Israeli PM, top ministers convene for decisive meeting on prisoner swap

Israel holds crucial meeting on prisoner swap

China calls for efforts to resume stalled talks on North Korea’s nuclear program

Reports: Hunger-striking Western Sahara activist flown out of Spain

Israel’s Olmert reportedly offered Palestinians land near Gaza, West bank for settlement blocs

Israel’s Olmert reportedly offered land swap

Report: Israel’s Olmert offered Palestinians land near Gaza, West bank for settlement blocs

Report: Israel’s Olmert offered land swap

JERUSALEM — Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert offered to swap Israeli territory near the Gaza Strip and West Bank in exchange for settlement blocs in the West Bank, the Haaretz newspaper reported Thursday, in the most detailed account of the former Israeli leader’s proposed peace offer to the Palestinians.

Haaretz nespaper says Olmert offered ceding land near Gaza, West Bank for settler blocs

paper: Olmert offered land swap for settlements

Newspaper: Olmert offered to expand Gaza in exchange for settlement blocs

Newspaper: Olmert proposed expanding Gaza

JERUSALEM — The Haaretz daily says former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert proposed giving the Palestinians 100 square kilometers (38 sq. miles) of Israeli territory near the Gaza Strip in exchange for West Bank settlement blocs.

Abbas to Israel: if settlements frozen for 6 months, peace deal doable in that time

Abbas says peace deal possible in 6 months

Al-Qaida’s deputy leader lashes out at Obama; vows group will remember 9/11 mastermind

Israel to ease restrictions on Palestinian Christians during holiday season

Israel eases restrictions on Palestinians for Xmas

Hamas anniversary rally draws huge crowd, showing group still has strong support after war

Hamas rally shows it still has strong Gaza support

Al-Qaida’s deputy leader lashes out at Obama; urges Arabs, Palestinians to holy war

Hamas celebrates anniversary of 1987 founding with rallies amid Gaza’s poverty and war damage

Hamas celebrates anniversary in war-damaged Gaza

A year after Gaza war, long neglected southern Israel enjoying a renaissance

With Gaza cease-fire, south Israel blossoms

FBI takes US terror probe to India and Pakistan as new details emerge

FBI takes US terror probe to India and Pakistan

IRS auctions off disputed SD Indian tribe’s land; tribe sues, saying land is protected by law

IRS auctions off disputed SD Indian tribe’s land

Taiwanese social drama wins top honors at Chinese Oscars

Taiwan honors local film at Chinese Oscars

Palestinians: Expected Israeli offer for settlement freeze is not enough

Palestinians cool to expected Israeli offer

Hamas officials: prisoner swap deal snagging on names of top militants to be released

Hamas: Prisoner swap snagged on top militants

Obama hails US-India ties amid talks with PM Singh, commits to go to India next year

Netanyahu: No prisoner swap deal yet and there might not be one

Netanyahu: Prisoner swap not a done deal

JERUSALEM — Israel’s prime minister tried on Tuesday to temper expectations that a deal to free an Israeli soldier held by Hamas militants was imminent.

Israel, Hamas move closer to deal on swapping Palestinian prisoners for captive soldier

Israel, Hamas near swap of prisoners for soldier

Israel and Hamas move closer to deal on swapping Palestinian prisoners for captive soldier

Israel, Hamas near swap of prisoners for soldier

Brazil’s leader urges freeze on Israeli settlements in east Jerusalem

Brazil leader urges freeze on Israeli settlements

Israel aircraft strike southern Gaza Strip in response to rocket attacks

Israeli aircraft hit Gaza after rocket attacks

Israel passes counter-demands to Hamas for prisoner swap, details could scuttle deal

Iran says border dispute with Iraq was misunderstanding, urges quick resolution

Radio: Israel has relayed its response on swapping Palestinian prisoners for captured soldier

Israeli Cabinet ministers debate whether to trade 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for lone soldier

Israeli PM, top ministers hold intense discussions ahead of possible prisoner trade