Hamas officials reported that Israel bombed the Islamic University in the Gaza Strip late on Sunday.

Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip continued on December 28 with a reported 271 people killed since the offensive began a day earlier. Israel says the attacks are a response to rocket and mortar fire by Gaza militants, which increased after a six-month cease-fire ended recently.

With today's news of IDF air strikes abruptly ending the lives of some 140+ Gazans, I can't help but feel an abject sense of horror at the fact that most Americans will probably find some way to blame the Palestinians for bringing this on themselves.

Arab foreign ministers will hold an emergency meeting in Cairo on Sunday or Monday to take a common position on Israeli raids which killed over 170 people in Gaza Strip, the Arab League chief said on Saturday. At the same time Libya, the only Arab country on the U.N. Security Council, will seek an urgent meeting of the council, Secretary-General Amr Moussa was quoted as saying by Reuters.

The airforce has launched a wide air attack on Hamas installations in the Gaza Strip. Both F-16 fighter planes and helicopters were involved.

On Thursday Prime Minister Olmert issued a last minute appeal to Palestinians in Gaza to reject their Hamas rulers and stop rocket fire at Israel. He warned them Israel would not hesitate to use force.

Defense Minister and Labor Party leader of Israel Ehud Barak said Wednesday that it is possible that several large neighborhoods in east Jerusalem will become, in the context of a peace agreement, part of the capital of a future Palestinian state.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has sparked an outcry of protest from Israeli and American officials for his decision to meet with Hamas leaders during a week-long visit to the Middle East. Although he received a cold welcoming in Israel in recent days, he was warmly received by Egyptian officials and a large supportive audience during a speech at the American University in Cairo late Thursday.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is getting a cold reception in Israel. Mr. Carter is perceived as having a strong anti-Israel bias.

Jailed senior Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti says Palestinians are ready for peace with Israel, and he urges both sides to reach a cease-fire agreement as soon as possible.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says he cannot speak about progress in the peace process with Israel until the two sides start putting a draft accord on paper.

Under U.S. pressure, Israel has begun easing travel restrictions for Palestinians in the West Bank. The move has aroused Israeli anxiety and Palestinian skepticism.