Jordan’s king says US leadership essential to Mideast peace, asks for quick movement

WASHINGTON — The United States will be the key to peace between Israel and the Palestinians, and both sides are already testing President Barack Obama’s resolve, Jordan’s King Abdullah II said Friday.

Rights groups seek independent Gaza war crimes probe after Israel’s army clears itself

JERUSALEM — Human rights activists, some charging whitewash, demanded an independent war crimes probe after Israel’s military on Wednesday cleared itself of wrongdoing over civilian deaths in the Gaza war.

Israeli official: Iran must be reined in to allow peace efforts with Palestinians to proceed

JERUSALEM — Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said Wednesday that Iran must be reined in if Israel and the Palestinians hope to move along the path to peace.

Spain justice system shying from once-famed role as international prosecutor

MADRID — Spain grabbed world headlines a decade ago by indicting Chile’s former dictator Augusto Pinochet, and has since probed alleged atrocities as far away as Tibet and Rwanda.

Israeli military says internal investigation finds no violations of international law in Gaza

TEL AVIV, Israel — An internal Israeli investigation into the Gaza war released Wednesday found no violations of international law, outraging human rights groups that allege war crimes were committed.

Israeli military says its probe shows it operated according to international law in Gaza

JERUSALEM — The Israeli military says its internal investigations shows it did not violate international law during its recent war in Gaza.

Norwegian lawyers file complaint accusing 10 Israelis of Gaza war crimes under new law

OSLO — A group of Norwegian lawyers filed a complaint Wednesday accusing 10 Israelis of war crimes in Gaza under the country’s new universal jurisdiction law, officials said.

Abbas aide: Palestinian leader to meet with Obama

RAMALLAH, West Bank — An aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says he’ll meet with President Barack Obama in Washington on May 28.

Hamas leader to make unprecedented address to British lawmakers

LONDON — It promises to be one of the British Parliament’s more controversial question and answer sessions.

Obama invites Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian leaders for separate White House talks

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will invite the Israeli, Palestinian and Egyptian leaders to the White House in the coming weeks for separate talks on moving forward with the Middle East peace process, the White House said Tuesday.

4 new pharaonic temples found in Sinai possibly designed to impress foreigners visiting Egypt

CAIRO — Archaeologists exploring an old military road in the Sinai have unearthed four new temples amidst the 3,000-year-old remains of an ancient fortified city that could have been used to impress foreign delegations visiting Egypt, antiquities authorities announced Tuesday.

Obama invites Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian leaders for separate White House talks

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will invite the Israeli, Palestinian and Egyptian leaders to the White House in the coming weeks for separate talks on moving forward with the Middle East peace process, the White House said Tuesday.