Netanyahu slams Abbas for meeting ''terrorists trying to annihilate Israel,'' asserts Hamas would seize any territory Israel evacuates.

US secretary of defense nominee says accurate assessment of his record will demonstrate ''unequivocal, total support for Israel.''

Bayit Yehudi leader tells 'Post' he believes just like PM brought Barak into the current coalition, he will want Livni in the next.

Livni says vote for any Center-Left party is a vote for all parties in the bloc, reasserts call to form a ''countering force'' to Netanyahu.

According to Israel Democracy Institute Peace Index poll, Yacimovich has highest approval in economic issues, 60% support two-state solution, while 58% oppose splitting Jerusalem.

3 killed, one seriously injured on Jerusalem - Tel Aviv Highway as rain pelts country; usually dry Ayalon river overflows, causing closure; heavy traffic, some rail stations closed; Hadash MK calls for better use of rainwater.

The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt have produced the worst anti-Semitic slurs in 2012, according to the annual list released by the Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC).

Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to extend last week’s completed border crossing with Egypt to Israel’s border with Syria, following a series of security alerts in recent months in an apparent spillover from the ongoing conflict in the beleaguered country.

The site of former Nazi death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau recorded its highest number of visitors in its 65-year history last year, attracting 1.43 million global visitors.

US President Barack Obama is to nominate controversial Chuck Hagel as his next Defence Secretary, administration sources said.