by Howard Linett, Senior Middle East Correspondent for The New Media Journal

May 7, 2012

Good morning from Jerusalem.

Friday thousands of Islamists and Leftists in Jordan held a rally against Jordan’s Peace Treaty with Israel.

Three weeks before Egyptians go to the polls to elect a president, pre-election turmoil continues to worsen. Dozens of demonstrators have been killed in fighting between the members of different political parties. Hundreds of demonstrators have been arrested. For the last several days the military has imposed a curfew in Cairo.

Greece’s Golden Dawn political party, identified as ultra-right wing and called Neo-Nazi, is shocking Europe. The party is predicted to receive 7 percent of the vote in Greece’s elections.

Moscow has warned of its taking a pre-emptive strike against what it labels the U.S.-led European missile defense system. Moscow does not believe the system is for the purpose of defense against Iranian missiles.

Israel has set election for Prime Minister and its Parliament, the Knesset, for September 4th. The election is taking place approximately one year before otherwise required by law. The Knesset’s current legislative session is to be concluded. None of the laws waiting enactment will be subject to government and legislative action until months after the election and formation of the new government.