Israeli and Palestinian officials are reporting progress on a possible prisoner swap. As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, a captured Israeli soldier and top Palestinian militants are at the heart of the emerging deal.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel met Israeli and Palestinian leaders Sunday in the latest international bid to revive the Middle East peace process. Germany and Israel enjoy warm ties, but as Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, Ms. Merkel kept the Palestinian Authority at arms length.

European Union foreign ministers tackled the topic of Mideast peace Saturday on the second and final day of an informal meeting in Bremen, Germany. The delegates discussed how to deal with the new Palestinian unity government, and ways to support a 2002 Arab peace initiative revived last week at an Arab League summit.

Israel is cautiously welcoming a peace initiative presented at this week's Arab Summit in Saudi Arabia. But Israel has reservations, and Palestinian leaders are warning against any changes in the plan. Robert Berger reports from the VOA bureau in Jerusalem.

Arab leaders are wrapping up a two-day summit in Riyadh today. However, there is little prospect any breakthroughs in the deadlocked Israeli-Arab peace process will come from it.