Pompeo visits Israel on eve of new govt amid West Bank violence US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Israel on Wednesday, a day before its new government was to be sworn in, to discuss plans to annex much of the occupied West Bank into the Jewish state.

Israel's Netanyahu, Gantz miss midnight deadline to form unity govt Israel's parliament speaker Benny Gantz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu missed a deadline to form a unity government on Thursday, prolonging the country's unprecedented political crisis.

Indicted Netanyahu claims victory in Israel vote Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed victory on Tuesday in Israel's general election, with exit polls putting the indicted premier in a strong position to form the next government.

Lacking support, Palestinians pull request for UN vote against Trump plan The Palestinians have abandoned their request for a vote at the UN Security Council on Tuesday that they hoped would reject the peace plan of President Donald Trump, whose administration has put heavy pressure on critics, diplomats said.

EU top diplomat holds talks in Iran to de-escalate tensions Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell on Monday held talks in the Iranian capital during a mission aimed at lowering tensions over the Islamic republic's nuclear programme.

Palestinian president to visit UN in next two weeks Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas will visit the UN within two weeks to address the Security Council on his rejection of the new US Mideast plan, his ambassador to the body said Wednesday.

Trump unveils Mideast plan favorable to Israel, angering Palestinians President Donald Trump released his long delayed Israeli-Palestinian peace plan on Tuesday, promising "a new dawn," but angry Palestinians called it biased and deserving to go in the "dustbin of history."

Trump ignores critics, to unveil Israel-Palestinian peace plan President Donald Trump on Tuesday will ignore accusations – led by the Palestinians themselves – of pro-Israeli bias and unveil what he says is a peace plan capable of solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

US envoy to Afghanistan to testify before lawmakers The US envoy who negotiated with the Taliban will testify behind closed doors to Congress on Thursday, 12 days after President Donald Trump abruptly ended talks with the Afghan militants.

Countries pledge US$110 million for UN Palestinian agency More than US$110 million was raised on Tuesday at a pledging conference to support the UN agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA, which has been struggling since the United States slashed funding.