Israel

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (BosNewsLife)-- Israel was plunged into mourning Saturday, January 11,  after confirmation that its former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had died at age 85. Comatose for 8 years after a stroke, the former soldier turned statesman finally lost his last battle for life after his health had taken a downturn, his son Gilad announced.

By George Whitten, BosNewsLife Senior Middle East Correspondent reporting from Israel JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (BosNewsLife)-- Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called on Muslims around the world to mobilize their troops alongside Iran against Israel and the United States to prepare for the coming of the "Mahdi" seen as "the savior of Islam".

By George Whitten, BosNewsLife Chief Middle East Correspondent reporting from Israel JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (BosNewsLife)-- Israeli forces appeared to withdraw from the Gaza Strip Tuesday, January 20, in time for the inauguration of Barack Obama as the United States' 44th president, but militant group Hamas said it would rearm, suggesting its conflict with Israel was not over.

By George Whitten, BosNewsLife Senior Middle East Correspondent reporting from Israel and BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (BosNewsLife)-- A tense ceasefire began late Wednesday between the ruling militant Hamas group in the Gaza Strip and Israel following weeklong fighting, but Christians in Israel urged prayers amid fears of an all-out war.

By George Whitten, BosNewsLife Jerusalem Bureau Chief JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (BosNewsLife) -- The son of a founder of the Palestinian Islamic group Hamas, who became a Christian and spied for Israel, will be granted political asylum in the United States as the Department of Homeland Security dropped its objections, BosNewsLife established Thursday, July 1.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (BosNewsLife)-- Israel has charged a Jewish-American extremist with shooting to death two Palestinians and trying to kill others, including a Messianic Jewish family, who received a booby-trapped package in March 2008 that left their son critically injured.

By BosNewsLife Middle East and African Services CAIRO/JERUSALEM (BosNewsLife)-- There was international concern Friday, November 26, over the situation of 80 Eritrean refugees who rights activists said have been held hostage by people smugglers on the Egypt-Israel border for about a month.

By George Whitten, BosNewsLife Chief Middle East Correspondent reporting from Israel JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (BosNewsLife)-- A fragile ceasefire between Israel and the militant group Hamas was threatened Tuesday, January 27, when a bomb exploded on the Israeli side of the Gaza border killing an Israeli soldier and injuring three others, the Israeli army said.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (BosNewsLife)-- Iran delayed the execution of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani which was due Tuesday, February 28, apparently amid international pressure, an online Israeli news network reported.  

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent, BosNewsLife TEHRAN/JERUSALEM (BosNewsLife)-- Iran on Monday “test” fired long range Shabab-3 and Sajjil rockets that could potentially reach Israel and U.S. military bases in the Gulf region, Iranian media said.