Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told his country's Foreign Ministry to summon the Irish ambassador in Israel after the Seanad debated a bill tonight to block the import and sale of goods from Israeli settlements.

Israel and Syria have reached understandings on a future peace deal between the two countries following a series of secret talks between its representatives, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported today.

The home of a West Bank security chief was attacked by an Israeli tank today after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon defended his decision to use war planes against Palestinian targets.