Israel

Barack Obama has become a target for the Israeli right following the creation of a pro-settler Tea Party who plan to hold a "Saying No to Obama" rally.

Hardline Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has commissioned a report on how to prepare for a nuclear-armed Iran as doubt mounts about the efficacy of preventive action, an Israeli source said on Monday.

Israel, despite perennial fears of war, has emerged as one of the hottest - and least likely - property markets in the world: Since real estate collapsed around the globe in 2008, at least one industry watchdog lists it as the fastest-rising property market on earth.

Israel allowed its 10-month settlement construction freeze in the West Bank to expire on Monday, defying a U.S. call to extend the moratorium which Palestinians have said is necessary to keep peace talks going.

The US warned Lebanon that if it did not prevent any recurrence of the border-fire incident that occurred earlier this month, the IDF would destroy the Lebanese Armed Forces within four hours, Israel Radio cited a report by Lebanese newspaper A-Liwaa on Friday.