EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said ''we have to find a way to prevent the kind of violent rocket attacks that we've seen and also to bring some security and peace to the people of that region,'' in a statement made upon her arrival at a meeting of the 27 EU Foreign Ministers Monday in Brussels.

As government mulls a ground operation, defense minister seeks to increase cabinet's approval of reservists from 30,000; thus far, 16,000 draft orders issued to reserves.

Amid continued rocket fire, ministry expedites deployment of fifth battery to the South by two months.

For 2nd straight day, air raid sirens sound in Tel Aviv; defense officials give no word of rocket being located, but local residents report hearing explosion; Hamas's armed wing claims responsibility for attack.

Dozens of rockets hit South during Hesham Kandil's visit, in which he denounces Israeli strikes in public appearance with Haniyeh; Palestinian source: Visit the beginning of process to explore possibility of truce.

Israel strkes 320 targets in the Strip since launching Operation Pillar of Defense with assassination of Hamas military chief; 16 Palestinians killed; Gazans fire over 270 rockets into South, killing 3.

1 rocket falls near Rishon Lezion, second rocket toward TA ''doesn't hit ground''; rockets kill 3 Israeli civilians in South, wound 3 IDF soldiers; IAF strikes 250 Gaza targets; 275 rockets fired at Israel; 15 Palestinians killed.

A new proposal by liberal and left-leaning legislators in Germany would bar ritual circumcision for boys under the age of 14.

Air strike marks the beginning of a campaign to target Hamas and Islamic Jihad terror organizations in Gaza, IDF spokesman Mordechai says, describes Jabari as a man with ''a lot of blood on his hands.''

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton gave her backing to a new agreement of Syrian opposition parties Tuesday, a day after the broad-based coalition also drew support from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).