Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today appealed to Pope Benedict XVI “to make his voice heard” and use his moral authority to condemn the harsh anti-Israel rhetoric voiced by Iran’s hard-line president.

Pope Benedict XVI pledged today to remember the millions of Jews killed in the Holocaust.

Thirteen soldiers were hurt when a Palestinian ploughed his car into their group at an intersection near Jerusalem’s Old City, police and rescue services sa

A GUNMAN infiltrated a Jewish seminary in Jerusalem and opened fire in a library last night, killing at least seven people, officials said.

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas lashed out at the Islamic militants of Hamas, accusing them of trying to build an “empire of darkness” in the Gaza Strip and pledging he would not negotiate with the “murderous terrorists”.

Israel’s outgoing army chief today promised an “orderly transition” for his successor, the army said.

Israeli troops shot and killed a Hamas-linked militant in a West Bank raid this morning, casting a cloud over a day-old truce that ended more than five months of fighting in the Gaza Strip.

Rocket fire from the Gaza Strip at Israel died down today after a ceasefire, giving hope the truce might end five months of bloody destruction and open a path towards peace talks.

Israel pressed forward with a stepped-up offensive in the Gaza Strip today, killing at least four people in two attacks in the coastal area.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan today called on Israel to end its air and sea blockade of Lebanon and appealed for the quick release of two Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah guerrillas.

Israeli helicopters airlifted hundreds of troops into the Hezbollah heartland and warplanes launched wide-ranging airstrikes today as officials raced to enforce a UN ceasefire and end fierce fighting still raging across southern Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert decided today to launch an expanded ground offensive in southern Lebanon, after expressing dissatisfaction over an emerging ceasefire deal, government officials said.

Israel’s army chief was briefly treated at a Tel Aviv hospital for exhaustion and stomach complaints today, Israel TV’s Channel One reported.

A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up near a fast food restaurant in a bustling commercial area of Tel Aviv during the Jewish holiday of Passover today, wounding at least 35 people, including several seriously, police and medics said.

Acting Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Wednesday that he won’t wait years for Hamas to recognise his country, a precondition for peace talks, and that he is prepared to take unilateral steps in the meantime.

Israel’s agriculture minister today said the widespread death of turkeys at two communities in southern Israel could have been caused by the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu.

Israel’s Shimon Peres has met secretly with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Jordan, the prime minister’s office confirmed today.

Hamas’ prime minister-in-waiting kept the Middle East in suspense by refusing to give an assurance that he would honour interim peace deals with Israel.

Israel branded the Palestinian government a “terrorist authority” today and halted the transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars in tax money to it in reaction to Hamas taking control of the Palestinian parliament.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today briefly opened his eyes in response to a recording of his grandson’s voice, family members told doctors, though hospital officials warned there were no signs that the comatose Israeli leader was any closer to regaining consciousness.

Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon remained comatose and in a critical condition today, nine days after his massive stroke.

Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon remained comatose and in a critical condition today, nine days after his stroke.

Israel returned to politics today while Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was improving, but still comatose in a hospital a week after a massive stroke.

Ariel Sharon’s centrist Kadima party would easily win March 28 Israeli elections, despite the increasingly dim chance that he will head the movement after suffering a massive stroke, according to two new opinion polls.

Doctors are continuing to reduce Ariel Sharon’s anaesthetics today, a day after Israel’s prime minister took a small step towards recovery from a massive stroke.

Israel TV says Ariel Sharon has moved one of his hands.

The hospital caring for Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon said early today that there was no change in his condition overnight, and doctors planned to bring him out of a medically induced coma.

ISRAELI Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s chief surgeon said last night that it was too early to assess the extent of brain damage the prime minister may have suffered after a massive stroke and two separate operations.

Israel TV reported today that Ariel Sharon was taken back to the operating theatre following a brain scan, quoting the prime minister’s aides.

Israel TV reports that Ariel Sharon has been returned to the operating theatre following a brain scan today.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a mild stroke tonight and was taken to a Jerusalem’s hospital for treatment, medics there said.

SUICIDE bombers attacked three hotels frequented by Westerners in the Jordanian capital last night, killing at least 53 people and wounding more than 300 in near- simultaneous explosions.

Israel slapped tough travel restrictions on the West Bank after Palestinian gunmen killed three young Israelis and wounded four others in a drive-by shooting at a crowded bus stop near Jewish settlements.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today announced his candidacy for leadership of the ruling Likud Party, issuing a direct challenge to current party head Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Israeli security forces clashed with hundreds of opponents of Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip today, arresting at least 50 people in the roughest confrontation between troops and settlers since the start of the operation.

US President George Bush today warned that “all options are on the table” if Iran refuses to comply with international demands to halt its nuclear programme.

ISRAEL could eventually relinquish more West Bank settlements, beyond the four to be dismantled in coming weeks, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suggested in an interview published yesterday.

Tens of thousands of protesters filled a square in Tel Aviv, vowing that Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza and part of the West Bank would not happen.

A JEWISH extremist opened fire inside a bus yesterday, killing four Israeli Arabs before being slain by an angry crowd, police said.

Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz said today that Israel would not delay its planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip beyond its new mid-August start date, disputing settler hopes that the pull-out can be indefinitely postponed.

Israel’s evacuation of 21 Jewish settlements from the Gaza Strip will begin in mid-August, a month later than planned, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said today, citing a religious mourning period but raising doubts about Israel’s readiness for the evacuation and even its resolve in carrying it out.

Russian President Vladimir Putin faced down Israeli criticism today, saying that Russia’s planned sale of anti-aircraft missiles to Syria and supply of nuclear components to Iran does not threaten Israel’s security.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is embarking on the first ever visit by a Kremlin leader to the Jewish state in an historic bid to cement improving relations after decades of Soviet-era strain.

Flatbed trucks rumbled out of the Gaza Strip today carrying office furniture, computers and uniforms out of an army base, the Israeli military’s first concrete step toward a planned pullout this summer.