An Israeli archaeologist says he has discovered the tomb of King Herod, one of the legendary rulers of the ancient world. VOA's Jim Teeple reports the discovery follows nearly a half-century of excavation work at one of Herod's palaces, located about 15 kilometers south of Jerusalem.

"Eden - East And West: Art In The 19th Century" is the title of an exhibition that will open at the Israel Museum through June 18, 2007. The subject of one part of the exhibition is the Middle East and the Land of Israel in the 19th Century as a focus of yearning, longing, and curiosity, as well as of a patronizing look at the "different" and the "exotic."

The Israel Museum presents its first solo exhibition of young Israeli artist Michal Helfman. Tel Aviv-native Michal Helfman (b. 1973) has become, since her graduation from the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in 1998, a well-known name on the local art scene. Winner of the prestigious Wolf Foundation Anselm Kiefer Prize in 1998 and the Young Artist Prize in 2001, Helfman's installations have been seen in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Israel and abroad.

Christians around the world are marking Good Friday, the day of Jesus' crucifixion. There was a big turnout for the traditional observance in Jerusalem, as we hear in this VOA report from Robert Berger who was on-scene.

Thousands of Christian worshippers packed into their most revered church on Saturday, lighting row upon row of candles, pouring hot wax onto their faces and dancing in celebration of the Orthodox churches' Easter 'holy fire' ritual.

Thousands of pilgrims retraced Jesus' footsteps as they celebrated Holy Week at the sites where Christians mark his crucifixion, death and resurrection. A decrease in Palestinian-Israeli violence and the overlap of Christian calendars brought a wave of visitors to the Old City.

A top American science and technology university is holding a competition for a design of Jerusalem that would promote peaceful co-existence between all groups, whether Jewish, Christian or Muslim.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is to receive an honorary doctorate of philosophy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem next month during her visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, a university statement said.

Avraham Ofek's early paintings contained portrayals of landscape that were at once lyrical and rugged; later in his career, most depictions of the landscape appeared as undefined and receded into the background.The exhibition will be on view through through June 18, 2007, at Israel Museum.