Prosecutors expressed confidence that they had incriminating evidence against Ehud Olmert during the first day of testimony in the trial of the former prime minister in the Jerusalem District Court on Thursday.

While Arab Israeli MKs called for a probe into the killing of senior Hamas operative Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, MK Carmel Shama (Likud) said that "killing a terrorist like Mabhouh was a kind of mitzvah."

The son of a leading Hamas figure, who famously converted to Christianity, served for over a decade as the Shin Bet security service's most valuable source in the militant organization's leadership, Haaretz has learned.

Thousands attended the funeral of long-serving Knesset member Rabbi Menachem Porush.

Israel halted the launch of a Kassam rocket in the West Bank with information provided by the Palestinian Security Forces.

Benjamin Netanyahu, a year into your term, observers seem to agree: You're an impressive survivor, but just a survivor. The government you lead has no vision, no destination. It's not going anywhere.

Confrontations between Palestinians and Israeli forces were reported in Hebron.

Security forces evacuated right-wing activists from a synagogue in Jericho.

Two West Bank biblical sites will be added to a list of national heritage sites that Israel will rehabilitate and promote.

The detainees studies centre, Ahrar, said that an Islamic Jihad supporter marked his 33rd year in Israeli jails on Friday.