Today on EA (25 January 2010)

Iran: Rumours and intrigue continued overnight - the Regime's propaganda machine has been working overtime it seems - including an offensive racial slur against Obama. And Mehdi Karroubi's party issued a clear signal yesterday that the  fight goes on.

We have our morning report on the live weblog, which appeared initially to quote Karroubi's son Hossein endorsing Ahmadinejad as Iran's President ,and then our afternoon snap analysis reconsidering the manoeuvres. But all of this is superseded tonight by an EA special analysis: we think Karroubi has chosen to take on "Mr Khameini" and Ahmadinejad, "the head of the government of the regime".

USA: EA Correspondent John Matlin gives a tongue in cheek analysis, explaining US politics and Obama's downfall to   Marty the Martian.

Israel: Following yet more reports about Hezbullah's long-range missile plans in Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, Israel's Yossi Peled has said another war with the terrorist group was inevitable.

On the Palestinian issue, Israel's Udi Dekel, who headed the negotiating team during the Ehud Olmert Government, has said he doesn't believe there is any possibility of an agreement with the Palestinians on all the issues: "especially on the problematic core issues".

However, on a much more positive note, speaking in Tel Aviv on Sunday morning, after meetings held between Israeli and American representatives on Saturday night, PM Netanyahu said “new and interesting ideas" were raised for the resumption of peace talks with the Palestinians. However, he offered no details.

Today on EA - 5 January 2010

Iran: Less "official" news  from the Regime today, but plenty else has been going on in and about the country. Full details, (including Austin Heap's look at what happens when Ahmadinejad's twitter site gets hacked), together with our updated timeline,  are available here.

EA's John Shahryar has written a thought-provoking analysis on how outside help, however well intentioned, might actually hurt the green movement within Iran.

Last night CNN  looked at what was ahead for Iran in 2010. We have the video, which featured ex-MP Fatemeh Haghighatjoo, who challenged the current system, and Seeyed Mohammad Marandi from Tehran University, who defended it. There is also the transcript of an interview with former Obama Administration official Ray Takeyh.

Israel: Foreign Minister Liberman has declared "Enough" when it comes to any proposed joint security pact over Israel and Palestine

Palestine: EA's Ali Yenidunya reports on the sharper statements coming from the Palestinian Authority against Hamas, following the Egypt-Saudi Arabia-brokered moves towards peace talks between the Authority and Israel.



USA/Middle East: EA's Scott Lucas is attending the CASAR (Center for American Studies and Research) meetings and conference at American University Beirut this week.