Israel has closed its embassies around the world as about 1 200 foreign ministry employees declare a strike over low salaries.

Israel has lambasted SA for requiring Israeli goods made by West Bank settlers to be labelled as originating from occupied Palestinian territory.

Israeli troops fired at Palestinian demonstrators in Syria who rushed to the border on Sunday in what Israel called a challenge to its sovereignty.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed senior ministers a US plan for resuming peace talks with Palestinians, a source said on Saturday.

The US believes Israel and the Palestinians are making progress towards resolving a dispute over settlement building that threatens peace talks.