state…"

Iran also poses a threat and, if unchecked, its nuclear program will reach the 'point of no return' by this summer, said Ze'evi, speaking on the same day that Iran agreed to temporarily suspend its uranium enrichment program and allow spot checks of its nuclear program. Ze'evi was quoted as telling the committee that within 10 months Iran will no longer need outside help to produce nuclear weapons and as such, no diplomatic initiative would be able to stop its nuclear program.

Committee chairman Yuval Steinitz said the committee has received a number of reports on Iran, but that this is the first time it has heard a report on Saudi Arabia.

The information, he said, is consistent with details he heard last month in Washington from experts speaking before the Senate, who said that Saudi Arabia has long-range missiles that are useful to them only if armed with nuclear warheads.

'There is an assumption that Saudi Arabia financed the Pakistan nuclear plant and that there is a tacit understanding between the two countries that, if Iran becomes nuclear, Saudi Arabia will be provided with some nuclear warheads from Pakistan,' said Steinitz.

'I don't know how accurate this is. I do not know if it is really going to happen. We do not know for sure that there is such an attempt. Even if there are such intentions, then I am quite confident it would be prevented by the US.'

The precedent of one country giving nuclear bombs to another country in the region would be very dangerous, he added.

Steinitz said he was relieved to hear that Iran is taking steps to work with the international community with respect to its nuclear program. 'This is a very positive development,' he added.

In an attempt to allay international fears, the secretary of Iran's powerful Supreme National Security Council, Hasan Rowhani said Iran will sign an additional protocol to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty that would allow inspectors to enter any site they deem fit without notice…"

Last week US ambassador Nicolas Burns demanded the extraordinary meeting to discuss Europe’s evolving defense policy which he dubbed the gravest threat to the transatlantic partnership. The call had been prompted by an apparent shift in the UK’s position towards supporting the creation of a new EU military headquarters, proposed by Belgium, France and Germany.

According to NATO officials the meeting, which lasted over two hours, was a success and the US delegation left reassured. NATO spokesman, Jamie Shea told the EUobserver that 'the EU made it clear to the United States that its own plans would compliment NATO'. Mr. Shea added: 'That message came over ... the atmosphere is now better'. Acutely aware of the damaging headlines that have emerged over the last week, Mr. Shea sought to play down talk of a rift or communications breakdown.

'Things have moved very quickly in the EU, they are in a rapid growth phase at the moment ... the EU is very busy so it is inevitable that this kind of misunderstanding might occur', he said. However a warning was sent to the EU. Mr. Shea pointed out that a standing agreement between the EU and NATO means the Union has to keep the alliance informed. 'Questions could be asked, reassurance should be given', he said.

It is a message that appears to have been taken on board, with European diplomats emphasizing co-participation, transparency and openness…"

The craft carrying Lt. Col. Yang Liwei, a 38-year old former fighter pilot, landed by parachute on the grasslands of Inner Mongolia in northern China at dawn Thursday, the official Xinhua News Agency said. Minutes later, he emerged from the capsule without help and waved at rescuers, though footage showed him appearing a bit dazed. Shenzhou 5 landed at 6:23 a.m., the government said.

‘The mission was a success,’ said Li Jinai, the head of China's manned space program. He called Yang a ‘space hero.’