ISRAEL

Winter break means relaxation, but some Harvard students' break involves stimulating field work Israel, Mexico, and New Orleans.

The former US Senator and Northern Ireland envoy George Mitchell, the man chosen by President Obama, has been appointed as Middle East envoy by new US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Human rights researcher; Yasser Abdel Ghafar had the daunting task of interviewing Gaza residents and compiling a list of the dead or wounded Gazans in the Israeli offensive which began in late December and ended Tuesday.

On Wednesday the last of Israel's troops left the Gaza Strip.

On Tuesday Hamas took to the streets of Gaza waving green Islamic flags atop the ruins of Gaza proclaiming victory.

On Tuesday Arab leaders met for the second and final day in its two day summit in Kuwait city with the aim of making a plan to rebuild Gaza.

On Monday uniformed Hamas security teams emerged on Gaza City's streets as leaders of the Islamic militant group vowed to restore order in the shattered Palestinian territory.

On Monday, Arab nations accused Israel of using ammunition containing depleted uranium in its offensive against Gaza.

On Monday the Saudi king said his country will donate $1 billion to help rebuild the Gaza Strip damaged severely by the Israeli offensive.

Israel and Hamas separately declared cease-fires 12 hours apart after strenuous efforts by Egyptian mediators to get an agreement.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmer addressed his nation on Saturday indicating that the leadership's goals had been fully achieved in Gaza against Hamas and that the armed forces would begin a ceasefire at 2:00 a.m. local time.

On Friday before the break of dawn, Israeli aircraft artillery struck about 40 targets all over Gaza, the military said. The attacks continue following yesterdays shelling of the U.N. headquarters in the area by Israeli soldiers.

While a top Israeli envoy delivered his country's stance on a cease-fire agreement in Gaza to Egyptian mediators trying to seal a truce on Thursday, the Iranian president said the fighting showed Israel's continued existence in the region is not feasible.

Israel unleashed its largest shelling of Gaza's crowded neighborhoods on Thursday, hitting a U.N. compound, a hospital and a media building leaving 15 Palestinians killed and still counting.

Israeli troops advanced into the crowded residential areas of Gaza City on Thursday, terrifying thousands of residents and sending them fleeing for their lives, according to the Associated Press.

In protest of Israel's military offensive in Gaza, Venezuela cut ties with the country.

Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda, is reported to have issued a video recording calling on Muslims to wage jihad against Israel over its offensive in Gaza.

On Tuesday Israeli troops advanced into the densely populated Gaza suburbs for the first time leaving residents terrified as they ran for cover. Soldiers are searching alleyways and cellars to find Hamas fighters.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday said he's embarking on a Mideast tour to press for Israel and Hamas to immediately stop fighting and allow humanitarian aid into the devastated Palestinian territory.

Israeli troops advanced into densely populated suburbs of Gaza early Tuesday; just hours after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned Islamic militants of an iron fist unless they agree to Israel's terms to end the fighting.

Madonna has beefed up her security with two ex-Mossad bodyguards after being targeted by Muslim fanatics seeking revenge for Israel's attacks on Gaza.