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Obama: Direct negotiations with Iran within months. Moscow to complete Iranian reactor in three months DEBKAfile Special Report February 10, 2009, 12:48 PM (GMT+02:00) Near-finished nuclear reactor at Bushehr, S. Iran "In the coming months, we will be looking for openings… to start sitting across the table face to face" with Iran, said US president Barack Obama at a press conference early Tuesday, Feb. 10. He pledged all US tools in dealing with Iran - and that "includes diplomacy." Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad welcomed talks based on mutual respect but said changes in Washington must be "fundamental not just tactical." Moscow pledged to complete Iran's Bushehr reactor on schedule - in first half of this year. Israeli frontunner Binyamin Netanyahu promises if elected has pledged that Iran will not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon. DEBKAfile examines the latest moves over Iran's controversial nuclear program in its Special Report below.  Full article

Israel votes for its 18th parliament Tuesday February 10, 2009, 8:27 AM (GMT+02:00) Thirty-three party lists fought up until the last minute to win 5,278,985 eligible votes on February 10, 2009 amid fears of a low turnout. Rainy and windy weather conditions hit the 9,263 balloting stations up and down the country after weeks of drought. Four figures dominated the campaign: According to secret eleventh-hour opinion polls, Binyamin Netanyahu and his opposition Likud leads with 28 minus (out of 120 Knesset seats); foreign minister Tzipi Livni at the head of Kadima expects 23 to 24; defense minister Ehud Barak and his Labor 13-14, overtaken by Avigdor Lieberman and his right-wing Israel Beitenu with 19. Exit polls will be broadcast at 10:00 pm.