African migrants chosen for deportation from Israel are nervously awaiting a knock on the door or a tap on the shoulder to begin their departure.

Israel has begun rounding up African migrants in the first stage of an "emergency plan" to deport thousands deemed a threat to the Jewish character.

Activists accuse Syrian troops of shelling two cities in an effort to weaken forces fighting Bashar al-Assad’s government before a ceasefire deadline.

A major forest fire killed at least 40 people in northern Israel on Thursday, including prison guard cadets trapped in a bus.

Israel and the Palestinians accepted on Friday an invitation by the United States and other powers to restart direct talks on September 2.

Israel and the Palestinians were waiting on Friday to study the wording of a US statement inviting them to start direct talks on a peace treaty.

Israel rejects charges that its January invasion of the Gaza Strip inflicted civilian death and destruction on an unjustifiable scale.