Israel’s housing minister yesterday gave final approval for building nearly 1,200 settlement apartments on lands the Palestinians want for their state, three days before US-sponsored talks on the borders of such a state are to begin in Jerusalem.

A BRITISH woman has been found bound with her hands behind her back and bleeding from multiple stab wounds outside the Israeli city of Jerusalem.

The body of a female tourist has been found bound and repeatedly stabbed outside Jerusalem, Israeli police said.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon underwent additional tests and evaluations in a Jerusalem hospital today after suffering a mild stroke.

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