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

Israelis would vote Ehud Olmert out of office if elections were held now, polls indicated today, as the defiant prime minister defended his performance in the Lebanon war and lashed out at his critics.

Israel’s military chief has admitted for the first time that there were shortcomings in the military’s performance during the recent Lebanon war, it was reported today.

ISRAELI Defence Minister Amir Peretz yesterday created a committee to investigate Israel’s conduct during the 34-day fight against Hezbollah following growing criticism of ministers and generals.

Israel widened its ground war in Lebanon on Saturday, almost tripling the number of troops there as it tried to seize more territory and inflict as much damage as possible on Hezbollah guerrillas before a UN ceasefire deal takes effect.

The Israeli military’s inquiry on the bombing of a building in the south Lebanese village of Qana that killed at least 28 civilians admits a mistake, but charges that Hezbollah guerrillas used civilians as shields for their rocket attacks, according to a statement released early today.

Israel launched its deepest ground strike into Lebanon today, claiming it had killed 10 Hezbollah guerrillas and captured five in the northeastern city of Baalbek, while nearby air strikes killed at least 15 civilians.

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

France mobilised to send urgent aid to Lebanon, the Red Cross managed to get relief supplies to the south, and Israel agreed to allow a safe corridor for ensuring that food and medicine reaches those in need.

Israel intends to destroy Hezbollah’s tunnels, hideouts, weapons stashes and other assets during its expected land incursions into southern Lebanon.

Signalling a reverse in the government’s position today, Israel’s military chief of staff did not rule out negotiations to secure the release of a soldier held by Palestinian militants.

Israel’s compulsory military service is to be gradually reduced to two years from the current three years in a move that would save millions of pounds a year, defence minister Shaul Mofaz said today.

Israel’s army chief has ruled out a pre-emptive attack against Iranian nuclear sites, despite their apparent effort to build nuclear weapons, an Israeli newspaper reported today.

Israel’s armed forces chief today said Iran was playing a dangerous game with its continuing march toward nuclear development, but it was not Israel’s place to take action.

With blazing speed, Israeli bulldozers are demolishing the 2,800 homes left behind after Israel cleared the Gaza Strip of its Jewish residents in less than a week.

Mahmoud Abbas today urged Palestinians to maintain calm during Israel’s upcoming withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and promised to hold long-overdue legislative elections in January.

Thousands of police fanned out across northern Israel and Jerusalem today to prevent possible rioting as a grieving and angry Arab community prepared to bury four Israeli Arabs gunned down by a Jewish soldier opposed to Israel’s impending pullout from the Gaza Strip.

ISRAEL’S top security chiefs are looking to tighten the already shortened Gaza Strip evacuation timetable, defence and government officials said yesterday.

Israel’s top security chiefs are looking to tighten the already shortened Gaza Strip evacuation timetable, defence and government officials said today.

PRIME MINISTER Ariel Sharon issued his sternest warning yet to Palestinian militants yesterday, promising no restraint in stopping an upsurge in violence that has left a Mideast truce in tatters ahead of Israel’s Gaza Strip pullout.

Israel’s military chief today said that Palestinian attacks on Israeli troops trying to evacuate Gaza Strip settlements this summer could cause a temporary delay in the pullout, but would not force it to be canceled.

A day of violence in which six people were killed threatened a four-month truce, but Israeli and Palestinian officials were making efforts to hold the line.

A group of air force pilots are refusing to carry out air strikes in Palestinian territories, the first such protest from pilots, who are revered in Israel.

The United States will launch a massive attack designed to kill Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein by early December, a new report said.