Avi Issacharoff

Sources tell Haaretz the attack had been approved by the Hamas politburo chief, Khaled Meshal, based in Damascus.

Tensions are rising in various parts of the Middle East, and recent incidents are feeding off each other.

Jerusalem: UN findings support Israeli version of events; Jordan rejects suggestions of Lebanese aggression; hundreds attend funeral of IDF officer.

Israel has intelligence confirming that Hamas was responsible for the rocket attack on Eilat this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced publicly on Wednesday.

Concern over possible missile strikes or major terror attacks has spurred the Jordanians to closer security collaboration with Israel.

Hamas, by giving more rope to World Jihad groups in Gaza, is sending a message to Israel, the PA and especially the Arab states, not to ignore it.

Chief PA negotiator says peace proposal is more generous to Israel than the demands presented by Mahmoud Abbas to former prime minister Ehud Olmert.

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Gabriela Shalev, sent a letter of protest to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon over the rocket attack.

Palestinian witnesses report one dead and 13 injured in heaviest strike on Hamas-linked targets since Operation Cast Lead, as Israel retaliates for rocket attack on Ashkelon.

Arab League gives green light, but leaves ultimate decision up to Palestinian president; U.S. welcomes approval as encouraging.

Saudi, Syrian and Lebanese leaders to hold crisis summit in Beirut in a bid to maintain Lebanese stability if international court issues indictments.

Radical change in level of security coordination between Israel and the PA in the West Bank has allowed the government to make more confidence-building gestures to the Palestinians.

PA had asked the Arab League's monitoring committee on the Arab peace initiative to reject direct talks and support the continuation of proximity talks.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has conditioned upgrading to direct negotiations with Israel on a continued halt on West Bank construction.

Emily Henochowicz was wounded by a tear gas canister in a demonstration following Israel's Gaza flotilla raid.

U.S. President Barack Obama may not help set up a Palestinian state if PA President Mahmoud Abbas does not enter direct negotiations with Israel soon, according to an internal Palestinian document.

Palestinian mission in Washington granted title of 'general delegation' and given permission to hang PLO flag at entrance.

The son of assassinated Lebanon PM Rafik Hariri may be playing down Hezbollah's alleged role in his father's death in order avoid another civil war.

IDF supports move in light of what it considers as the impressive improvement in security cooperation between Israel and the PA.

Was a deal formulated under which the U.S. would play ball on Iran while Israel would make concessions in favor of the Palestinians?

If Hezbollah is found to be responsible for 2005 assassination of former Lebanon PM Rafik Hariri, Lebanon will face a grave political crisis.

PM meets with Egyptian president; Egyptian officials tell Haaretz there is anger in Cairo over Lieberman's recent call to sever ties with Gaza.

Gaza's Hamas rulers claim that women smoking water pipes (nargilas) violates tradition and leads to divorce.