Joshua Lapide

A minor law on equal opportunities is set to appoint distinct Christian and Muslim representatives with the aim of making Christians the "allies" of the State of Israel, at the expense of Muslims. This has raised fears among Christian Arabs. A letter is sent to Pope Francis to stop the recruitment of Christian Arabs into the Israeli Defence Forces (from which Arab Muslims are excluded).

A former chief rabbi of Israel, he brought religion into politics, influencing the Shas party, who participated in coalition governments for 30 years. Open to the Palestinians, he cursed Sharon and Ahmadinejad, criticising Pope Benedict XVI for "idolatry".

The raid in response to the launch of several missiles in the area of Haifa. Minor damage but no casualties, both in Lebanon and in Israel. Seat of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine targeted, which denies having fired the missiles. The attack on Israel claimed by a group close to Al Qaeda.

The rockets cause no casualties, but damage a house in the south of Israel. For Palestinians, "Obama is worse than George W. Bush." Disappointment over broken promises of 2009 Cairo speech. Yesterday, Obama reiterated the "unbreakable bond" between the U.S. and Israel.

Arrested in 2010, Ben Zygier allegedly killed himself in a maximum-security cell. He reportedly planned to reveal that Mossad used Australian passports in operations against Iran, Syria and Lebanon. Criticism mounts in Israel for the imbalance between national security and freedom of information.

Washington is open for direct talks if Iran's is serious, US Vice President Joe Biden said. Iranian foreign minister accepts if US intentions are genuine. Talks between Iran and 5+1 group are set to resume on 25 February in Kazakhstan. Israel and Saudi Arabia are in favour of the military option against Iran, criticise US weakness. Getting rid of Assad is the first step towards an attack against Iran.

Exit-polls put Netanyahu and Lieberman alliance at 31 seats, 11 fewer than in 2009. Good results for Naftali Bennett, of the extreme right, with 11 seats. Great victory for centrist Yair Lapid, the new entry of this election, with estimated 19 seats. He will be the great elector of the future government. Right and left are battling it out on the edge of the 60 seat margin of the 120 seat Knesset. No one speaks of peace with the Palestinians, only internal economic problems.

Decided condemnation of EU members. The U.S. blocks a Security Council resolution, but criticizes Netanyahu’s policy for Israel. The new construction projects in Givat Hamatos and Ramat Shlomo separate East Jerusalem from the rest of the territories. A new motorway in Beit Safafa bisects the Palestinian village for the benefit of Israeli settlers in Gush Etzion. Palestine could seek justice at the international court in The Hague.

The United States, Europe and the Israeli left judge the move as "the last nail in the coffin of the two-state solution." Netanyahu indifferent to international criticism. The Israeli government stops the payment of taxes to the Palestinian Authority.

For Hanan Ashrawi, Israel’s decision is "an act of aggression." The new buildings separate the north and south of the West Bank and make it difficult to create a uniform and contiguous Palestinian state. Since the occupation of 1967, there are now at least 100 illegal settlements for 500,000 Israeli settlers.

For Ron Pundak, the UN vote will help the international community and Israel move towards the solution of 'Two peoples, two states'. Israel needs a change in government. Netanyahu and Lieberman take a hard-line. "We need people like Rabin or Olmert".

The UN General Assembly is expected to vote at 6 pm (EDT). At least 60 Israeli peace groups plan to celebrate the event in Tel Aviv. For Netanyahu and Lieberman, the UN vote "lacks all significance." They threaten to cancel the Oslo Accords, stop transferring tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority and ban Palestinian workers from Israel. For Uri Avneri, an independent Palestinian state "would open to the State of Israel the gateway to a life of peace with its neighbors and to integration in the region".