The UN Security Council’s emergency meeting last night, the Palestinians and Arab nations, backed by a number of council members including Turkey, called for an independent and impartial investigation and the lifting of the blockade on Gaza.

Britain announced the expulsion of an Israeli diplomat today after concluding Tel Aviv forged the UK passports used by the killers of a Hamas commander.

CITIES around the world hosted fresh protests yesterday both in support of and opposed to Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip as the bombing campaign entered its third week.

The British government has criticised Channel 4’s decision to broadcast an Alternative Christmas Message by Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

After a 43-year wait, Paul McCartney performed his first concert in Israel tonight kicking it off with the familiar Beatles’ song “Hello, Goodbye” to the joy of tens of thousands of cheering fans.

Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr have been invited back to Israel - 43 years after the Beatles were banned from the country.

Manchester United have revealed it is ’too early to say’ whether they will accept an invite to play in Tel Aviv as part of Israel’s 60th anniversary celebrations.

Nato wants to increase its military co-operation with Israel, especially in the areas of sharing intelligence and fighting the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the alliance’s secretary general said in an interview published today.

In signs of a potential thaw in relations between historic enemies, Libyan and Israeli officials have held at least two meetings in recent months, Israeli media reported today.

Israeli Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the two had died in the apparent suicide attack on the Israeli-owned Paradise Hotel, but could not confirm other reports putting the death toll as high as eight.

Children were among the injured today when an explosion rocked the lobby of a hotel popular with Israelis in Mombasa, Kenya, Israeli officials said.