AFP - Argentina said Monday it recognized a "free and independent" Palestinian state, days after Brazil drew sharp criticism from Israel and US lawmakers for taking the same step.

AFP - A young Palestinian blogger jailed for posting "blasphemous" remarks online is being kept in jail over fears he will be killed by his family, security sources said on Monday.

Reuters - Israel has no reason to extend its moratorium on Jewish settlement building in the West Bank but is ready for talks with the Palestinians, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Monday.

AFP - Israel must keep on building settlements in the occupied West Bank to defend itself against the forces of Islam out to destroy the Jewish state, visiting ultra-rightwing Dutch MP Geert Wilders said.

AFP - Arab states believe US efforts to save direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks should be given more time to succeed, Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said here Monday.