KFAR ZABAD, Lebanon — It was born in the Arabian desert more than 1,500 years ago and is now being revived in the battle-scarred greenery of Lebanon. Already its success is heralding a regional renaissance. The pre-Islamic system of environmental protection known as “hima” — Arabic for protected area — …

JIT, West Bank — Fearful that radical Jewish settlers will swoop and steal their olives, Palestinians are turning to an unlikely source of protection to secure this year’s desperately needed harvest. Several hundred Israelis, from left-wing activists to moderate Jewish settlers, regularly volunteer to help Palestinians pick olives, believing that …

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, responding to the recent military moves by the US in the region, said that Americans have brought just two worn out and shabby battleships to the Persian Gulf.