LI-ON, Israel: Many Israelis feel that the walls – and history – are closing in on their 60-year-old state, much as they felt in early June 1967, just before Israel launched the Six-Day War and destroyed the Egyptian, Jordanian and Syrian armies in Sinai, the West Bank and the Golan Heights.
More than 40 years ago, the Egyptians had driven a UN peacekeeping force from the Sinai-Israel border, had closed the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping and air traffic and had deployed the equivalent of seven armored and infantry divisions …

Despite growing pressure on Barack Obama to speak out on the crisis in Gaza, the US president-elect has remained silent on the issue.
Obama, holidaying in Hawaii, has made no public remarks on Israel’s unrelenting military assault on the Palestinian territory, which has left more than 380 people there dead.
The former Illinois senator spoke out after last month’s attacks in Mumbai and has made detailed statements on the US economic crisis.

Israel’s assault on Gaza is continuing. Two young sisters were among those killed overnight, as the death toll passed 360.
Palestinian fighters have also been firing rockets into southern Israel. Those attacks have claimed four lives.
Roza Ibragimova has the latest developments.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: Hotels in Dubai are scrambling to rework New Year’s plans after the ritzy Mideast tourist spot’s ruler announced the cancellation of all celebrations late Tuesday due to the violence in Gaza.
The manager of the 4-star Arabian Courtyard says there will be no music or dancing to ring in the New Year, though the hotel’s restaurants and bars will stay open.

Shin Bet Chief Yuval Diskin briefed the cabinet Wednesday on the progress of Operation Cast Lead.
According to Diskin, “Hamas has been attacked like it has never been attacked before. It has suffered significant damaged and its rule over Gaza has been compromised.”
Diskin also noted that large numbers of Hamas operatives are hiding in hospitals and that some are posing as medical staff. “Some are also hiding in mosques and some of those have been turned into headquarters, since they assumed Israel won’t attack them there. Their weapons’ labs have been …