OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel shut down charities with ties to Hamas across the West Bank and fired artillery into the Gaza Strip for the first time, as it widened a five-day offensive against Palestinian fighters, despite their pledges to stop firing rockets at Israel. A senior army officer said …

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (AFP) — Israel reiterated threats Wednesday to hamper January’s Palestinian election if the Islamist movement Hamas stands despite being urged by Washington to cooperate in organising the polls. “We will not allow Hamas to take part in the elections” on January 25, said Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom in …

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq’s former interim defence minister said corruption allegations levelled against him are driven by Iran, which he had in the past accused of meddling in Iraq’s affairs. But an Iraqi official, in seeking to strip the former minister of his parliamentary immunity, said Wednesday dossiers supporting the …