In Brief

Israeli PM faces calls to resign Israeli opposition politicians have called on PM Ehud Olmert and his defence minister to resign.

This follows the resignation of the head of Israel’s armed forces, Lieutenant General Dan Halutz, over the handling of the conflict in Lebanon. Olmert and Amir Peretz should share the blame for failures in the conflict with the militant Hezbollah movement in 2006, the opposition figures said.General Halutz said he was taking responsibility for the mistakes made.The conflict ended without Israel achieving its main aim, the release of two soldiers captured by Hezbollah in a cross border raid into Israel.The Lebanese militant group described General Halutz’s resignation as proof of its victory over Israel.Inside Israel, the focus of blame is shifting from the military towards the government.* Rice sees Mideast quartet meeting soon BERLIN – US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday the quartet of Middle East peace negotiators would probably meet in Washington on February 2.”I have issued an invitation to the members of the quartet for a meeting in Washington that will take place in the week beginning January 29, and is likely to take place on February 2,” she said before she met German Chancellor Angela Merkel.The quartet comprises the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia.A number of countries want to see the group play a bigger role in peace efforts.Nampa-Reuters-BBCOlmert and Amir Peretz should share the blame for failures in the conflict with the militant Hezbollah movement in 2006, the opposition figures said.General Halutz said he was taking responsibility for the mistakes made.The conflict ended without Israel achieving its main aim, the release of two soldiers captured by Hezbollah in a cross border raid into Israel.The Lebanese militant group described General Halutz’s resignation as proof of its victory over Israel.Inside Israel, the focus of blame is shifting from the military towards the government.* Rice sees Mideast quartet meeting soon BERLIN – US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday the quartet of Middle East peace negotiators would probably meet in Washington on February 2.”I have issued an invitation to the members of the quartet for a meeting in Washington that will take place in the week beginning January 29, and is likely to take place on February 2,” she said before she met German Chancellor Angela Merkel.The quartet comprises the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia.A number of countries want to see the group play a bigger role in peace efforts.Nampa-Reuters-BBC