Today on EA (17 December)

Iran: We're keeping track of the latest developments on our LiveBlog. Today, however, is quieter so far than yesterday, when threats and responses are flying between the regime, Hashemi Rafsanjani, and the Green movement. We've assessed the significance in a special analysis.

One of the threats came from the head of Iran's judiciary, Sadegh Larijani, who said he had enough evidence to bring charges against opposition figures. We've got the video of his speech.

We've also got video of an interview with a purported Basiji militiaman, who has fled to Britain, alleging abuse of detainees and rigging of the Presidential vote. And we've posted lawyer and activist Shirin Ebadi's special comment on the "We are All in Hejab" movement sparked by the arrest of Majid Tavakoli.

Israel: Ali Yenidunya picks up on the effective confirmation of Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas as indefinite President of the West Bank. He also asks if the Britain Government's apology over the arrest warrant issued against former Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is a de facto endorsement of the Israeli war in Gaza a year ago.

Palestine Inside Line: Abbas Term Extended Indefinitely

On Wednesday, the Palestine Liberation Organization indefinitely extended Mahmoud Abbas's term as Palestinian Authority President and endorsed his refusal to negotiate with Israel unless it freezes all settlement construction. The extension of the term also applies to parliament members so that the Abbas Government can continue until new elections can be held in "the entire homeland."

Hamas, which is in political control of Gaza, called the decision  "a confiscation of democracy". The organisation's spokesman, Fawzi Barhoum, said, "The Central Council is not elected and illegal, and all of its decisions are illegal and not binding on our people."

The first comment from the Israeli front was "Come to the negotiating table." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesman Mark Regev said: "We have just seen the Palestinian leadership place more and more obstacles in restarting the talks. I call upon the Palestinian side to stop making excuses and return to talks."

So, here is Abbas's welcome party! Now, there is more than the deadlock on the table for him. After using his last card, he is faced with stronger expectations for further steps! However, none of these expectations have changed!

Palestine: Abbas Clings to His Office --- Indefinitely?

The Palestine Liberation Organization Central Council is expected to convene in Ramallah on Tuesday to vote on extending Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's term in office until new elections are held. The council is also scheduled to approve the extension of the term of the Palestinian Legislative Council, whose 132 members were elected for four years in January 2006.

After the Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas's bluffs that he was not to run for next elections, the PLO Central Council --- packed with Abbas loyalists --- has put an end to that game. Now, the next one: will elections occur soon or is Abbas now installed as a President without an end to his term?

Israel-Palestine: Settlers' Conflict with Palestinians Escalating?

Tension in the West Bank between Israeli settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank appears to be rising. On Friday, settlers vandalized and set fire to a mosque in a Palestinian village in the village of Yasuf, south of Nablus. The attackers left messages such as "Price tag - greetings from Effi" and "We will burn the lot of you" before escaping.

Palestinian villagers and Israeli security forces clashed after the incident, and the Palestinian Authority criticised the Israeli Government even though Israeli officials condemned the mosque assault.

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Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said, "This is an extremist act geared toward harming the government's efforts to advance the political process for the sake of Israel's future." Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of the PA, responded, "The torching of the mosque in Yasuf is a despicable crime, and the settlers are behaving with brutality. The settlers' unruly behavior must be stopped."

The U.S. State Department said: "We condemn this attack in the strongest terms and call for the perpetrators to be brought to justice."

Palestine: Mahmoud Abbas's Proposal to Hamas "Elections Can Be Deferred"

Following his bluff that he would resign before January elections, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas has now signalled that he can step back regarding the date of the battle.

On Monday, Abbas said that he is "keen" for a reconciliation with Hamas in order to hold new elections by June 2010.

Now that Abbas had drawn in his horns and covered his bluff, it is now a question of his credibility in the eyes of Palestinians and seriousness of his political will in the eyes of Hamas.