Israel has condemned an Iranian-sponsored conference on Germany's World War II Holocaust.

United Nations officials say Israel has blocked a U.N. fact-finding mission to the Gaza Strip.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair says he welcomes the renewed focus on resolving the Israel - Palestinian dispute. Mr. Blair, who made the comment on U.S. television Sunday, has long held the view that the Palestinian dispute is critical to resolving the crisis in Iraq, which was also a key finding of the Iraq Study Group report that was issued last week.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh says his Hamas-led government will never recognize Israel and will continue to fight for the liberation of Jerusalem.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has again been ranked among the leading universities in the world, according to the 2006 comprehensive listing of the world's top universities, as published by The Times Higher Education Supplement of London.