Israel prime minister Ehud Olmert and defense minister Amir Peretz faced new calls to resign today after Israel’s army chief stepped down, succumbing to widespread outrage over the handling of last summer’s inconclusive war in Lebanon.

Israeli defense minister Amir Peretz, leader of Israel’s Labour Party, has chosen Arab MP Raleb Majadele to be a cabinet minister, Israeli media reported today.

Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak announced his much-anticipated return to politics, saying he will run for the leadership of the Labour Party, a first step towards trying for Israel’s highest office again.

The Israeli Cabinet today voted overwhelmingly to bring into the government a hawkish party that opposes ceding territory to the Palestinians and wants to redraw Israel’s borders to exclude many Israeli Arabs.

Israel’s interior minister today extended a travel ban on nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu for another year, officials said.