U.S. President George W. Bush warned Iran today that it will face unspecified "consequences" if it continues to supply powerful weapons to sectarian militias in Iraq.

Israeli troops have shot and killed three Hamas militants in separate incidents along Israel's border with the Gaza Strip. In the first incident Wednesday, Israeli soldiers killed two Hamas militants near the Karni cargo crossing.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says Israel has promised quick solutions for many of the day-to-day concerns of Palestinians in the occupied areas.

Ehud Olmert on Monday will become the first Israeli prime minister to visit a Palestinian city since the outbreak of fighting seven years ago, meeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank town of Jericho to discuss the creation of a Palestinian state.

Israel is considering plans to build a nuclear power station in its southern Negev desert, Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer said. Israel Army Radio quoted Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Elizer as saying he has the support of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and that the plan would be considered in coming months.

The U.N. Security Council Friday voiced concern about reports of arms smuggling from Syria into Lebanon and also called on the Syrian government to step up security controls along its border with Lebanon. VOA's Suzanne Presto in New York reports the Council also offered support to the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will meet in the West Bank town of Jericho Monday, a media adviser to the Palestinian leader said Saturday.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says Israel is ready to discuss "fundamental issues" with Palestinians who are now governed by leaders accepted by the Jewish state and the West.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with Palestinian leaders Thursday on the final day of her Middle East tour aimed at gaining support for a U.S.-sponsored Middle East peace conference later this year.

The U.S. secretary of state and the Palestinian premier have signed an agreement on an $80-million American aid package for Palestinian security efforts, Arab television channels said Thursday.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held talks with senior Israeli officials Wednesday to try to restore momentum to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. She came to Jerusalem from Saudi Arabia, where she obtained a qualified Saudi endorsement of the Middle East meeting the United States plans to host this autumn.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will begin laying the ground for a Mideast peace conference in a visit to Israel on Wednesday, hoping to push Israelis and Palestinians closer to renewing talks.