The Israeli government's decision to include two West Bank locations—the Cave of the Patriarchs and Rachel's Tomb—on a list of "national heritage sites" has sparked an uproar in the country's political circles. Chaim Oron, chairman of the left-wing Meretz party, slammed the decision Feb. 21, saying "This is another attempt to blur the borders between the State of Israel and the occupied territories."

When Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a senior Hamas official reportedly behind the smuggling of Iranian arms to Gaza, was found dead in his hotel room in Dubai, UAE, on Jan. 20, the organization was quick to point the finger at Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, vowing revenge attacks. But a preliminary investigation conducted by Hamas suggests that the assassination was likely carried out by agents of an Arab government, Israel's Ha'aretz reports.

Two high-ranking Israeli military officers have been disciplined for firing shells into a populated area of the Gaza Strip during last year's Operation Cast Lead, it was revealed Feb. 1. The information was contained in a 46-page report presented to the UN on Jan. 29 describing Israel's role in the January 2009 Gaza offensive. According to the report, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fired several artillery shells near populated areas in the Tel el-Hawa neighborhood of Gaza City, destroying a UN compound and a Palestinian hospital. The UN maintains that the compound was hit with white phosphorus shells, while the report concludes that the "use of this weapon in the operation was consistent with Israel's obligations under international law." The two officers involved have since been disciplined for "exceeding their authority in a manner that jeopardized the lives of others," but the Military Advocate General will not pursue a criminal investigation, and the officers will keep their rank and pay. (Jurist, Feb. 1)

From the World Jewish Congress, Jan. 25:

Anti-Semitism has reached its highest level since the end of World War II, the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) has concluded in its latest report released in Jerusalem on Sunday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Jan. 10 announced plans for the construction of 70 miles of fence along Israel's border with Egypt. In explaining the purpose for the barrier, which has an estimated cost of more than $400 million, Netanyahu said: "I decided to close Israel's southern border to infiltrators and terrorists after prolonged discussions with Government ministries and professional elements. This is a strategic decision to ensure the Jewish and democratic character of the State of Israel. Israel will remain open to war refugees but we cannot allow thousands of illegal workers to infiltrate into Israel via the southern border and flood our country."

Israel has been conducting tests of a short-range missile-defense system to fend off rockets from the Gaza Strip, dubbed the "Iron Dome," and says the system is nearly ready to be deployed. (UPI, Jan. 8) The announcement comes as the Israeli Defense Forces launched four air-strikes on the Gaza Strip, targeting a supposed weapons shop and two smuggling tunnels, killing at least three. (CNN, Jan. 8)

Last year's Israeli bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip has left a high concentration of toxic metals in the soil, according to a study by the New Weapons Research Committee (NWRC), an Italy-based group of academics, physicians and researchers. Those metals can cause tumurs and problems with fertility, and can have serious effects on newly born babies, including deformities and genetic pathologies. The metals are in particular tungsten, mercury, molybdenum, cadmium and cobalt.

Medical aid and 518 activists entered Gaza the night of Jan. 6 after protests against the Egyptian government refusal to allow 400 of the group to pass lead to clashes at the Rafah border crossing. An Egyptian soldier was reportedly shot dead during the clashes, and at least 12 Palestinians were injured during a a protest against Egypt's perceived compli'scity in the Israeli blockade. The protest had been called by the Hamas administration that governs the Strip, against what they called attacks on the Viva Palestina convoy.