Israeli warplanes overflow Syrian President’s palace in northern Syria, sparking Damascus retaliation. By Jennie Matthew – JERUSALEM Israel was on high alert Thursday for possible retaliation after it threatened to kill Hamas militants harboured by the Damascus regime and flew warplanes over Syria’s presidential palace.

Body of Jewish settler abducted by gunmen found in West Bank as Israel turns up heat on Hamas. By Nasser Abu Bakr – RAMALLAH, West Bank Israel arrested Hamas ministers and stepped up its Gaza offensive Thursday, ratcheting up pressure on the Palestinians over the kidnapping of a soldier that …

CAIRO — Arabs across the Mideast on Wednesday criticised an Israeli ground offensive into Gaza aimed at pressuring Palestinian fighters to release a captured soldier, even as Arab leaders continued to work behind-the-scenes to get the soldier freed.