Israeli defense minister: new Iranian reactor requires new sanctions, won’t rule out attack

JERUSALEM — Israel’s defense minister won’t rule out a military strike on Iran after the discovery of a secret Iranian nuclear facility.

Analysis: Iranian revelations could put teeth in sanctions and stave off Israeli attack

JERUSALEM — It may seem counterintuitive, but the news that Iran has a second, clandestine uranium enrichment plant, and has just test-fired long-range missiles, could actually put off any plans for a quick Israeli strike.

Israel to free Palestinian prisoners in possible step toward bringing captive soldier home

JERUSALEM — Israel and Hamas militants announced a deal Wednesday that will see Israel release 20 Palestinian women from prison this week in exchange for a videotape proving that a captive Israeli soldier held in the Gaza Strip is still alive.

Palestinian protesters, Israeli police clash at volatile Jerusalem holy site

JERUSALEM — Israeli police used stun grenades Sunday to disperse Palestinian rioters at a volatile Jerusalem site holy to Jews and Muslims, police said.

Israel shuts down for Yom Kippur, amid fears of perceived Iranian nuclear threat

JERUSALEM — The start of the Jewish Day of Atonement at sundown Sunday marked the beginning of a day like no other in Israel, on which even Israelis with no connection to religion tend to put their normal lives on hold.

Israeli envoys head to US in bid to renew peace talks with Palestinians

JERUSALEM — The chief Palestinian negotiator on Tuesday played down expectations for President Barack Obama’s latest attempt to restart peace talks, saying key differences with Israel make it difficult for negotiations to resume.

UK court rejects calls for arresting Israel Defence Minister Barak

JERUSALEM/LONDON - A British court has rejected a petition urging an arrest warrant for Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on the grounds that he committed “war crimes” during the IDF offensive in the Gaza Strip earlier this year.

Israel thinks revelation of Iran’s secret N-site would block its nuclear bomb ambitions

JERUSALEM - Israel thinks that the revelation of a clandestine uranium enrichment site in Iran will trigger the international community to act more forcefully to prevent the Islamic republic from developing nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu tells US action should be taken over new Iranian reactor

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the U.S. to take action over a newly revealed Iranian nuclear facility in a phone conversation with American lawmakers, an official in his office said Saturday.

Israeli Foreign Minister says newly exposed Iranian nuclear facility is for military purposes

JERUSALEM — The newly exposed Iranian nuclear facility proves “without a doubt” the Islamic republic is pursuing nuclear weapons, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Saturday.

Ahmadinejad ‘advises’ Obama to refrain from making ‘false’ statement on secret plant

JERUSALEM - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has ‘advised’ US President Barack Obama not to push Tehran over its secret uranium enrichment plant.

Arab leaders urge Obama to present an outline of Mideast peace deal, to break logjam

UNITED NATIONS — The head of the Arab League and the Egyptian foreign minister on Friday urged President Barack Obama to present his own outline of an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, in order to break the current logjam and spur negotiations.

Confident Olmert hopes to come out clean following “inhuman witch hunt”

JERUSALEM - Ehud Olmert who became the first Israeli prime minister to be prosecuted on criminal charges has said that he is certain to come out clean after an “inhuman witch hunt” that lasted almost three years.

Israel’s former PM Olmert in court in first trial of current or past Israeli leader

JERUSALEM — Ehud Olmert became the first current or past Israeli prime minister ever to go on trial Friday, insisting in a Jerusalem courtroom that he is innocent of corruption allegations that drove him from office.

Netanyahu: Israel seeks peace with Palestinians, world alliance against Iranian nuclear threat

UNITED NATIONS — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he wants to make peace with the Palestinians and hopes the world will rally against the Iranian nuclear threat.

Israel welcomes Russian stand on Iran sanctions as firm international policy against nukes

JERUSALEM — A senior Israeli official welcomes steps by Russia toward endorsing additional sanctions against Iran as a way of stopping its nuclear program.

Palestinian leaders say fundamental disagreements with Israel prevent return to negotiations

NEW YORK — The Palestinians cannot return to peace talks at this time because of “fundamental disagreements” with Israel on what should be on the agenda, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in an interview published Thursday.

Analysis: Obama’s high-stakes attempt to relaunch peace talks risks stoking Mideast strife

JERUSALEM — Rather than getting Israelis and Palestinians back to negotiations, President Barack Obama’s high-stakes attempt to relaunch Mideast peace talks runs the risk of cementing Israeli intransigence and exacerbating Palestinian weakness.

Israel’s Netanyahu welcomes Obama call for Mideast talks without preconditions

JERUSALEM — Israel’s prime minister welcomed Thursday President Barack Obama’s call for the resumption of Mideast peace talks without preconditions despite Palestinian demands for a halt to new Jewish settlements in the West Bank before any new negotiations begin.

Israelis, Palestinians to meet with US officials, not each other

NEW YORK — Israelis and Palestinians said Wednesday that their envoys would meet with U.S. officials but not with each other, cementing the impression that a U.S.-sponsored meeting between their leaders had fallen flat.

Archaeologists uncover ancient bath used by Temple pilgrims in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM — Israeli archaeologists say they have uncovered a ritual bath in Jerusalem that was likely used by Jewish pilgrims coming to the temple two millenia ago.

Israeli FM: Netanyahu talks with Obama, Palestinians a victory for firm stand on settlements

JERUSALEM — Israel’s foreign minister said Wednesday that the summit of Israeli, U.S. and Palestinian leaders proved Israel could successfully fend off international pressure to freeze West Bank settlement construction.

Israeli FM: Netanyahu talks with Obama, Palestinians was victory for firm stand on settlements

JERUSALEM — Israel’s foreign minister says a meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Palestinian and American leaders was a victory for Israel because it took place even though Israel refused demands to freeze settlement in the West Bank.

Gaps loom large as Obama exhorts Israel, Palestinians to make peace

NEW YORK — Despite a blunt admonition from President Barack Obama to stop wasting time, Israeli and Palestinian leaders gave little indication they’re willing to narrow the gaps that have crippled Mideast peacemaking.

Stern-faced Obama tells Israeli, Palestinian leaders they must do more to revive peace talks

NEW YORK — Bristling with impatience, President Barack Obama sternly prodded Israeli and Palestinian leaders to relaunch Mideast peace negotiations Tuesday, grasping a newly personal role in their historic standoff. He won an awkward, stone-faced handshake but no other apparent progress beyond a promise to talk about more talks.

Israeli officials: Netanyahu will boycott speech by Iranian president at UN in New York

JERUSALEM — Israeli officials say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will boycott the upcoming speech by the Iranian president at the U.N. General Assembly and encourage other leaders to do the same.

US has no ‘grand’ expectations from Obama, Netanyahu, Abbas meeting

JERUSALEM - The tripartite meeting between US President Barack Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on the sidelines of the United Nation’s General Assembly in New York on Tuesday (today) is expected to kick off talks between the three stakeholders amid the renewed diplomatic process.

Not enough common ground between Abbas and Netanyahu to relaunch peace talks at summit

NEW YORK — The Israeli and Palestinian leaders shook hands at the start of their first face-to-face meeting Tuesday, hosted by President Barack Obama, but the small gesture was unlikely to translate into a quick resumption of peace talks.

Israel’s military chief says options remain ‘on the table’ for dealing with Iran

JERUSALEM — Israel’s military chief said Monday that all options remain “on the table” in dealing with Iran’s nuclear program, indicating that the Jewish state has not abandoned the possibility of a military strike.

Netanyahu aide says Israeli leader won’t bend on settlements at meeting with Obama, Abbas

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won’t bend on his opposition to a settlement freeze when he meets the American and Palestinian leaders in New York, a top aide said Monday.